Cyberwar and defense against it
In response to the arrest of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, his supporters took down websites all over the world – or slowed their operations – in what some called an example of cyberwarfare. Depending on one’s point of view, WikiLeaks may exemplify either the equalizing force of the Internet or the potential threat of malicious hackers to undermine security and stability around the world.
A recent study from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development stated that while the Internet may be a vector for attack in the future, it is, and will continue to be, the backbone of any response to large-scale crises – by providing alternative means of delivering essential services, news, and reassurance.
When considering how one might pray about a cyberattack, it helps to remember that a cyberwar, like any other type of war, would be most successful if it were able to create fear. Fear provides an opening in thought that can be exploited, similar to the way bugs in computer code give access to cyberwarriors to control computers. Resting our prayers on God – on divine Love, which can know and do only good – we can trust divine power to drive out fear. As the Bible states, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear” (I John 4:18).
We can also ask ourselves what ideas or suggestions about a situation we are allowing to govern our thoughts and guide our actions and expectations in relation to cyberwarfare. Relying only on God, divine Principle, to govern fosters the ability to trust God’s protection and care of all people. Instead of fearing others or the unknown, we can recognize Love as the only motivator and good as the only real goal for everyone. Allowing only Love into our consciousness, we can gain confidence in its power to overcome fear and shine the light of truth on any given situation. This is one way of expressing the perfect Love that casts out all fear, and this is a defense against attack.
Mary Baker Eddy, who discovered Christian Science, wrote something I think relates to this discussion: “As the children of Israel were guided triumphantly through the Red Sea, the dark ebbing and flowing tides of human fear, – as they were led through the wilderness, walking wearily through the great desert of human hopes, and anticipating the promised joy, – so shall the spiritual idea guide all right desires in their passage from sense to Soul, from a material sense of existence to the spiritual, up to the glory prepared for them who love God” (“Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,” p. 566).
Similarly, God is guiding and governing each of us every day in every decision and action. And just as we protect our computers by installing firewalls, we can protect ourselves by strengthening our mental defenses, through seeking God’s guidance.
When you hear or read stories about the dangers of cyberwar, you can check your spiritual defenses. Remember that God’s sons and daughters are made in His own image – good – and that Love governs even in the most complicated situations. Then allow in only those thoughts and ideas that conform to these facts.
