Religion and War: What Causes People to Threaten Violence and Even Wage War in Defense of Religion?

RELIGION AND WAR: what causes people to threaten violence and even wage war in defense of religion?

Identifying the true causes of unrest and violence, either domestic or international, which results to war, is really difficult to determine. However is very important to recognize the precise causes of some of the conflicts around the world, where some might be due to ethnicity and religious ideologies but not all. However, when political alliances, economic difference, ethnicity and religious differences occur in any society unrest and chaos takes place. Similarly it causes violence internationally which ultimately results to war. (Humans and Humanity)

It is commonly heard since the beginning of international political system that religion is the root cause of violence in any society, which ultimately leads to war either the motive is self defense or achieving dominance of ones religion. However it could be accepted that religion has been proved to be a cause of violence in a society but its not always and the only cause of war. Actually the basis for war is the struggle for power, either it is achieved via politics, ideology or religion. For instance, if we take the case of USSR and USSA, during the cold war era, the world was divided into two blocks where both these super powers were struggling to win their ideological dominance in the world. Former USSR was promoting communism while USA was a spreading capitalism and free-market economy, though both states agree to secularism, which means religion is not a part of politics. (Yergin D 1988) So it means that religion was not the basis of the long area of cold war between these two rivals.

On the other hand a case of India and Pakistan, the two major countries in South Asia. They are still in a situation of cold war, where Kashmir is the bone of contention to achieving and marinating peaceful relations. Apparently it seems to be a far for religious success but the hidden reality is something different. (Gellner, Ernest. 1987) History proves they were separated into two independent entities 50 years back but since then the India has been unjust for giving back Pakistan the divided piece of land, which was according to the third June, plan, the right of Pakistan and this right was further recognized by the UN long time ago. (Luttwak, Edward N. 1987)

Religion is basically ones personal believes about how to spend his life. Where all religions teach