Comparison Of War And Religion

War and Religion

For almost as long as humans have existed there has been some type of religion or religions. Whether it was Ancient Greek or modern-day Catholicism people have argued over who’s religion is the right one and how to follow it. This tension has often been the basis for many violent uprising and wars. When religions clash it often result in a war. One historic example of a religious war are the Crusades.

One of the earliest instances of religion playing an important factor in a violent matter is the biblical story of the Exodus from Egypt to the Promised Land led my Moses and many successors. The important biblical character of Moses was a man with great belief and devotion to his god, the same god that is mentioned in many of

Though, it wasn’t the Jewish people themselves that caused the torture and deaths.

They would have rather gone without that, but instead the reason for the deaths and torturing is the religion itself and one group’s interpretation of the Jewish religion.

The Nazi regime believed that Germans were higher and more important to society and that the Jews were “inferior” and a treat to German life. (United States Holocaust Mem.

Museum) The only way to eliminate the treat was to murder all of those who looked like or considered themselves as a Jew. This mass murder of one religion is a solid example of religion being the cause for violence and/or a war. If the Jewish religion was not of existence there may not have been a mass murder of this scale. (United States Holocaust Mem. Museum) Of course the example of the Holocaust may be an example that one may poke holes into and disprove my claim. However, the next example is going to be more solid and will prove my point.

The Crusades were military movements starting in 1291 that were carried out by western

European Christians. The goal of these wars was to regain control over the Holy Land.

People were becoming more devote to their own religion and wouldn’t agree with any others. This was why the Holy Land couldn’t be shared. Because the religions disagreed, there was violence and wars in attempts to take the Holy Land. The powers controlling the land changed many times and with each time blood was shed. It was religion versus religion. A great example of religion being the cause for war and violence. (“Crusades”)

As I mentioned before, people of a religion may not be the direct cause for violence, but instead traditional beliefs and understands of that religion can be. In modern society, there are groups of people that do not like religion or they do not like a specific religion. Atheists, the

KKK, and others are examples of these groups. Also in history, governments have required restrictions, arrests, and/or executions of members of specific religions. The Holocaust and the

Roman’s executions of Christians are examples of this. These groups and events would not exsist without religions because their sole purpose and ideals are completely connected to religions.

Violence and religion are closely connected. From the early works of the Bible to