Here, just a few bloody massacres in the name of Religion ,to get you started.
Albigensian Crusade (13th century, orthodox Christians killing heretics)
Massacres of Indian Independence (1947, Hindu vs. Muslim)
The Crusades (Christian vs. Muslim)
Russian Pogroms (Christians killing Jews, Medieval times to 20th century)
Sudanese Civil War (1983 to present, Muslims vs. Christians and Animist rebels)
Teutonic Knights and their Crusades (13th through 15th centuries, Christians vs. Pagans and other Christianity)
Iconoclastic Controversy (Byzantium, 726 to 9th century, Christians against Christians)
Persecution of Christians (2nd to early 4th centuries, Romans vs. Christians
Al Qaeda (Present day, Muslim fanatics vs. westerners)
Holy Inquisition (Christian vs. Jews, Muslims and heretics, Spain, 15th to 19th centuries, also spreading to other countries)
Thirty Years War (Christians, Catholics vs. Protestants, Germany, 1618 to 1648)
"The Religious Wars" of 16th century France (Catholics vs. Protestants)
Bosnian Civil War (1990s, Orthodox Christians vs. Muslims and Roman Catholics)
East Timor (1970s to present day, Muslims mainly killing Christians)
Hussite Wars (Roman Catholics vs. Hussites, Central Europe--Bohemia/Moravia, 15th century)
Indonesia (Halmohera, Ambon: 1990s to present: Muslims killing Christians)
Ivory Coast (present day, Christians vs. Muslims)
St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre (1572: Lyon, France: Catholics killing Protestants
Siege and Massacre at Jerusalem (1099, Christians, killing Jews and Muslims)
Sri Lanka (1983 to present, Hindus mainly killing Buddhists)
Salem Witch Trials (1692, Christians vs. the imperfectly orthodox)
"The Troubles" (Catholics vs. Protestants, Northern Ireland, 1969 to present day)
Chatila (1982, Christians or Jews killing Muslims)
Forced Conversions of Saxons (772-804, Charlemagne, Christians vs. Pagans)
Sack of Constantinople, 1204 (Roman Catholics killing Orthodox Christians)
2007-07-05 14:03:56
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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It is true that many wars, thinking particularly European Wars of the early modern period, were fought in the name of religion. I will focus on U.S. and European history.
In the early Modern period there were the French Religious Wars, The Thirty Years' War, and some anti-Protestant wars against the Dutch and England by the supposedly devout Catholic, Philip II.
However, two points to be kept in mind. FIRST, MANY POLITICAL LEADERS USE RELIGION AS A RUSE TO PROMOTE THEIR OWN POWER. Religion takes the rap, when leaders,for example, Charles V, start wars, but then prove by later actions their concern was their own power, not Christ's.
Second, look at all the wars started that in NO WAY involved religion: American Revolution, U.S. Civil War, Napoleonic Wars, World War I, World War II, War of the Spanish Succession, and I could go on and on.
During the Cold War, the Soviet Union did take over most of eastern Europe, Korea,and later made invasions of Czechslovakia, Hungary, and many others. These were predicated largely on the basis that the Soviet Communists had an atheistic, anti-religious belief that HAD TO DESTROY RELIGION. Under Communism the state rules all, there is no place for God.
In summary, the question is good. But there is an implication that would cause many to unduly cast religion as the villian.
2007-07-05 14:31:19
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answer #2
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answered by Rev. Dr. Glen 3
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This is ONE side of the issue, true.
The other side is, how many people have been comforted, received medical treatment and benefited by the charities organized by religious groups over the past thousand years.
Who, other than religious people or church organizations operate as many soup kitchens and shelters in western countries? How many modern hospitals and clinics are operated, or founded by religious groups, as compared to groups of people NOT affliated with churches?
Tell me all the wonderful things that are done to a greater extent in our societies than those things organized and accomplished by the people affliated with churches?
Do you think in areas not having organized religion in the past (say Africa, before the missionaries) that there was peace amongst the tribes? No, ain't so.
The USSR officially didn't recognize churches, and weren't they a delightful and public spirited group? Ask the 10 million who lost their lives due to the efforts of Mr. Kruchchev , before he became "President" in the 1950's, or Mr. Stalin's government's humanistic approach to the welfare of its peoples.
Buddhists have fought wars also, but does that negate the centuries of peace that billions of people have experienced?
I think what I am getting at is that you are making it out in this question that all organized religion is bad. That simply isn't the case. Put all things in a proper perspective and you will create a more believable argument.
2007-07-05 14:24:53
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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You DO know that a world without religion would not be a world free from war, right? As long as people have different ideas, people will always be waging war.
2007-07-05 14:03:51
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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Too much. There has been more blood spilled over religion than anything else over human history. In the word of Betrand Russell
"I am often told that to attack religion is a terrible thing, because religion makes men virtuous; so I am told; I have not noticed it."
2007-07-05 14:06:05
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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almost all of them at least one side, and in many cases both sides. However, don't confuse "in the name of religion" with "because of religion". "war is the health of the state", states will adapt any ideology in such a way that it strengthens their case to wage war.
2007-07-05 14:05:13
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answer #6
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answered by Ray Patterson - The dude abides 6
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As long as there is religion, then there will be war. When you have groups of people that believe the creator of the universe wrote their holy book it only leads to conflict.
Religion is a hobby, nothing more.
2007-07-05 14:07:52
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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small response to an old canard about religion being responsible for all
the evils of mankind:
Atheism's Murder Rate: More than 250 Million Dead in the Past Century
(excerpt)...
With recent documents uncovered for the Maoist and Stalinist regimes, it now
seems the high end of estimates of 250 million dead (between 1900-1987) are
closer to the mark. The Stalinist Purges produced 61 million dead and Mao's
Cultural Revolution produced 70 million casualties. These murders are all
upon their own people! This number does not include the countless dead in
their wars of outward aggression waged in the name of the purity of
atheism's world view. China invades its peaceful, but religious, Tibet;
supports N. Korea in its war against its southern neighbor and in its
merciless oppression of its own people; and Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge kill
up to 6 million with Chinese support. All of these actions done "in the name
of the people" to create a better world.
http://www.scholarscorner.com/apologia/deathtoll.html
Links to documentation in the article.
2007-07-05 14:04:42
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answer #8
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answered by Jeanmarie 7
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For Islam- a heck of a lot. For Christinaity- none that I know of. (And before you mention the Crusades, know that the Crusades were in response to the Jihad [a Muslim "holy" war] which took territory from Christian Byzantium [East Rome]).
2007-07-05 14:05:41
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answer #9
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answered by Anonymous
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A few dozen in the last century alone.
2007-07-05 14:03:10
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answer #10
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answered by Dark-River 6
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thousands if not more. and the wars will continue until the end of time.
2007-07-05 14:04:46
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answer #11
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answered by Anonymous
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