What is the meaning of man’s inhumanity to man?

Response

After every new man-made atrocity—terrorist attacks, shootings, wars—individuals question humanity’s cruelty towards one another. How can we exhibit such cruelty and lack of compassion towards our fellow human beings?

The phrase “man’s inhumanity to man” denotes human cruelty, barbarity, or a lack of pity and compassion towards others—essentially, humanity’s capacity to view and treat others as subhuman. This expression is thought to have originated in Robert Burns’ 1784 poem “Man Was Made to Mourn: A Dirge.” The conclusion of one stanza mourns, “Man’s inhumanity to man / Makes countless thousands mourn!” It is also possible that Burns adapted a quote from Samuel von Pufendorf in 1673, who stated, “More inhumanity has been done by man himself than any other of nature’s causes.”

Generally, “man’s inhumanity to man” is used to express sorrow when a significant tragedy occurs. The 20th century, with two world wars, the Holocaust, the emergence of numerous oppressive regimes, and various other conflicts, exemplified man’s inhumanity to man. Humanity inflicted immense, nearly unimaginable suffering upon itself through each of these events. In contemporary contexts, the phrase appears to be applied to any perceived injustice.

The Bible addresses man’s inhumanity to man. In fact, Paul suggests that it should be anticipated: “All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know. There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Romans 3:12-18). Every individual is affected by sin. While we may not each commit large-scale atrocities, we all have the potential for cruelty and inhumanity.Atrocities occur, but everyone sins against God and other people. Man’s inhumanity to man is present in all of us.

However, the Bible also provides a solution to man’s inhumanity to man. Jesus died on the cross to atone for the sins of the world, and “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” «If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. », (1 John 1:9). God forgives our sins through Christ and transforms us into new creations in Him. Consequently, we can view others with God’s love and compassion, leading to acts of charity and spreading the gospel, aiming to assist more individuals in breaking free from the grip of sin through Jesus.

Suffering persists in the world due to its fallen state. Sin continues to proliferate, bringing man’s inhumanity to man along with it. Paul also addressed this in Romans, stating, “Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Romans 5:3-4). God utilizes everything—even the dire consequences of man’s inhumanity to man—for His purposes, and ultimately, everything works together for good «And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. », (Romans 8:28). This is why believers can maintain hope in the midst of tragedies.