Are we wrong to attribute events in history to single causes, including religious motivations? Why or why not?

Question

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What do we lose when we fail to examine multiple causal factors, but instead blame one cause, such as religion, economics, politics, etc., for events in history?

HOW WOULD THIS APPLY TO THE EVENTS DESCRIBED IN THE BIBLE?

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Answer 1

To the first part of your question, Yes we are wrong.

If we don't look for all the factors involved in an event but just accept the first or most commonly given reason, we lose all perspective on the reality of the event.

This means that we can over look solutions to problems as simple conclusion can in fact cause complications in understanding what really happened.

If you have ever experienced an extreme falling out with someone in which every attempt to resolve the situation just gets you in deeper, because you are attributing the cause to one thing and the other person to another. You will see how not looking at all causes can quickly cause an escalation of events in which the root is soon lost.

If you have watch the police Academy films in one of the first the is a scene where the chief of police throws an apple out of the window, which hits someone on the head and starts a domino effect.
At the end of which the whole city is involved in a riot!
The police chief say "who knows how these things start"!

People in tall buildings shouldn't throw apples!!!

That was a fantasy example, a more realist one is WW1 (one of my favourites please visit my 360 to read a little about it) The major part of people, when asked about the reason it began will give the story of Franz Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria-Este. In fact even Wikipedia states the same thing. and goes on to talk about complicated power struggle issues.
But does not give the reason concerning Oil!
Ok, may be I'm losing you here. Try the link and look at the first Blog Art. Which is the bottom one.

http://360.yahoo.com/profile-P.RtCqAicqrDMQ1GPBBGhFtrDw--

As far as what we lose when we fail to examine multiple causal factors, but instead blame one cause, such as religion, economics, politics, etc., for events in history
The simple answer is the Truth.
Which also means we lose the possibility of learn for the mistakes and then move on, we instead get caught up in a loop!

As to your question.
HOW WOULD THIS APPLY TO THE EVENTS DESCRIBED IN THE BIBLE?

This is a tricky one as you first need to say which version of the bible and which of the original texts you wish to follow and how you wish to interpret them.
O' dear here we could get stuck in a loop and end up experiencing one of those extreme falling outs I talked about earlier!

An example is the flood story which has two differant version in genesis one which talks about 2 of each animal and another which talk a bout seven of each.
These can be found at Genesis 1:27 & 5:2 if you wish to look it up.

Then if we bring history into the discussion we have the Atrahasis and the Gilgamesh Epics.
I'll leave you to do the research here, you'll find it interesting. Believe me!

Lets just say applying full research to the biblical events with all the internal and external contradictions would be like opening a can of worms and try to understand which was the first one in there.

But if the question of which worm was first is truly important then the effort must be made.

Thank you for your Question.
Interesting, Truly.

FTWR

Oh sorry I didn't see Uncle up there 'Hi Uncle'

Answer 2

We lose an ability to foresee, and those who lose that are in the same boat as those who forget history: they are doomed to repeat it.

All events, big and small, have a variety of causal conditions. Some are necessary but not sufficient, although at times there is a single sufficient cause once the circumstances are in place. But then there is the cause of that cause, and so on. Pulling a trigger on a loaded gun is both a necessary and sufficient cause of the bullet shooting out at high speed. But there are all the causes of your having the gun in your hand, loaded, and your finger on the trigger. And there is the conscious decision to pull the trigger. More subtle causal conditions (necessary, but not sufficient) are your knowing how to fire a gun, having sufficient control over the muscles of your trigger finger, the hand that grips the gun and aims it, etc., etc., etc. We could even take it back to the manufacturer and supplier of the gun, as some weird lawsuits have attempted to do.

As to events described in the Bible that are attributed to God's intervention, since God is imaginary, we need to look around for other causes. Or accept that many, if not most, of the stories are fiction.

Answer 3

Very good question.

In my opinion, history has been exploited and so has religion. All religion has come to man in order to promote peace, tolerance, good moral values, and examples of what is right and wrong. For those who know what religion stands for will automatically know that religion can not be the one and only cause for "bad" history. Religion does not promote wars, it tries to avoid them. The actual cause for any war are people, regardless of their religious affiliation. People who are in charge of maintaining order, gaining self-power and whatever is their personal agenda.
Having said this, I also personally wonder why every Islamic country around the world has been the target of western concern. There seems to be some kind of an agenda that is aiming at Islam. Especially if one country tries to be the police on earth. Every country has the right to deal with its internal affaires as they see fit. Islamic views on western society is known to all, but I don't see them policing western countries. And if they do criticize, they do not mention Christianity, they say western. But why does the west insist on saying Islamic?
We will be better off when we understand that humans make history happen. People in power, not religion. Under people will come the motives, economic, stature, power.

Answer 4

Quite often the trigger for religious and political events is natural dilators. For example a large volcanic eruption can trigger global climate change which leads to famine, which triggers a fight for resources--pestilence, political upheaval, war. Religious and political events do not happen in a vacuum. Of course I make an obvious distinction between religious--man's responce--and the ever-constant presence of God.

Answer 5

If we do not examine all possible aspects, we will never understand how to better proceed. We will surely stagnate. Fortunately, there are people willing to challenge, willing to ask those tough question, and willing to continue to search for answers. It is only through wonder that we are able to advance.

If you use only one cause, when it comes to the Bible, you will definitely follow it to the letter. You may accept that this is how things are supposed to happen. You will not try to change anything. This leads to reactivity rather than pro-activity. Thereby, we are creating a destiny that is preordained, so to speak.

Answer 6

Jonah and the whale....another big fish story

Israel and Judah over ran by Persians / other nations- supposedly due to lack of following commandments and then a god with held protection (really it was what happens when conservatives are allowed to remain in power and not adapt to the times)

the wandering exodus people of 6 million + (really possibly over exaggerated over the years

invasion of wandering goat herders of Canaan and the murder of whole towns / cities - barbarian monotheists overtaking pagan and peaceful nations who honored nature or animals, while the wandering goat herders killed animals for sacrifices

Answer 7

Wow! Yes to the Bible, and maybe in all history of human events. I have written 6 books, and My next book with be "Why do people do things" specifically, Why do people make major changes in their lives, and especially why do people take risks? For example, you might ask yourself, Why did Christoffer Columbus take that famous voyage?

Well, why did you make your last major change in your life? Was it really what you told your friends and neighbors, or was it in order to escape the conditions that you found to be intollerable? - smiles

Answer 8

War is caused by greed and the lust for power. Many factors help. economics, politics are factors. It is wrong to blame religion.