Understanding Conflict, Abuse, Exploitation, War, and Genocide

The modern world is rife with examples of conflict, abuse, exploitation, war, and genocide, causing untold suffering to humanity, the environment, and countless species. Through the lens of the Oneness Movement (OM), these issues can be understood as manifestations of lower consciousness (LC), driven by the misalignment of human desires, fear, greed, and ego. By examining these destructive behaviors through the framework of CONAF (Circle of Needs and Fulfillment) and contrasting LC with higher consciousness (HC), we can gain a deeper insight into why these conditions persist and what it will take for humanity to transcend them.

1. Conflict and War: The Expression of Fear and Insecurity

At the core of much conflict and warfare is a deep sense of fear, insecurity, and scarcity, all of which can be linked to the safety/security needs in the CONAF framework. When individuals, communities, or nations feel their basic security is threatened—whether through limited access to resources, political instability, or economic inequality—they often react with defensive aggression.

LC Perspective:

• In LC, humans operate from a mindset of survival and self-preservation, viewing the world as a competitive arena where finite resources must be fought over. This leads to the zero-sum mentality: the belief that one group must lose for another to win.

• Conflict arises when groups fail to see their interconnectedness and instead focus on their differences, whether ethnic, national, or religious. This fuels tribalism, reinforcing the idea of the "other" as a threat to one’s identity and survival.

HC Perspective:

• In an HC framework, conflict is resolved not through violence but through understanding, dialogue, and cooperation. By acknowledging the interdependence of all beings, HC views human existence as an opportunity for mutual flourishing rather than competition.

• The path to HC involves overcoming the illusion of separation, realizing that violence against others is violence against oneself, as all beings are part of the same collective Oneness. Conflict, in this view, is unnecessary once we embrace the reality of abundance, cooperation, and shared security.

2. Abuse and Exploitation: The Result of Ego and Superiority

Abuse and exploitation often stem from the unbalanced pursuit of superiority and the desire to assert power over others. The LC ego seeks to dominate, control, and extract from those deemed "weaker" or less deserving, rather than working toward mutual growth.

LC Perspective:

• In LC, the need for superiority is distorted into systems of exploitation, where the powerful maintain their dominance at the expense of the vulnerable. This can be seen in economic inequality, corporate exploitation of labor, sexual abuse, and other forms of oppression.

• LC values control and domination, where the ego seeks to validate itself through material gain or dominance over others. The exploitation of natural resources, animals, and marginalized human groups arises from this self-serving mentality.

HC Perspective:

• HC teaches that true superiority lies not in domination but in self-mastery, compassion, and the upliftment of others. In this framework, individuals recognize that their personal growth is tied to the well-being of others, and instead of exploiting, they work to empower those around them.

• Abuse and exploitation are antithetical to HC because they perpetuate the illusion of separation and deny the intrinsic worth and dignity of all beings. HC encourages the practice of equity, mutual respect, and stewardship over nature and humanity.

3. Genocide: The Ultimate Expression of Dehumanization and Fear

Genocide, as an extreme form of conflict, is often fueled by a dehumanization of others and an intense fear of difference. It arises from LC mentalities that view entire groups of people as threats, unworthy of life, or obstacles to a "better" world for the oppressors.

LC Perspective:

• In LC, genocidal actions are the result of extreme tribalism, where one group’s affirmation of their identity comes at the complete negation of another’s. The in-group sees itself as superior, using fear, hatred, and violence to eliminate what it perceives as a threat to its existence or ideology.

• Genocide is the ultimate manifestation of exclusion and the denial of Oneness, reducing human life to something expendable for the sake of power or purity.

HC Perspective:

• In HC, genocide is seen as the most tragic rejection of interconnectedness and universal compassion. A higher consciousness approach would view all life as sacred, recognizing the divine spark within every individual and group. Genocide would be impossible in an HC society because the awareness of Oneness negates any ideology that devalues human life.

• Prevention of genocide in an HC future involves education, empathy-building, and fostering a deep understanding of collective human identity. Rather than focusing on difference, an HC society would celebrate diversity as an expression of the rich tapestry of human experience.

4. The Economic Model of Exploitation: Fueling Conflict and Inequality

Modern systems of global exploitation and economic inequality perpetuate the cycles of conflict, abuse, and violence seen in the world. The current cutthroat economic model, driven by LC mentalities, prioritizes profit over people, leading to the exploitation of both humans and the planet.

LC Perspective:

• The economics of exploitation arises from LC’s need for material accumulation and the assertion of superiority through wealth and power. Corporations and governments that operate under LC frameworks often prioritize short-term gain at the expense of long-term sustainability, leading to environmental degradation, labor exploitation, and human suffering.

• The global South, developing nations, and marginalized communities are often the most heavily impacted, experiencing the brunt of economic exploitation through unfair trade practices, resource extraction, and poor working conditions.

HC Perspective:

• HC envisions an economic system based on cooperation, sustainability, and shared prosperity. Rather than prioritizing profit, the focus is on the well-being of all, where resources are allocated ethically, and the exploitation of humans or nature is eliminated.

• In an HC world, businesses and economies would be ethical by design, rooted in principles of justice, fairness, and environmental stewardship. Humanity would no longer engage in exploitative practices, but instead invest in regenerative economies that uplift both people and the planet.

Conclusion: The Path to Transcending Conflict and Exploitation

The world’s ongoing cycles of conflict, abuse, exploitation, and genocide are deeply rooted in lower consciousness (LC) behaviors that prioritize ego, superiority, and material gain. Through the lens of the Oneness Movement (OM), these manifestations of suffering are seen as symptoms of humanity’s disconnection from Oneness and the collective unfulfilled needs outlined in the CONAF model.

The path forward lies in moving from LC to HC—a collective elevation of consciousness where humanity no longer views others as competitors or threats but as fellow beings on a shared journey. By fostering universal compassion, understanding, and interconnectedness, we can transcend the destructive patterns of the past and create a future rooted in justice, healing, and unity.