Why Do People Say "Religions Cause War", When It Has Only Been Islam & Christianity That Have Engaged In Wars?

Question

The number of times that I have read people describe religion as "the root of all evil" and say things like "religion causes division", "religions cause wars" etc. I don't mean any offence to Islam and Christianity whatsoever (I see all religions as belonging to God), but out of the 6 major religions in the world today, it has only been Islam and Christianity that have ever engaged in wars of religion or have used religion to justify aggression and violence. What wars have other religions, such as Hinduism, Budhism, Sikhism, Jainism, Judaism, Shintiosm, Confuciasm etc been involved in???

Why do people blame religion for wars when out of all major religions it has only been 2 that have ever engaged in wars of religion????

Answer 1

you are so right.

why can't we all be Buddist?
i think that is the best ever way of life! live in harmony and try to reach Nirvana or whatever it is.
how good will the world be if we were all to follow Buddism?
ok i know i'm going on a bit, but its just my opinion.

Christians and Islamists - stop fighting! live in harmony.....=D

Answer 2

It might be more correct to say 'Religion is the EXCUSE often used for causing wars'. If you were to extract the political component out of all wars you might find that the purely religious element was rather small. Unfortunately, politics cannot be extracted out of Islam because it is a politico-religious society. There's a lot more effort made to keep the Christian church separate from the State in Western countries. Yet it has always been convenient for leaders to whip up the masses' religious fervour and sense of insult, so that they can then rush to war in the name of God (who are they kidding?)

But don't forget the Japanese in World War II, invading the USA. They worshipped their supposedly divine leader, Hirohito and had no fear of death. Shintoism's beliefs enabled them to make hopeless 'Banzai' charges, led by officers waving ceremonial swords. Only when Hirohito told them to surrender (after the A bomb was dropped) did their fanaticism fade. So Shintoism has clearly, and comparatively recently, been guilty of making war, though I could not say to what extent it was politically or religiously motivated.

It must also be said that very many Christians have suffered cruelly for being conscientious objectors to war. Perhaps that is also the case in Islam and other faiths, and it certainly is of people with no religious faith! The issue is complex and it's always a mistake to generalise.

Answer 3

Do you believe so things are just worth dieing for? Like family, or a friend maybe. Some people feel that way about the faith, I believe it is worth fighting for and dieing for if it comes to that and I think it has. Our freedom right now it at stake, 9/11 was about freedom, We got freedom, they don't and they want us to be like them, live in poverty, no medical care, most islamic countries are what we call third world countries, there is a reason for that. Right now the war they got the war they wanted, I mean if you are going to conquer the world there has to be a war right with us, We are a free nation, us and England, and with T. Blair out of the way I fear the radical muslims will now take all of europe, so we fight and may God help us.

Answer 4

Religions may cause war, but it is not Faith that is behind them. I believe that all healthy religions have at their core unconditional love for all. If we live as we say we do, there would be no wars over the ignorance of who God with the many faces and names is. We need to practice acceptance of others religion, it is the lowest possible form of love.
Blessed Be

Answer 5

I'm a christian and i do not justify war. out of all the wars that has happen in the past majority of them have been politically related. the reason why people think religion causes war is because of the main focus in Iraq. that is between the Muslims and Jews. not Christians.

but i understand your point and i do agree with you.

Answer 6

I include Judaism in that, as it was the parent of both Islam and Christianity.

Those three are religions, therefore "religions cause war" fits. It doesn't state all do, but more than one does.

Answer 7

Several of the other religions in your list have been involved in war. Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judasim and Shintoism to my knowledge.

(other replies have described them, Sikhism have fought with muslims and shintoism has been used to motivate the Japanese army into fighting for their "God" emperor)

And confucism isn't a religion. It's a philosophy and quasi religion at best.

Answer 8

Um. The Persians pretty much started wars with their pre-Islamic beliefs, too, thought the Greeks were infidels and needed to be yoked under the mantle of the Persian State.


Come to think of it, just about every Islamic theocracy that exists today teaches the same thing they did when Alexander kicked their butts.

Answer 9

Because you are incorrect. Every religion has, at one time or another, had adherants that have gone to war for on behalf of their faith. Does not mean it is right or even that the religion itself condones such action, it is just human nature to justify our violence and religion is a good place to start. We also go to war over wealth, resources, territory, nationalistic pride, political purity, to liberate the proletariate, etc.

Answer 10

Because it is true that some religion try to spread itself through wars. To know which religion adopte this method, you need to take a look on the Books >> Bible, Koran etc....

Answer 11

their are buddhists fighting in thailand and tibet? muslims fought muslims at the pakistan and india split, its not so much the religions that cause wars i think it is more religiouse ideologies are used to justify the reasons even though their is no such thing as a justified war