The year 1999 did not only mark the end and a beginning of a millennium but also marked the birth of a new century. With the approach of the end of the twentieth century came a lot of millennial excitement, which as expected was clothed in apocalyptic anxiety. It is unfortunate that the reading of the apocalyptic literature, in particular the book of Revelation, has given birth to viewing violence as inevitable and somewhat necessary as it points to the coming of a new era, an era of God's shalom for the chosen few. Reading the apocalyptic scripture this way is unfortunate as it justifies violence. Of course this reading cannot be completely blamed on the reader as such literature is littered with militaristic violence of proportions not known to humanity. The year 1999, therefore, marked “the end of the most violent century in human history.”

The year 2000 marked the new era, a new beginning, and a century of hope, “peace and goodwill towards humans.” It is in this regard that the World Council of Churches declared a “Decade to Overcome Violence” which was hatched at its Harare Assembly. The Decade to Overcome Violence is a journey that points beyond itself.