May the peace of the Creator embrace you. I write this not as a distant observer, but as someone who has walked a long road of faith, theology, and peace work. Along the way, I have met people who carry deep wounds — not from strangers, but from religious leaders, communities, and doctrines that were supposed to bring life. Some of these wounds were inflicted in the name of “saving souls.” I have seen how the threat of hell is often used as a weapon. I know what it feels like to sit under teaching that speaks more about eternal punishment than about the Creator’s compassion. And I have seen the fear, shame, and silence this creates. For years, many of us deny this harm. We convince ourselves that suffering is holy, that questioning is rebellion, or that leaving is betrayal. I once carried these same burdens. But over time, I have learned to see that the divine is not the voice of fear. The divine is peace.
