Kenneth Paul Callison is the author of the new book The Way to World Peace: An Idea Whose Time Has Come. He is the founder of the group A Time for Humanity.
Q: What inspired you to write The Way to World Peace?
A: I have been thinking about peace since childhood, when air raid drills and the threat of nuclear war were treated as normal. The joy of being alive did not match the fear adults seemed willing to accept.
Over time, I became convinced that humanity is living under conditions that threaten its own survival, yet we behave as if this is simply part of life. I wrote this book because I believe we are at a decisive moment. Either we change how we think about security, strength, and one another, or we risk extinction.
Q: How did you research the book, and did you learn anything that especially surprised you?
A: The book draws on decades of examining history, government, nuclear policy, human behavior, and the recurring patterns of war and deterrence. I studied the scale of nuclear arsenals, the economics of militarization, and the persistence of poverty and conflict.
What stood out most was how deeply fear is embedded in our institutions. Deterrence has existed for thousands of years, yet so has war. The most surprising realization was how accustomed humanity has become to living under extraordinary risk.
Q: In a Foreword Clarion Review, John M. Murray wrote, “The solutions the book suggests are variously practical and philosophical. Some of its proposals are bold...all of its arguments are direct and unflinching.” What do you think of that assessment?
A: That assessment reflects the nature of the problem. The crisis humanity faces is practical and philosophical at the same time. It involves weapons systems and political structures, but also belief, fear, and consciousness.
Some proposals may seem bold because they challenge the assumption that violence is inevitable or that military strength guarantees peace. But if the survival of the species is at stake, direct and honest discussion is necessary.
Q: What do you hope readers take away from the book?
A: I hope readers recognize that violence is not hereditary but learned, and therefore can be unlearned. Governments reflect the consciousness of the people they govern.
If humanity wants a different outcome, individuals must accept responsibility for that change. Peace is not passive. It requires organization, courage, and commitment. Extinction is not inevitable, but avoiding it demands awareness and action.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I am focused on advancing the mission of A Time for Humanity and encouraging participation in the shift the book describes. The ideas in the book are meant to move beyond theory and into lived commitment. The work now is helping people understand that peace is not an abstraction but a responsibility.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: Humanity has reached a point where its technological power exceeds its spiritual development. The next step in evolution is not greater weaponry, but greater awareness. Peace is not a dream. It is the condition required for our survival. The question is whether we will choose it.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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