Wars of religion versus others?

Question

Ive read a few comments which basically say that religion is and has been a major source of war/conflict between people/communites etc. However, many wars begin and continue with no religious motive behind them. Whether or not any war is justified do you think that either of these types of war would be preferable and what are your thoughts on religious wars vs non religious wars.


Ps: I realise that its pushing it a bit to say religious war because the religion may not actually be agreable with what people are justifying. Perhaps the crusades would be a good example or im not sure on this but perhaps indias conflict with pakistan? Hope that clears up what I mean to an extent.

For people saying NO war/conflict is beneficial. You could argue for instance that , the american war of independence was justifiable - churchill. Im not sure id be one for absolute positives and negatives personally. IE: No war is bad or all war is good.

Answer 1

Neither war would be preferable over another. Why would it?

Answer 2

Wars are stupid either way. I mean, come on. Give me one conflict that's helped more people than killed them. Any takers? Point proven.

The only way ANYONE could prefer one over another was if he/she happened to subscribe to the idea that, somehow, having a noble motive gives you the excuse to murder people. One great thinker said, "The immature man is he who desires to die nobly; the mark of the mature man is his wish to live humbly." I couldn't agree more.

EDIT: OK, point taken. All wars are bad except for wars of (justified*) independence or wars waged against atrocities, such as Hitler's treatment of minorities in Germany during World War II or genocide.

But even so, all this is besides the point. You asked if we might prefer one type of war over another (i.e., a war waged for religious reasons versus one over issues of the economy). If we have to have a war, then I vote for the war waged in the name of what's morally/ethically right. Not all non-religious wars are better than religious wars. More specifically, wars fought over a matter of money aren't any better than wars fought over racial/religious prejudices.

Bottom line is, war's the last resort. If there's a way to solve a problem peacefully, then by all means we ought to do so. That's the debate we should be having - not "How can we justify going to war?" but "How can we NOT go to war and solve this problem effectively?"

*Note: When I say "justified independence", I mean cases where a region OUGHT to be independent. That is, when people are being oppressed.

Answer 3

Not all wars between man were or a religious nature.

Not even all wars were of an economic nature, though the great majority of wars were fought over declining resources.

Some wars were started by one Baron against another Baron, or between Dukes, over a petty insult or family feuds or the attainment of power.

Answer 4

If no one thought there was anything to fight for, no one would fight.

Religeon is one of the things that people fight for.

At bottom, religeon may not be the 'reason' why a war happens, but it surely is one of the methods by which people come to believe that fighting a war is something that must be done.

The saying is, 'there are many ways to skin a cat'. There are many ways to convince people to go to war. Each is deplorable, in my view.

Each of the methods by which people come to accept hurting the other must be thrown into question.

Answer 5

while religion may be named as what the war is about, i think most all wars have not really been about that, its about power, and needing to feel good about yourself , and trying to use putting others down as a means to reach that goal,,,, even if a war is called about religion, it so is not, as the actions taken during it have nothing to do with spirituality, nor even often with what their own religion teaches,, and i dont think it really matters what you say your going to war for, it most often is wrong, there are rare cases where you should go in and "rescue" people, but at the same time, until you clean up your own front porch, you shouldnt be charging in as a defender of others, here in the USA, we still havent outlawed the hitting of children, aka "spanking", who are we to speak of atrocities commited by other nations,

Answer 6

religious wars make the combatants feel that much more justified.

Answer 7

all war is about good and evil.there for it always involves god and the devil..