blind nationalism, or religious fanaticism?
2006-10-08 19:27:31 · 19 answers · asked by slippie 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
I'd say Religion !!!
2006-10-08 19:28:46 · answer #1 · answered by IloveMarmite 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Religion. Nationalism as an ideology can be said to have been coceptualised only in the late 18th century by historians and philosophers such as the German Hegel, partly as a result of the French Revolution. Religion on the other hand, has existed since god-knows-when, so I'd say religious fanaticism. In fact, nationalism as an ideology is not even as prevalent as religion IMO; that people are motivated to act for the nation-state is a tenuous argument.
2006-10-09 03:37:43 · answer #2 · answered by joelawawaw 2 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Nationalism and tribalism. Throughout history most wars have been about the acquisition of resources by nations and tribes rather than the spread of religion. The Christian crusade against Islam, and the Islamic crusade against Zoroastrians, were hiccups compared to the huge migrations that fueled most human warfare over the centuries.
2006-10-09 05:10:53 · answer #3 · answered by Jim P 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
greed. hands down.
both nationalism and religious fanaticism were ways to convince the population to go to war. but the real cause of war was the greed of the rulers.
you have the best example here with iraq: the nationalism of the americans was used to convince them to go to war by the oil-wanting bush. by doing that he encouraged the religious fanaticism of the arabs who were led by their rulers who wanted to keep their oil.
greed.
2006-10-09 03:55:15 · answer #4 · answered by ilya 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Roman Conquests, Revolutionary wars, World War 1, WW2, Korea, Viet Nam.........all tend to support the nationalism theory but for centuries, crusades were the cause de jour and how many wars did those fuel?
I would have to say that of the two choices, Nationalism would come out on top.
2006-10-09 02:42:20 · answer #5 · answered by Jack 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Religion, hands down. More people have died in the name of God than any other reason in the world. Crusades, Inquisition, the witch hunts happening in Europe throughout most of the Dark Ages, the Salem Witch Trials, are just a few examples.
It has been and always will be a cause worth fighting and dying for, whether you believe in your God or someone else's.
2006-10-09 04:28:35 · answer #6 · answered by Lizzie 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm with the greed folks here. Nationalism and religion have time and time again been exploited by people greedy for wealth, land, slaves, etc... in order to motivate people to follow them.
If you look closely there really aren't that many conflicts that were solely fought over nationalism or religion. Even the crusades were land ventures for younger landless sons of the nobility or for debtors and criminals to escape their punishments.
The 30 Years War between Protestant and Catholic was spurred on by leaders who wanted to repossess Church land and Church leaders who wanted to hold on to that land and the tithe income.
2006-10-09 06:52:07 · answer #7 · answered by samurai_dave 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Religion
2006-10-09 02:28:53 · answer #8 · answered by Alex 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
In some case, you can not separate one from the other. Some people provoke nationalism by binding religious believes together.
2006-10-09 02:30:36 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Greed. The I want Desease. The ones in power, say I want and get it. I would have to say Greed all the way around
2006-10-09 02:29:24 · answer #10 · answered by Enigma 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Testosterone coupled with delusions of grandeur.
2006-10-09 04:34:43 · answer #11 · answered by Megan B 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋