Why does religion divide people and cause so much hate?

Answer 1

I think the problem starts when people try to start controlling the religion, bending the Word of God to fit their own design. If more people understood that we are to do His will, and not try to get Him to do OUR will, we would never have this problem.

This problem is true in all faiths and denominations, too.

Ultimately, it is the human weakness, not a religious weakness, that causes the hate.

Good question, though!

Answer 2

It's not that religion divides or causes hate, but that it is a powerful force which can be used for good or for bad. Look at the way GWB used religious language to get the U.S. people to support the invasion of Iraq.

I don't think we can just cast religion away either -- it just takes other forms like patriotism or a belief in Science. We need to work with it and be careful how we use it.

Imagine a world in which people look at each other's religions and say, "Wow, that's really interesting. Tell me more." Each of us gets to choose whether we want to let religion divide us from others or bring us closer, whether we will act from hate or kindness.

Answer 3

religion doesn't divide people - people divide people through their ignorance of religion - because if anybody bothered to actually study their own and/or other religion's Books - they'd see they are all sending the same message of wisdom and peace that has been over history and continues to be manipulated for power gains - and not the Books themselves.
This is the problem - but it's because people listen to little sound-bites of the Bible or the Koran etc., and think they know the whole thing. It's ridiculous - but as Jesus and many other prophets said - they will get their just reward.

Answer 4

Its not religion,because religion is just some rules to transfer the spiritual part of life to usual life.We are here(in this world)to know god more because our creation is a result of love of god and we should know more of this love. Religions just control peoples life to lead them to a better both social&singular life but they depends on the condition & culture of people of that place. So we should be able to improve them with our own development. But for some people its better to keep people just on sureface of religions to provide their benefits. So "they" cause hate.

Answer 5

Lots of things divide people and cause hate.....because people let them.

Answer 6

Isn't it people that use religion in order to cause separation and hate.

Answer 7

Religion is good, but when used to buy power to serve ones own selfish goals and desires, it creates hate and violence. It serves to provide exatly the opposite effect of what it is supposed to have.

Answer 8

religion allows for any group of people to fell a sense of superiority over others. The feeling that "I am right and you are wrong" is one of the major selling points of MOST religions. This self-pontification allows anyone, irregardless of socio-economic position, to be, in their own mind, judgmental of ANYBODY else irregardless of that persons socio-economic position.

Answer 9

No one really knows 'the answer'. But lots of people think their religion is the one and only true one so they try and shove it down other peoples throats

Answer 10

When any group of people get together it is difficult for them to stay together unless they have some common cause, and the easiest cause to come up with is the dislike of another group.