War vs religion

[nogard]

I see it often that religion is blamed for wars and violence, and accusations that people killed in the name of religion.

Do you think that had there been no religion on earth, that there would have been less violence?
Or was religion simply the tool used by those who sought dominance through violence, and that other tools would have been used by the same people in the absence of religion?

[Geriatrix]

I see it often that religion is blamed for wars and violence, and accusations that people killed in the name of religion.

Do you think that had there been no religion on earth, that there would have been less violence?
Or was religion simply the tool used by those who sought dominance through violence, and that other tools would have been used by the same people in the absence of religion?

No, religion is just an excuse for violence. Some religions do advocate war and violence, though.

[RazedInBlack]

You title should be War and Religion.

One has to wonder. At what point in the evolutionary cycle did religion become a dominant factor?

[ChocolateBadger]

You title should be War and Religion.

One has to wonder. At what point in the evolutionary cycle did religion become a dominant factor?

Before logical thinking was fully embraced. There was a need to explain the unexplained, we have science for that now. The point of religion nowadays??? I guess just because the bible told you so :P

[DJ...]

I believe that religion is responsible for creating the us vs them mentality for the most part, which is the driving force behind war...

[isie]

I see it often that religion is blamed for wars and violence, and accusations that people killed in the name of religion.

Do you think that had there been no religion on earth, that there would have been less violence?
Or was religion simply the tool used by those who sought dominance through violence, and that other tools would have been used by the same people in the absence of religion?

Anyone else got Imagine playing in their head thanks to this thread?

[Devill]

I believe that religion is responsible for creating the us vs them mentality for the most part, which is the driving force behind war...

Nha, tribal alliance as well as physical traits would have come waaaaaaaay before any religion.

[nogard]

I believe that religion is responsible for creating the us vs them mentality for the most part, which is the driving force behind war...

Do you mean that without religion there would be no us vs them?
Or did people (mainly) use the tool of religion to expand the divide between us and them?

And the question remains (to everyone)

Do you think that had there been no religion on earth, that there would have been less violence?

[DJ...]

Nha, tribal alliance as well as physical traits would have come waaaaaaaay before any religion.

Possibly. Too wired on no sleep to think much about this...

[Cadavre777]

I see it often that religion is blamed for wars and violence, and accusations that people killed in the name of religion.

Do you think that had there been no religion on earth, that there would have been less violence?
Or was religion simply the tool used by those who sought dominance through violence, and that other tools would have been used by the same people in the absence of religion?

Tricky question. Surely there have been wars fought purely over religion and others where it was used as a tool to motivate war. If there were no religions we would still have war and violence but I doubt it would substantially less.

[Nerfherder]

I see it often that religion is blamed for wars and violence, and accusations that people killed in the name of religion.

Do you think that had there been no religion on earth, that there would have been less violence?
Or was religion simply the tool used by those who sought dominance through violence, and that other tools would have been used by the same people in the absence of religion?

To sway the masses to war you need some kind of mindless ideology, so often religion is used.

[copacetic]

Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.

Less religion implies (to my mind), an advanced state of humanity (this is supported by the fact that there is a definite correlation between religion or a lack thereof and human happiness in various areas), which (I would hope) implies less superstitious irrationality and more of a focus on common sense, and rational problem solving.

It's not religion in itself that's the problem, but what the existence of religion in the first place suggests about our state of knowledge and understanding of reality.

[porchrat]

As has been mentioned by a few folks I think that some religions do carry a message that can be interpreted in a violent manner. Clearly religion alone is not the deciding factor as there are plenty of folks that are religious that don't go around killing or being douches in general. However I do think it contributes. I do think that the messages some religions contain are not constructive. Abrahamic religions and their attitudes towards homosexuality is just one such message, there are many others.

[Haldex]

Wars are fought for money and power.

Religious guilt in war is used as propaganda.

[porchrat]

Wars are fought for money and power.

Religious guilt in war is used as propaganda.

People don't bomb abortion clinics for power or money.