Would the world be a more peaceful place if there was no religion?

Question

No holy wars, no jihads, no chosen people, no promised lands. It seems that the source of 75% of world conflict is religious in nature. The rest is economic.

What do you think?

vikings fan; I wrote "IF". It's a hypothetical. Go with that.

OK power, forgot that... Greed = economic issues.

vikings fan; It's a simple question. Why can't you answer it without attacking me? Lack of supporting facts maybe?

Vikings fan; So since "Islam is a huge threat to the world" I take it your answer to my question is yes...

Answer 1

I think it most likely would. Nobody suggests the world would be completely peaceful without religion but it's undeniable that religion lies at the heart of many conflicts. When you have a group of people who believe that god will reward them for killing others their religion is clearly playing a large role in their violence.

Answer 2

No, if everyone tried to live by the 10 commandments or whatever their religion's peace points are, then the world would be a better place. And I don't think most criminals are deeply religious. Murders in this country are most often NOT committed by Christians. Or any other crimes for that matter. And as far as wars go, I don't think they are mostly over religion. It is just radicals pushing their views or wanting something someone else has. WWI and II was not over religion, it was about power. Hitler made it about religion by hating Jews. But they were not the only people he hated.

Answer 3

That's wishful thinking. You will never get rid of religion

Societies that turn atheistic and abondon their religious values will just get overtaken by ANOTHER religion, that's reality and human nature.

Example: EUROPE & ISLAM

*dizz - Well this "hypothetical" question looks like its pushing an unrealistic atheistic agenda that would just make us weak to Islam in the end. It's like asing "if humans had psychic powers, would life be easier?" YES, but it's NOT POSSIBLE. All rational Americans outside of hollyweird and New York see this.

If islamists took over America, liberals would be the first to go. In Iran they slaughter homosexuals every day. Terorists groups actually believe that we're trying to push a "gay feminist agenda" onto them by bringing democracy to Iraq. What they don't know, is that the people against the war are typically the people they hate the most.

- don't be so sensitive, I wasn't attacking you. How about actually taking into consideration what I said? Islam is a huge threat to the free world.

- Yes it is but us developing a passive pacifist attitude isn't going to do squat. If we go down the path of Europe we'll just get invaded by islamists like them and end up being ruled by people 100X more radical than christians. If that's what you really want, you might as well convert now.

Answer 4

Human beings would think of something else to fight about. Religion has, for the most part, served as a peacemaker. Maybe not on the international scene but certainly in the domestic scene. Religious institutions, although divinely inspired are run by humans and thus not perfect.

Answer 5

Vikings fan is 100% right.

Answer 6

No. Mankind will always seek reasons to harm others due to greed and lust for power.

Answer 7

Ask China and Russia - they both tried to ban religion at one time or another.

Answer 8

Yes. The reason being that few issues bring about more passion then religion. People will kill and be killed for it.

Answer 9

unknown. the feelings of lonliness might make things worse, but the church not existing might make things more bearable.

Answer 10

only if it included secular humanists, ecology nuts, and all the other "religions"