Examine The Impact Of Religion On Ethno Religious Conflict

The Impact of Religion on Ethno-Religious Conflicts: in Israel and Palestine, and Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract Religion is supposed to be a positive factor in solving problems and disputes not only between individuals, but also between nations. Unfortunately, throughout history we have seen that religion was and still is used primarily by radicals to achieve their political, social, or religious agenda. This negative exploitation of religion by people of interest and radicals has distorted the image of various beliefs and their putative role in promoting peace. Negative exploitation of religion in the past and present is the main reason why secularism has become the most common phenomena, and has pushed many people to reject religion. People have come to consider religion, specifically monotheistic ones, as one of the biggest obstacles for world peace and
In brief, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is understood as a territorial dispute, but over the years the disputing parties have used their religious attachment to the land to advance their political goals. Israel-Palestine, or the Holy Land, is the epicenter to the world’s three Abrahamic religions - Christianity, Judaism, and Islam - making it a necessary location for the Abrahamic religions’ religious narrative. And in Bosnia and Herzegovina, following the fall of communism and split-up of Yugoslavia, ethno-religious groups raced to win sovereignty in the multicultural state which resulted in a bloody battle. Although the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina is depicted as nationalistic, ethno-religious rivals sought independence to integrate their religious identity into their nationalistic aspirations. Indeed, religion has demonstrated to be counterproductive to creating and sustaining peace, and has exacerbated hostilities in both Israel and Palestine, and Bosnia and