In the history of mankind, which institution has been more divisive than religion?

Question

This question struck me while watching CNN. Try as I might, I can't think of any institution or organization that has been more divisive than religion. Hindus and Muslims, Muslims and Christians, Muslims and Jews, Christians and Hindus, Protestants and Catholics, Shia and Sunni . . . heck even Buddhists are getting in on the action, lately!

Well, at least agnostics aren't fighting atheists . . . there may be hope after all.

As long as people believe in absurdities they will continue to commit atrocities. ~Voltaire

The key qualifying phrase here is "In the history of mankind". Yes, Hitler and other despots were divisive but were also short-lived. Also, they weren't institutions or organizations.

Capitalism, communism and fascism are pretty good answers but, to me, they're fairly recent influences on the world stage. The rise and fall of governments and nations, over time, become footnotes in comparison to the thousands of years of continuous influence wielded by religions.

As for those of you who "reason" by personal attack . . . you indict yourselves.

It is better to stir up a question without deciding it, than to decide it without stirring it up. ~Joseph Joubert

It is the position of some theists that their right to freedom OF religion is abridged when they are not allowed to violate the rationalists' right to freedom FROM religion. ~James T. Green

Men will wrangle for religion; write for it; fight for it; die for it; anything but live for it. ~C.C. Colton

Answer 1

Government; be it monarchy, oligarchy, "democracy" , and so on. Granted government (or those in power) wield religion like a weapon. Although it is arguable that there is no difference and/or that religion was the first true government. Hmmmm.

Answer 2

Actually I think it's the institution of power that is more divisive than anything else.

Think about most countries? How many wars have been waged because one group was more powerful than another group? Or one group of people was in poverty due to the oppression of another group?

Let's put the blame where it truly belongs. Not on God, but on the fact that humans are self-seeking. If you look at the teaching in the bible, you will see that a person who is following after God's heart does not seek self-glory or selfish means. And from what I understand, most religions when practiced in their correct form are not about selfish motivations.

What happens is that people corrupt these teachings or use religion as the excuse to blame for the ills in society.

So, the institution of power is what corrupts society. And selfish ambition is not exclusive to any relgion. It's exclusive to human nature.

Answer 3

Islam does no longer motivate extra effective violence than diverse religions! at modern-day this seems to be like the case once you think approximately that maximum muslims international huge are disenchanted with the subjects interior the Arab international and the extra effective radical ones see the west as beginning up an unofficial "conflict against islam" in many respects. i'm no longer denying that there is violence inspired by skill of non secular techniques yet how can you remarkable say that one faith conjures up extra effective than yet another? we've entered a era in historic previous the region muslims are being discriminated in direction of by way of Sept. 11 and are further aggrivated by skill of way of the conflict in Iraq (an Arab Muslim u . s . a .) & Israel vs. Palestine besides as Israel vs Hezbollah and now the entertainment of Lebanon, muslim or in the different case. for the reason that all and sundry the extremist themes emerged on the beginning up from muslims in Arab international locations inspite of the incontrovertible fact that no longer from muslims in diverse places international huge (corresponding to Indonesia that's the main mandatory muslim u . s . a . in the international), why do no longer you blame Arabic/center eastern custom by way of fact the beginning place of the region? according to probability the respond isn't as hassle-free as you think approximately.

Answer 4

I believe you are right. Religion is the most divisive in history.

That is true, in part, because though society changes and politics are in constant flux, religion has remained the one constant throughout known history.

Edit: It has been proved that a little stirring helps to sweeten the mix. The best way to bring together a group is to challenge their beliefs.

Answer 5

Bear in mind . . . you're ONLY talking about *JCI* religions---monotheistic Middle Eastern cults.

My own ancestors, when in foreign places, would make the expected sacrifices and observances to the local deities, because for them, religion was a matter of local custom and thew, and the godhs of a foreign people were still godhs, after all, and in charge of local things. When they returned home, from trading or raiding or military service, they would return to the local cult without pause or conflict.

It's those *other* guys . . . the "One True Faith™" crowd . . . that cause so much trouble. :-)

Answer 6

People are the divisive agents. All divisions are caused by the "Us's" and "They'ns" mentality. If you limit divisivness to institutional causes, you exclude tribal, national, political, racial, sexual, language causes. Hell, if little green men from some other world landed and took up residence, they'd have their enemies and clique.

Answer 7

the throne. an institution that has divided nations, peoples.... in just about every area.

imperialism
territorial wars
trade disputes
response to assassinations, to the deaths of officials
genocide caused by a man who rules a nation
division caused by a weak leader
slavery, exile, executions
the rise to power

it seems to me that the government has caused more problems than religion. duty to God is often dropped for a seat, for power, for control. the throne is that institution sir.

Answer 8

There are plenty of agnostics and atheists that fight each other as well as oppress others for their believes. You need to check history. There are plenty of athiestic leaders who killed and oppressed those who believed differently than they did. I am not saying that it the way that most agnostics and athiests are. But I kinda get tired of many athiests and agnostics coming on here and acting like all athiests and agnostics are purfect angels and have never done one small minded thing in the history of the world. They have done their share.

Answer 9

Hmmmm..... Politics? The coordinated grab for power.

Answer 10

religion is not only divisive it is extremely destructive, to peace, to cultures to societies and to evolution. Who knows where we would be by now if the churches hadn't taken control of education, medicine, governments... and so on... every aspect of our societies still bares the scars of the controlling religions (North America it's christianity as is many parts) over burdened with laws that only seem to divide, limited understanding of the world because of it's brainwashing teaching style in our schools, we are not graded on how well we think, we are graded only on how well we memorize what others think. limitation of our freedoms because their laws are still on the books...