The Triumph of Good

A new foreword to the second edition explains how Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 demonstrated an age-old pattern of unjustified brutality exhibited by one brother to another, one group to another, one nation to another. It marked a return to the bad international behavior associated with the cataclysmic events of World War II, which resulted in tens of millions of deaths and untold suffering for many millions more.

From the point of view of the thesis of this book, the invasion was classic Cain-type behavior, based on resentment, envy, accusation, predatory calculation and, ultimately, murderous violence. Ukraine is literally a brother nation to Russia, sharing history, religion, culture and language. It had done nothing to earn the wrath of Putin. As of this writing, several months after the invasion, the Ukrainian people have suffered enormously, with thousands killed and millions displaced from their homes. Cities have been flattened, crops stolen, men tortured and women raped. In short, Putin's Russia has been barbaric.

The world has watched Putin in shock and horror. How can something like this happen in the 21^st century? And nations have been tested. How resolute are they in the face of barbarism on a massive scale? Some leaders and governments have responded decisively to the crisis; others have equivocated.

The Triumph of Good explains the origins and nature of the Cain-Abel paradigm, and how it applies to history and the world today. It points out the importance of Abel offering a robust and determined response to Cain in order for the original purpose of creation, the Divine Providence, to be realized. It points out that the hope of humankind lies in the absolute goodness of the Creator and therefore of our common destiny. However, it also makes clear that we will see a triumph of good only if we fulfill our God-given responsibilities