Christian, Hindu, or Buddhist will see peace differently, as will pacifist or internationalist. The problem is, of course, that peace derives its meaning and qualities within a theory or framework. Peace may be a dichotomy (it exists or it does not) or continuous, passive or active, empirical or abstract, descriptive or normative, or positive or negative. Or it may be narrow in conception, referring to specific relations in a particular situation (like a peace treaty), or overarching, covering a whole society (as in a world peace). It may refer to an internal state (of mind or of nations) or to external relations. Peace may be opposed to or an opposite of antagonistic conflict, violence, or war. Such meanings of peace function at different levels. It is defined as a state of law or civil government, a state of justice or goodness, a balance or equilibrium of Powers. It is viewed as peace of mind or serenity, especially in the East. Peace, however, is also seen as concord, or harmony and tranquility. This meaning is widely accepted among irenologists6 and students of international relations.
Pacifists have adopted this interpretation, for to them all violence is bad. Perhaps the most popular (Western) view is as an absence of dissension, violence, or war, a meaning found in the New Testament and possibly an original meaning of the Greek word for peace, Irene. Consider: "Peace at any price."1 "The most disadvantageous peace is better than the most just war."2 "Peace is more important than all justice."3 "I prefer the most unjust peace to the justest war that was ever waged."4 "There Peace has always been among humanity's highest values-for some, supreme.
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