War, escalation, the people, the leaders and the results of war are the subjects of the cartoon by Dr. Seuss and of almost every era of history. When asked, “What would you want most in the world”? and the answer is “World peace,” why is it that world peace is virtually unachievable? In the Butter Battle Book, Dr. Seuss makes a satirical statement about war and the mechanics of how the stage is set to allow an escalation from peace, which people want the most, to be sacrificed to enter into a war for their beliefs.
The question must be asked what is worth fighting for? What is worth going to war and risking the lives of the people of your own country? Beliefs seem to be the answer. Belief is a hard concept to define. What is involved in a belief, and why would it be worth sacrificing lives and prosperity? Webster’s dictionary says that a belief is a mental acceptance of the truth, actuality, or validity of something: a statement unworthy of belief; an idea steadily gaining credence; testimony meriting credit. An example given in the Butter Battle Book is the highly controversial belief that you must butter your bread from the top of the bread and not from the bottom instead! While this might sound absurd, there have been wars over religious differences that to an outsider may seem similarly absurd. Early Christians were martyred for their involvement in a peaceful movement that was simply different from the culture of the day. The nature of humans is to be suspicious of a culture that has different beliefs than the ones that they hold. This suspicion often escalates when the government is involved because of the challenge of power and authority that occurs when the beliefs of the leaders are challenged by the mere existence of the other group. Why do beliefs evoke such a passionate response? What role do beliefs play in society? They seem to be the foundation of a person, and since societies are built upon the people in society, then it would be safe to say that they are the underlying foundation of the society. Beliefs are what we teach our children. Beliefs are what judgments are made on between what is right or what is wrong. Belief seems to be the catalyst for advancements in our society as well. But the clash when one societity’s belief is different than the others is when a conflict occurs. The Zooks who buttered their bread from the top had taught their children the importance of this bread- buttering tradition; they had even condemned the Yooks for buttering their bread from the bottom. As a society builds up exclusive beliefs, they become so important that they are willing or even justified to fight for them if they are challenged. Of course, there have been no fights over bread buttering, but the conflict between the Muslim and Christian beliefs are similar from the prospective of the Muslims in that the belief of Jihad is called for against Christians because of their belief in a trinity of gods and several other discrepancies. Historically, religion has had a cycle of challenged beliefs surrounding the Jews, Christians, Muslims and factions within each of these groups as well as many other groups.
So then, the question must be asked, “Do we avoid beliefs”? Are they the cause of the escalations of war? If your answer is that everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and all war should be avoided, some additional questions are raised. What if you believe that they are entitled to their belief, but they are not willing to let you have your beliefs? What if their beliefs victimize another person? Also, what if the two beliefs are in such sharp contradiction to each other that they cannot live together? All of these questions help to draw the conclusion that beliefs are necessary, but there seems to be no black and white answer for people to live together under the umbrella of everyone is entitled to their own beliefs. So what is the answer? In the Butter Battle Book, the answer was to stand on each side of the wall with their opposing beliefs and build bigger and bigger weapons until there were no options except to ultimately destroy life as the Zooks and the Yooks knew it. The message of the Butter Battle Book was addressing the nuclear arms race of the latter half of the nineteen hundreds, but today we are faced with a similar battle of beliefs, especially here in America today. Do we give up beliefs? Or do we stand on each side of a wall, building bigger and bigger weapons against each other? As Christian countries are faced with the challenges of the Muslim countries, do we give up our beliefs or do we stand on either side of the wall of the disagreement and build up weapons of hate and prejudice against each other? The outcomes of these are yet to be seen, but we can carefully draw from the history of the church to evaluate whether there are beliefs that are worth fighting for. There are beliefs that are absolute truths that God has penned through authors of the Bible, beliefs that are the passions of people of the society we live in, and so as Christians we must continue to speak The Truth in love in every corner of our society. We must carefully avoid standing on one side of a wall and building up prejudices or fighting over disputable matters. What we must be willing to do is to fight not for our beliefs but for the One True God we believe in. Since God already has the victory here on earth we must not be fighting to defend God, but fighting to share the knowledge and truths of God. We must fight to go and tell others, no matter which way they choose to butter their bread, that there is a God that is available for all to believe in, Who offers salvation and eternal reward for each person’s willingness to believe in Christ Jesus, who is a belief worth dying for.
Better Than the Butter Battle Book
May 7, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Butter Battle Blunder
May 2, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Perception varies as much as individuals differ. Nations, groups, kings, leaders, philosophers, and peoples have existed and acted according to a set of beliefs and ideals throughout history. The Butter Battle Book by Dr. Seuss[1] is a perfect illustration of how wrong perceptions can impact a group of people. The same problems developed in the Dr. Seuss story have repeated themselves since the beginning of time. Is it possible for people to overcome their differing perceptions to live in harmony with one another?
The primary difference that separated the characters of the Butter Battle Book from one another was the issue over how to butter their bread. One group buttered their bread from the bottom while the other side buttered their bread on the top side. Dr. Seuss was a master at portraying important truths or values through simple children’s stories. This story is no different. Think about any conflict between people in history, and break the event down into its simplest form. Most likely, the source of the conflict will be nearly as silly as whether to butter their bread butter side up or down.
Anti-Semitism existed in Germany and central Europe for centuries before World War II and the Holocaust. Germans readily accepted Hitler’s hate of the Jews by accepting his propaganda. What separated the Jews from Germans? Were the Germans really a superior race? Not at all; they simply believed the simple untruths that seeped into their belief system. It caused support for a war against the Jews which was not grounded in a real threat, just a supposed one. A more recent example is of the Mormon church towards African-Americans. Their doctrine taught that to be black was a result of the curse of sin, thus, no blacks would enter the kingdom of God. Of course, this belief is based on a false premise, but the idea remains the same: separation because of simple misunderstanding.
The issue relating to the time period during and following the decline of the Roman Empire was an issue between Christians and Muslims. Several Crusades and countless battle ensued because of simple differences between the two sides. This is not written to say that everyone should think the same way, but that everyone should be free to believe as they wish. How many lives could have been spared had the Christians and Muslims been willing to allow each other freedom to believe and worship as they wish without imposing their respective beliefs on one another by force. Many serious divisions between people would not occur if more thought were given to what it is that actually separates them. Most of which are truly absurd and ridiculous.
Fair and honest communication between differing groups is also necessary. Religious freedom should not mean that we do not discuss our beliefs with one another, but that we do not allow differences to drive us to hate one another. Perhaps both sides could be benefited by truths that the other holds.
The major problem that results from these insignificant differences is the division that it creates. In the story, the two opposing groups built a wall to keep the other out of their land. When a “line in the sand” is drawn like the wall that separated the Yukes and Zooks, protection of those of like beliefs through the educational system is necessary. Pledges are devised to retain the loyalty of its progeny. The wall must also be defended. The enemy must be made hideous, atrocious, and unlike one’s own people. The emphasis focuses on the differences rather than the similarities. Just as the story portrays, the similarities between the Yukes and Zooks were much greater than the differences. Both sides were similar in many ways; in fact, the only difference noted was how they butter their bread.
Defense of belief began with a simple defense of the wall. When differences are emphasized and separation occurs, the human response forces a defense of “correctness.” It seems to be a natural response to defend what one believes to be true. This response, if God-given, is a good response that compels individuals to be prepared to have a reason for believing what they believe. The problem, however, is the issue with perception. What someone perceives to be true is that person’s reality. In other words, the things that an individual or people group believes, those things become that person’s reality or truth. It may not be truth or reality, but it is that person’s reality. To be able to defend what one believes is good. To be willing to listen to another’s arguments for the sake of seeking truth is better. The greatest caution is to make sure that what one believes is reality or truth.
The danger in defense of one’s beliefs is the escalation factor. First, remember that individuals should have a solid foundation in truth before they should be willing to take a stand on anything. Second, ask if one is defending their beliefs, how far they are willing to go to impose those beliefs on someone else? In the story, it started with a simple switch which seemed to work for some time, but soon a defense was made that rendered the switch useless. The situation escalated on both sides of the wall until finally a weapon was constructed which, allegedly, would annihilate everything on the other side of the wall. Is the annihilation of all opponents the ultimate goal for Christians? God forbid! The primary message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is about how God wants all mankind to live with him in heaven for eternity. If all that is accomplished is the destruction of adversaries, then Christians have failed to understand the intent of God’s message to them. Unfortunately, Christians have done this to each other as well, not just to their opponents.
Will mankind ever live in harmony, communicating to each other peacefully? Not until the world is in submission to Jesus Christ will the people of the world live in harmony. Does that mean that no one should try to be at peace with each other? No, all attempts should be made to understand each other better. Beliefs should be thoroughly examined and defended peacefully. If a building were on fire, and someone went in to warn the inhabitants of the imminent danger would such an individual be able to do so peacefully? Yes, but to the occupants the rescuer may be perceived as loud and threatening especially if they are not aware of the danger. The same problem can occur for Christians trying to share the truth of God’s Word, warning of the imminent danger of hell’s fires. The Christian can be perceived as loud, obnoxious, or even threatening. It is the responsibility of the Christian to be aware of the possibility of being misunderstood, and he must be willing to be patient. To give up would be a heartbreaking failure. Just as a simple children’s story taught the reader great truth, let this reader accept the truth of God’s Word for what it is: truth.
The primary difference that separated the characters of the Butter Battle Book from one another was the issue over how to butter their bread. One group buttered their bread from the bottom while the other side buttered their bread on the top side. Dr. Seuss was a master at portraying important truths or values through simple children’s stories. This story is no different. Think about any conflict between people in history, and break the event down into its simplest form. Most likely, the source of the conflict will be nearly as silly as whether to butter their bread butter side up or down.
Anti-Semitism existed in Germany and central Europe for centuries before World War II and the Holocaust. Germans readily accepted Hitler’s hate of the Jews by accepting his propaganda. What separated the Jews from Germans? Were the Germans really a superior race? Not at all; they simply believed the simple untruths that seeped into their belief system. It caused support for a war against the Jews which was not grounded in a real threat, just a supposed one. A more recent example is of the Mormon church towards African-Americans. Their doctrine taught that to be black was a result of the curse of sin, thus, no blacks would enter the kingdom of God. Of course, this belief is based on a false premise, but the idea remains the same: separation because of simple misunderstanding.
The issue relating to the time period during and following the decline of the Roman Empire was an issue between Christians and Muslims. Several Crusades and countless battle ensued because of simple differences between the two sides. This is not written to say that everyone should think the same way, but that everyone should be free to believe as they wish. How many lives could have been spared had the Christians and Muslims been willing to allow each other freedom to believe and worship as they wish without imposing their respective beliefs on one another by force. Many serious divisions between people would not occur if more thought were given to what it is that actually separates them. Most of which are truly absurd and ridiculous.
Fair and honest communication between differing groups is also necessary. Religious freedom should not mean that we do not discuss our beliefs with one another, but that we do not allow differences to drive us to hate one another. Perhaps both sides could be benefited by truths that the other holds.
The major problem that results from these insignificant differences is the division that it creates. In the story, the two opposing groups built a wall to keep the other out of their land. When a “line in the sand” is drawn like the wall that separated the Yukes and Zooks, protection of those of like beliefs through the educational system is necessary. Pledges are devised to retain the loyalty of its progeny. The wall must also be defended. The enemy must be made hideous, atrocious, and unlike one’s own people. The emphasis focuses on the differences rather than the similarities. Just as the story portrays, the similarities between the Yukes and Zooks were much greater than the differences. Both sides were similar in many ways; in fact, the only difference noted was how they butter their bread.
Defense of belief began with a simple defense of the wall. When differences are emphasized and separation occurs, the human response forces a defense of “correctness.” It seems to be a natural response to defend what one believes to be true. This response, if God-given, is a good response that compels individuals to be prepared to have a reason for believing what they believe. The problem, however, is the issue with perception. What someone perceives to be true is that person’s reality. In other words, the things that an individual or people group believes, those things become that person’s reality or truth. It may not be truth or reality, but it is that person’s reality. To be able to defend what one believes is good. To be willing to listen to another’s arguments for the sake of seeking truth is better. The greatest caution is to make sure that what one believes is reality or truth.
The danger in defense of one’s beliefs is the escalation factor. First, remember that individuals should have a solid foundation in truth before they should be willing to take a stand on anything. Second, ask if one is defending their beliefs, how far they are willing to go to impose those beliefs on someone else? In the story, it started with a simple switch which seemed to work for some time, but soon a defense was made that rendered the switch useless. The situation escalated on both sides of the wall until finally a weapon was constructed which, allegedly, would annihilate everything on the other side of the wall. Is the annihilation of all opponents the ultimate goal for Christians? God forbid! The primary message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is about how God wants all mankind to live with him in heaven for eternity. If all that is accomplished is the destruction of adversaries, then Christians have failed to understand the intent of God’s message to them. Unfortunately, Christians have done this to each other as well, not just to their opponents.
Will mankind ever live in harmony, communicating to each other peacefully? Not until the world is in submission to Jesus Christ will the people of the world live in harmony. Does that mean that no one should try to be at peace with each other? No, all attempts should be made to understand each other better. Beliefs should be thoroughly examined and defended peacefully. If a building were on fire, and someone went in to warn the inhabitants of the imminent danger would such an individual be able to do so peacefully? Yes, but to the occupants the rescuer may be perceived as loud and threatening especially if they are not aware of the danger. The same problem can occur for Christians trying to share the truth of God’s Word, warning of the imminent danger of hell’s fires. The Christian can be perceived as loud, obnoxious, or even threatening. It is the responsibility of the Christian to be aware of the possibility of being misunderstood, and he must be willing to be patient. To give up would be a heartbreaking failure. Just as a simple children’s story taught the reader great truth, let this reader accept the truth of God’s Word for what it is: truth.
[1]Dr. Seuss, The Butter Battle Book adapted for video, http://www.youtube.com/