Peaceful Coexistence Fosters Harmony

                  By Bayo Ogunmupe
       This book is entitled: Harmony of Human Nature. It addresses the need to promote peaceful coexistence in life so that we can enjoy peace in the community and the world at large. Fostering peace also enables us to attain peace within ourselves and among other people. The author, Pastor Aderemi Folasayo also describes the search for peace across national and communal boundaries, among couples, coworkers and families.
       The beauty of harmony is reflected when peace is achieved across relationships  through the joint efforts of friends. Using peaceful coexistence as the basis for discussion, the book points out that every mutual effort to propagate peace brings forth harmonious fellow feeling which bolsters peaceful coexistence. This book was put together to awaken us to direct our efforts in the right direction. The author draws extensively from the experiences of others, extant texts on the subject and the scriptures.
       Harmony of Human Nature was published in August this year 2016 by Soloj Resources Ventures Limited, Lagos, Nigeria. Its author, Folasayo is a senior pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Nigeria. The book has 258 pages, ten chapters; it is in paperback and also contains a preamble and an introduction. This volume is primarily on evangelism: winning souls to Christ. The piece can be broken into four main parts with peaceful coexistence as its theme. Here, Folasayo weaves into being a delectable and effervescent volume.
       The book fulfills the need of the author to contribute his quota to peace in the world, in order to preserve our cultural and spiritual heritage  for the incoming generation to follow. Thus, he aims to awaken the consciousness of fellow Christians in order to forestall certain dangers and the general lethargy among his countrymen. Folasayo's diction and command of language are entrancing. His literary method is conversational.
       The author introduces new ideas by asking and answering questions. He delved into historical sources to augment his stock of ideas. He cites contemporary illustrations from the media, capping them with relevant bible verses. Where there are conflicts of ideology, he uses the scriptures as the final authority in all situations. Folasayo began his discourse on peace by working his congregation towards its achievement. While keeping his values of the positive mental attitude, Folasayo dwells on how to identify the obstacles to peace in the environment.
        Folasayo's use of the word "Nature" which looks fuzzy, actually provides him with the platform to treat every element of creation as one composite  and integrated entity. It also provides the avenue for the reviewing of efforts that have been expended on peaceful coexistence from time immemorial.
       Furthermore, the author chose to dwell on efforts man has undertaken in order to make life peaceful in the world. He notes that challenges must be removed for peace to reign. And it has been noted that true peace can only take place  in healthy companionship with others. Thus, you can only have peace when your neighbours are at peace. The problems of you neighbours affect you.
       We shall end this review with an assertion by Saint Augustine who said "Peacefulness in the face of a grave wrong that could only be stopped by violence could be a sin. Defence of oneself or others could be a necessity, especially when authorized by a legitimate authority: They have waged war in obedience to the divine command or in conformity with His  laws; have represented in their persons the public justice or the wisdom of government; and in this capacity have put to death wicked men; such persons have by no means the commandment 'Thou shalt not kill."
      While not breaking the conditions necessary for a war to be just, Augustine nonetheless originated the discourse in his book, The City of God. However, nine hundred years later, the influential philosopher and theologian Thomas Aquinas used Augustine's arguments to lay out the conditions under which a war could be just. Aquinas replicated the position of Augustine that there will always be wars in the world.
       The author, Adeyemi Folasayo gave his life to Christ in September 1984. He became a minister of the gospel in September 1985. He graduated from the Redeemed Christian Bible College in 1987. A pastor of RCCG, Folasayo obtained his doctorate in divinity from the Triune Biblical University. He is married to Pastor Mercy Folasayo and they are blessed with many biological and spiritual children.