why does religion cause so much hatered among fellow human beings?

Question

please dont say it is not religion it is man because man is only following what ever book they are reading at the time

Answer 1

Good question-as religion is supposed to teach love and tolerance! But instead we get hate and wars. Makes no sense!

Answer 2

We like to say that religion is the cause, however, if you will look around, anything that people believe strongly in, whether it is political or philosophical, cause anger and hatred among groups. Religion does not hold the market on causing hatred in humans. Religion is just one more catalyst in a very long list of beliefs that cause people to hate one another. This is not to say that the people are just "following whatever book they are reading". This actually has very little to do with it and is an illogical and rash generalization of religious conflict. It has more to do with the fact that humans are emotional beings that are afraid of differences.

Answer 3

Some people want to cling to their beliefs and can't accept someone with a different veiw. Although many religions teach acceptance and tolerance, the truth is too many people claim they are right and everyone else is wrong.

They can't accept the fact that someone doesn't beleive in the same thing, and so they force that person to hear their beleifs rather than just getting along.

Religion causes hate because people want to love their own Religions. The only problem is that sometimes they can love too deeply, and lose sight of what is real. Acceptance.

Answer 4

I will say it is not religion. :-)

People are selfish, most religions actually preach against this.

Some people use the religion to justify their behavior, a way to do evil things and have a good conscience.

The religion is not the CAUSE..... the mind and heart of the person commiting wicked acts is the cause, the religion is just an excuse they cling to in order to be "the good guy".

Yes, you may have a few ACTUALLY brainwashed ones..... but contrary to popular belief, most religious people are not TECHNICALLY brain washed..... they simply seek a path that allows them to do as they wish and not be held accountable. Is'nt that the definition of a "perfect world" ;-)

And even without religion, there are these wayz to perform wickedly and call thyself good. Take a look at all the people who would say "there is no evil or good"

Different image of the same scene.

It is not religion that causes it, most people are not stupid enuf ( no matter what you BELIEVE ) to read something and say "oh this must be true becuz it is written. "

It is not religion that causes it, it is our own selfish desire. With or without religion, mankind is still self centered and cruel. :-)

Answer 5

It's the ego thought system that's the problem - a thought system that says we're separate from everythnig else and looks to be special and to judge others. Most religions become support mechanisms for this thought system and these ego-based religions (and the deities they produce) are all about judgement, saved versus unsaved, reward for a special group, sin, etc. Their very nature is that they're built on maintaining the very thing that is the problem: the concept of a separate self that is separate from the universe and others and looks to maintain itsel both in this life and the next.

Answer 6

Basically, it's because we're pack animals; we're tribal.

Each religion arises from the culture and experience of the people who follow it, and the cultures and experiences are DIFFERENT for different peoples.

People who developed in a climate that was arid and hostile tend to have a harsh and judgmental idea of the Divine. People who developed in a climate that was far more temperate tend to have more nurturing ideas about the Divine.

so the different religions aren't just different in the actual religious ideas - many of those are similar - they are also deeply rooted in environmental and cultural differences. The poetry and imagination of one people will be completely alien to another.

At it's most basic, though, the problem is the same problem of nationalism; they stem from the same basic (and base) thinking:

We're us, and you're not, so we're better than you. OUR ways are the RIGHT ways.

Answer 7

There religion tells them that they are better than others and that God likes them and hates everyone else. You are special.
that is what people want to hear. You are going to paradise and they others to a really bad place to suffer.
Because that is what God wants. He wants you to hate and kill others because they are not good like you are. Only not telling them what good is. You can torture, lie, kill and even rape because you are so special.
No one believes he is a bad person, even a serial killer.
In side of us is buildt in self esteem. We know are mother and father is wonderful because they are nice to me and they tell me I am special so God must feel that way to.
Then The religious leaders they put over them tells them the same thing to reassure them of their purity.
They fail to realize that others feel the same way.
So when a war starts which the rich rulers who don't fight the wars and want things the other side has are the ones who decide we are going to fight to the death these awful people.
Course he is not the one who is going to fight to the death.
Send these young men out to fight with the blessings of the religous leaders. So both sides thinking they are right and the others are monsters and heathens. They are going to heaven when they die. If you doubt it call the chaplin the military provides to convince you that your going to heaven and your on the side of God. They get out there and fight viciously to the death.
To get them to do that, the leaders have to build up hate for the other side. It is a natural instinct to run into a burning building to save someone. We are not natural killers.
But religious hated gets the juices flowing and preachers get them to the battle field. When they die it is made to look real romantic and has a flag drapped over the coffin and he is a hero.
of course he went to heaven.
why change it when it works so good. All the soldiers in the military are volenteers. Wanting to go to heaven.
On both sides. Only the arabs gets a virgin.
That gives them even more incentive. Maybe the priest will start telling how the USA soldiers gets a virgin to.

Answer 8

I think that people feel that those who do not share the exact same beliefs about God/god/gods, etc are against/attacking their beliefs.

Instead of just letting the "truth" be self-evident in nature, how we act, etc etc, people often feel like they need to protect their religion, that they need to ward off people who attack their religion. Attacking or questioning a person's religion is often taken as a personal attack because is difficult for a person to separate themselves from their doctrine/practices/religion.

Since freedom to practice one's Religion is a fundamental "right" to all humans, attacking/disagreeing with another person's religion is pretty much the most "dehumanizing" thing that a person could endure. Thus, the defensiveness and anger and malice that can occur in the name of protecting not only a Religion, but a person's RIGHT to choose their Religions (or lack thereof).

Those are just some of my thoughts of why there seems to be so much inter-religious conflict/hate.

Peace and love, : )

Answer 9

Mankind tries to shove the universe into a wee tidy box so they can claim to understand it all, and from this mentality come all the cookie-cutter religions that say that they are the ONLY way.

In all the universe, there is no evidence of anything being absolute, therefore how can there be an all-inclusive, absolute way for everyone?

The one-size-fits-all mentality of religions who demand that everyone think and feel alike, in spite of our own individual needs, they deny their own humanity and try to call it holiness. They try to get everyone else to deny theirs using shame and fear. It denies individualism and teaches a fear of soul-searching honesty. Where is the love in that??? Where is truth??

What we percieve is not reality, but reality exposed to our method of questioning.

Some people use their logic to formulate conclusions, and some use conclusions to formulate their logic. When it comes to thought, some people stop at nothing.

Answer 10

People fear the unknown, and their religion teaches them that difference isn't a good thing (not all religions, but most). They teach that their religion is the one "true" religion, and all others are false, therefore, all others will go to hell.

This causes a mass hysteria in people...why should we associate ourselves with people doomed to "hell"...why are these people still existing when there is no point....they are evil...etc.

Religion, when not kept in check, can cause extreme reactions and actions in the believer. This will drive them to do things they think their "god" would approve of....aka, bomb "infidels", abortion clinics, government buildings, etc.

It's a sad world, but I think even without religion playing a part, it would still happen. They just have an "excuse" to use, thinking that it's okay that way.

Answer 11

Religions are founded on faith; faith requires belief; belief cannot be 'proved' - you believe or you do not. If you cannot 'prove' your belief to someone else, they will be disinclined to believe you and follow their own 'belief'. It is this disparity of 'proof' that causes the problems - often manifested as hatred - because inability to 'prove' something tends to cause frustration (in both parties!). As with so many other things, it is extremism that causes the worst excesses of human behaviour e.g. Spanish Inquisition, Concentration Camps (quasi-religion based!) and finally greed for what someone else has that you feel is your right to have - peace, love, happiness! Hey, go figure: believe if you choose to but bear in mind someone else may choose to believe the opposite/contrary and they have just as equal a right to do so! (It is also interesting to substitute the word 'politics' for 'religion' in any related discussion!)