What divides people the most, religion, race or money?

Question

Religion, race or money? Which one and why?

Answer 1

Well, I believe that "race", other than when in reference to term "human race" is a "creation" used to divide. We like to suggest that it's a way to merely classify groups of people, but history shows that we use race as a means to control and discriminate against one another. Race is to me, for the most part a fabrication and does not truly exist. So, it can and does divide us.

Money does divide us somewhat, but the percentage of rich to less rich is so skewed that it sort of balances itself out. The uber-rich are so far-removed from everyone else that they virtually do not exist as pertains to the "less fortunate". How many of us regularly rub elbows with Bill Gates, or Oprah Winfrey, or Carlos Slim Helú (now richer than Bill Gates), or Anil Ambani, or any of the Walton family? Many have probably never even heard of some of these people. So, money might well separate us, but I think separation and division are very far removed from each other.

An so that leaves us with the most contentious of issues: religion. Religion, ostensibly is this great uniting force that draws groups of people to one common belief, and is supposed to make them better people, and improve their lives. Religious people are supposed to be happier, nicer, healthier, and many other superlatives. Well, I'm going to break decorum here and say, NOT! I live in the United States, and without even leaving our shores, we can see how religion (or the choice to abstain, or the reality of indifference) has divided up the social strata cliques, sects, cults, denominations, elitist groups; an ecumenical melting pot that is more akin to Chernobyl than to a favorable jambalaya. Catholics and Protestants are still at perennial war. Protestants, even without the existence of the Catholic church are suffering from in-fighting. And then of course, there are all those who feel marginalized by their choice to remain outside the ranks of the "religiously oriented", choosing a life of agnosticism, atheism, or complete indifference to any concept of a higher being.

Stepping outside of the United States, we see what so many love to call fundamentalism, and we judge "those people" because of the strength of their beliefs. We've got various types of Jewish beliefs, we've got various types of Muslim beliefs. The world of "believers" is divided up by over 20 different "major" religions:

Christianity: 2.1 billion
Islam: 1.5 billion
Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist: 1.1 billion
Hinduism: 900 million
Chinese traditional religion: 394 million
Buddhism: 376 million
primal-indigenous: 300 million
African Traditional & Diasporic: 100 million
Sikhism: 23 million
Juche: 19 million
Spiritism: 15 million
Judaism: 14 million
Baha'i: 7 million
Jainism: 4.2 million
Shinto: 4 million
Cao Dai: 4 million
Zoroastrianism: 2.6 million
Tenrikyo: 2 million
Neo-Paganism: 1 million
Unitarian-Universalism: 800 thousand
Rastafarianism: 600 thousand
Scientology: 500 thousand
(http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html)

And remember, the list of Christian religions is about four times the size of the list of major religions.

So with all this religion all over the planet, why is there still so much division? Why don't more people flock to these groups and find their "salvation"? Why are these groups massively changing the world? Religion is so important, apparently, and yet, all we seem to be able to do is to agree to disagree.

Sorry for the long, exhaustive response...this was a good question and it struck a nerve, kind of. :-)

Answer 2

This is a really difficult question. My knee-jerk reaction was "money." I've considered the capacity of each to divide people and it seems they're all equally potent, just in different ways. Race is tough, because while one can decide to follow a different religion or somehow gain or lose money, race does not change (if in fact there really is such a thing as race...). Religion is tough because it is responsible for resolving phenomena we cannot yet understand. Still, religion is all of the mind. Money talks. Money is what (im)mobilizes people, physically, not just psychologically.

Answer 3

Well indeed one of the best question ever ask. The three factors are primary contributors to the division between people today. But depend on your location will the earth your answer will vary. As for me, I can say money is what divide most people. If someone has the money he can do anything with his people and thinks he greater then everyone.

Answer 4

While all three cause problems, religion is the big one. The main reason is that the believers of certain religions think that their religion is the correct way and basically kill non-believers. If people would have respected other religions, then I'm sure many lives would have been saved throughout history.

Answer 5

Most of the time what ever race u are u have the same religion. so u would be seperated both ways by religion and race. so there really is two answers

Answer 6

i think money because atleast with religion n race brothers/sisters/parents all are of the same religion/race.. so wont fight on tht issue.. but with money thts not the case.. i've seen that wen it comes to money even ur own blood wud decieve u a lot of times..so its the most common n worst reason to divide ppl..

Answer 7

I would say money, because people of different social status(wealth) still segregate themselves from within their own kind regardless of religion or race. Money is the great equalizer.

Answer 8

Tough question. But in a class concious society/world, money seems to bring greater acceptance. Hence the notion money walk an BS talk.

Answer 9

Money divides people the most.

Answer 10

Religion, without a doubt. Just take a look at the middle east. The different sects of a religion can't even get along.