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 the same lesson and possess the same fundamental principles, though in their own style. Respecting humanity and promoting human rights is the fundamental principal that all religions preach in a separate language and according to different cultures. Therefore, how can one blame religion as a cause for war, actually it is the lack of religious knowledge and awareness that people believe and promote religion as a major source of conflict. On the other hand media takes advantage to win profitable markets by promoting this theory.

Nonetheless many wars and violence indicate ethnicity and religious differences as the root causes. For instance the troubles in the Northern Ireland is traced back to a mixture of Catholic/protestant difference and political commitments, the Rwanda genocide was as a result of a religious split of 75% Christians and 25% indigenous. Similarly the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina was also among three main religious groups i.e. Muslims, Roman Catholic and the Serbian Orthodox. (Scott Davis 1996)

Therefore, not only religion but there could be many other reasons for unrest and anarchy both on state level as well as internationally. Moreover, every ethnic conflict is not a religious war. Though religion has been always the moving target but when the circumstances changes and the political reality comes to our understanding, it is realized that politics has much more to do then religion in such wars and conflicts that is fought in the name of self defense. Classical examples are the conflicts in Ireland, Chechnya, Nigeria, Burundi, Iran, Afghanistan, Kashmir, or Sri Lanka or were during the cold war between the super powers.