If there was no religion would there have been as much slaughtering throughout history?

Question

Would having no religion in history, bring about a more peaceful history book or would there spawn something else in religion's place to kill the masses? Perhaps religion was used as a tool to satisfy greed, excessive ambition and uncontrolled human desire?

Answer 1

I think people killing people doesn't have to do much with religion. They use it as an excuse and a reason, but if they want to kill someone they'll always find some sort of reason.

Answer 2

Yes, even the heathen nations war to acquire land and loot.
Religion has been used through out history to 'excuse' the greed and lusts of people desiring what they do not have. Were it not religion it would have been another 'excuse'.
If you will look at your own life experiences can you truthfully say you did not do something against another and not 'reason out' an excuse to 'justify' your action, even if you were wrong.
I don't think you can point out a TRUE Holy War by any Nation of People that was not based on desire to have or acquire something that had nothing to do with religion.
Then again, what is Religion? Nothing more than a belief system whether it be the worship of an item, a person, self or a national ideology. Ah...there lies the rub.

Answer 3

Im impressed this is a good question. My answer would be that there probably would be just as much if not more, because think about it.... religion is not the only thing that has caused great turmoil, it has however been used in many cases as a crutch to excuse many of the bad things that has happened, but mankind would have found another crutch to use through out history like money power and fame, especially money, remember money is the root of all evil.

Answer 4

Religion is definately used as a tool. People fight wars over land, fear (conquering those savages before they run off with our children!), anger, competition, and many, many other reasons. Religion certainly didn't invent armies, or weapons, people who wanted to kill others did those things. All they needed was an excuse they could give to the masses to justify the horrors they wanted to unleash on the opposition. If you want to see what happens without religion, look at Russia, China, Cambodia, or any other communist country. They slaughtered their own people, starved them, overworked them, all in the name of the State. And they're as anti-religion as you can get in a government.

Answer 5

The bloodiest wars in history have been religious or ideological. So... if you take religion out of the answer, you'd have less but you are still left with a heck of a lot of killing on ideological grounds.

Answer 6

Well, the Native Americana's were very into wars with their neighbors: Scalping (creepy), land wars, ect ...

Gingus Kanh (sp???) & Attilla the Hun were the most feared warriors of all times. Attila brought so much fear that he sent the local people of Venice to leave land and build a civilization in water (were Attila sucked at killing & rapping) and this kept them (Venitians) safe. The attacks from these atheist warlards were also direct into China and the fear of these athesist warlords also created the Great wall of China. So, thanks to war we have two great destinations to vacation at!!! I highly recomend going to Venice, IT ... there's no place like it!!!

Hitler well, I concider this psycho more of a "Social Darwinian" fighting for an arien nation than Christain (his sheeps clothing to cover his wolf nature). Then Einstein (raised Jewish, proclaimed atheist) created the A-Bomb ... scary ... So, I think those who "Blame" war on religion need to expand their whole they view the world from; come on public education sucks and is biased!!!

Answer 7

religion is just one of many ways to unify and ultimately separate people. humans must have community and in order to have community there must be those outside the community. the whole human race is just way too large for a single mind to feel connected to. you shouldn't ask if religion, or politics, or race are to blame. ask why these groups foster insecurity within their ranks by creating the concept of the "evil other."

Answer 8

False religion caused war. Warrior spirits of the dead claiming to be the One and only God, caused wars to build up armies of slaves for himself to enhance and s trengthen his power. Greed yes.

Some of the false gods encouraged cannibalism. Enemy people were captured, axed, saved in jars, eaten.

Races improve in abilities, intelligence through breeding. It produced better corporeal people and higher spirits who can live forever. Dedicated cannibals can go out of being, there is literally "no future" in it.

Answer 9

Of course. Religion isn't the only reason (excuse) for genocide....look at ethnic cleansing, the holocaust, etc...religion isn't the ONLY excuse to kill...just the most hypocritical one.

Answer 10

Hmm. well science created the nuclear bomb, have you ever stopped to think about that? Power hungry people kill not religion or science! In my opinion people are just looking for excuses to rid the world of spirituality, because it is easier than thinking that someday we WILL be held accountable for our actions. ;-)