Religious Wars 6th to 19th century

While it may be argued religion was an excuse used to justify the greed and desire for power of leaders.

People on both sides died knowing nothing else, except the idea that God(s) favored them (this in respect to the majority).

See link....

www.fsmitha.com...

[Edited on 27-10-2003 by Toltec]

has religion ever caused a war or has it only ever been used as an excuse for one?

Very good point squinitingcat. Unfortunately the answer is yes/yes. Because the misuse and manipulation of a religion's dogma can lead to that bastardized dogma being used to starts a crusade (jihad, whatever). It then becomes one and the same. The root cause may have been evil people in positions of power that manipulated the doctrine, but once the doctrine was manipulated...it was the cause of the conflict.

Let me just say clearly and for the record that the issue is not specific to one culture and neither can any one society be blamed for this.

Sadly, todays foremost religions, Christianity and the Islamic faith, will never, ever, peacefully coexist. It's unfortunate, but neither, no matter how much one side will argue its' peaceful nature, was structured to be an adverse-culture accepting device. Christians will always see Muslims as barbarous, terror-swinging murderers. Muslims will always see Christians as the infidel, an adversary to everything that it stands for. As the world started to grow smaller in the 14th century, this was, most regretfully, simply a matter of time.

Good point Toltec. Religious wars are something that can not be blamed on any specific belief or culture for inciting the war, as about every organized religion has had a holy war at some point.

The issue of warring cultures goregrinder is not with respect to the masses of each culture (that would be a real problem), neither does it seem to be in regards to any real effort to address the very real similarities between cultures.

Conflicts exist because differences overcome any thing in common. But when what is in common is subverted to an extent no one really knows it even exist, well then there is at least one reason for why war seems to be impossible to resolve.

Any thoughts?

Wars are fought for economic reasons... Religion, like Nationalism though, is often a great rallying tool to get people behind the cause... Therefore, it often seems that religion is the cause, but make no mistake about it....the underlying factors are always economic...and have been through the ages... Religion is to blame only for it's allowance of blind obedience to a warpath that one knows is morally wrong...but they believe to have divine right on their side...

Religion is just a tool or good excuse to do anything. basically it's used to be the reason to the common man, while the ones that have something to gain use it for the use of money, land power and military power.

All in all, religion is no different than nationalism (Gazrok)
its just a common excuse like most.

do you all forget about major conflicts like the crusades and the inquisition(sp), both were for religion were they not?

do you all forget about major conflicts like the crusades and the inquisition(sp), both were for religion were they not?

No, they were not... The Inquisition was a means of silencing critics (to increase their economic power base), as well as seize the victims' holdings etc. Many people the Inquisition killed were known not to be guilty, but were wealthy aristocrats who spoke against the church...

Likewise, the Crusades were more about looting, and clearing a trade route to the East, than about religion...though the increased power of the Church (due in large part to more money from the Crusades' spoils), helped them fan the fires of a religious cause, to get more free conscripts.... One of the more ingenious schemes in history really....

Would add that a majority of the masses could not read or write and were dependant upon those that could for the context of religious text.

Such matter as separation of church and state were non-existent as a result, economic as well as what is relatable to the power-base, often went hand in hand with what was presented as valid and relevant in religious circles.

Ingenious yes but is a rather psychotic way in respect to respect for human life, dignity and the efficacy of religious intent. One consideration is that religion is the pawn but in fact the game of Chess presents a better example, in respect to the bishops being able to move at angles.

Any thoughts?