Does Religion Cause Most Wars?

bhkad · #1 (**permalink**) 10-12-2007, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Does Religion Cause Most Wars?

Current conflicts and wars:

It is important to realize that most of the world's current "hot spots" have a complex interaction of economic, racial, ethnic, religious, and other factors. We list below some conflicts which have as their base at least some degree of religious intolerance:

Country Main religious groups involved Type of conflict

Afghanistan

Extreme, radical Fundamentalist Muslim terrorist groups & non-Muslims

Osama bin Laden heads a terrorist group called Al Quada (The Source) whose headquarters were in Afghanistan. They were protected by, and integrated with, the Taliban dictatorship in the country. The Northern Alliance of rebel Afghans, Britain and the U.S. attacked the Taliban and Al Quada, establishing a new regime in part of the country. The fighting continues

Bosnia

Serbian Orthodox Christians, Roman Catholic), Muslims

Fragile peace is holding, due only to the presence of peacekeepers. 2

Côte d'Ivoire

Muslims, Indigenous, Christian

Following the elections in late 2000, government security forces "began targeting civilians solely and explicitly on the basis of their religion, ethnic group, or national origin. The overwhelming majority of victims come from the largely Muslim north of the country, or are immigrants or the descendants of immigrants..." 5 A military uprising continued the slaughter in 2002.

Cyprus

Christians & Muslims

The island is partitioned, creating enclaves for ethnic Greeks (Christians) and Turks (Muslims).

A UN peace keeping force is maintaining stability.

East Timor

Christians & Muslims

A Roman Catholic country. About 20% of the population died by murder, starvation or disease after they were forcibly annexed by Indonesia (mainly Muslim). After voting for independence, many Christians were exterminated or exiled by the Indonesian army and army-funded militias in a carefully planned program of genocide and religious cleansing. The situation is now stable.

India

Animists, Hindus, Muslims & Sikhs

Various conflicts that heat up periodically producing loss of life.

Indonesia, province of Ambon

Christians & Muslims

After centuries of relative peace, conflicts between Christians and Muslims started during 1999-JUL in this province of Indonesia. The situation now appears to be stable.

Indonesia, province of Halmahera

Christians & Muslims

30 people killed. 2,000 Christians driven out; homes and churches destroyed.

Iraq

Kurds, Shiite Muslims, Sunni Muslims, western armed forces

By mid-2006, a small scale civil war, primarily between Shiite and Sunni Muslims started. The situation appears to be steadily degenerating.

Kashmir

Hindus & Muslims

A chronically unstable region of the world, claimed by both Pakistan and India. The availability of nuclear weapons and the eagerness to use them are destabilizing the region further. More details Thirty to sixty thousand people have died since 1989.

Kosovo

Serbian Orthodox Christians & Muslims

Peace enforced by NATO peacekeepers. There is convincing evidence of past mass murder by Yugoslavian government (mainly Serbian Orthodox Christians) against ethnic Albanians (mostly Muslim) Full story

Kurdistan

Christians, Muslims

Assaults on Christians (Protestant, Chaldean Catholic, & Assyrian Orthodox). Bombing campaign underway.

Macedonia

Macedonian Orthodox Christians & Muslims

Muslims (often referred to as ethnic Albanians) engaged in a civil war with the rest of the country who are primarily Macedonian Orthodox Christians. A peace treaty has been signed. Disarmament by NATO is complete.

Middle East

Jews, Muslims, & Christians

The peace process between Israel and Palestine suffered a complete breakdown. This has resulted in the deaths of thousands, in the ratio of three dead for each Jew. Major strife broke out in 2000-SEP. Major battle in Lebanon during mid-2006. No resolution appears possible.

Nigeria

Christians, Animists, & Muslims

Yourubas and Christians in the south of the country are battling Muslims in the north. Country is struggling towards democracy after decades of Muslim military dictatorships. More details

Northern Ireland

Protestants, Catholics

After 3,600 killings and assassinations over 30 years, some progress has been made in the form of a ceasefire and an independent status for the country.

Pakistan

Suni & Shi'ite Muslims

Low level mutual attacks.

Philippines

Christians & Muslims

A low level conflict between the mainly Christian central government and Muslims in the south of the country has continued for centuries. More details

Russia Chechnya ,

Russian Orthodox Christians, Muslims

The Russian army attacked the breakaway region. Many atrocities have been alleged on both sides. According to the Voice of the Martyrs: "In January 2002 Chechen rebels included all Christians on their list of official enemies, vowing to 'blow up every church and mission-related facility in Russia'." 7

South Africa

Animists & "Witches"

Hundreds of persons, suspected and accused of witches practicing black magic, are murdered each year.

Sri Lanka

Buddhists & Hindus

Tamils (a mainly Hindu 18% minority) are involved in a war for independence since 1983 with the rest of the country (70% Sinhalese Buddhist). Hundreds of thousands have been killed. The conflict took a sudden change for the better in 2002-SEP, when the Tamils dropped their demand for complete independence. The South Asian Tsunami in 2004-DEC induced some cooperation. The situation in mid-2006 is degenerating.

Sudan

Animists, Christians & Muslims

Complex ethnic, racial, religious conflict in which the Muslim regime committed genocide against both Animists and Christians in the south of the country. Slavery and near slavery were practiced. A ceasefire was signed in 2006-MAY between some of the combatants. 3 Warfare continues in the Darfur region, primarily between a Muslim militia and Muslim inhabitants. 8

Thailand

Buddhists & Muslims

Muslim rebels have been involved in a bloody insurgency in southern Thailand -- a country that is 95% Buddhist. The army has seized power and has agreed to talks with the rebels.

Tibet

Buddhists & Communists

Country was annexed by Chinese Communists in late 1950's. Brutal suppression of Buddhism continues. *

Uganda

Animists, Christians, & Muslims

Christian rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army are conducting a civil war in the north of Uganda. Their goal is a Christian theocracy whose laws are based on the Ten Commandments. They abduct, enslave and/or raped about 2,000 children a year. 6

http://www.religioustolerance.org/curr_war.htm

saltwn · #2 (**permalink**) 10-13-2007, 06:35 AM

No. Ye olde root of all evil: money causes most wars. One has it. The other wants it. It can be disguised as trade or oil but it's still the same. Religion is a way people come together as a group when there is no bond as a nation. And long after the national concerns are settled, religion seems more real and constant to many individuals than any government. Evil men see this and know the best way to rally a crowd is to possess their souls as it were. The epitome of evil itself is one who would profit from pretending to be a holy man when he is indeed a hypocrite.

bhkad · #3 (**permalink**) 10-13-2007, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saltwn

No. Ye olde root of all evil: money causes most wars. One has it. The other wants it. It can be disguised as trade or oil but it's still the same. Religion is a way people come together as a group when there is no bond as a nation. And long after the national concerns are settled, religion seems more real and constant to many individuals than any government. Evil men see this and know the best way to rally a crowd is to possess their souls as it were. The epitome of evil itself is one who would profit from pretending to be a holy man when he is indeed a hypocrite.

You think maybe the Muslims should adopt capitalism then, huh?

saltwn · #4 (**permalink**) 10-13-2007, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhkad

You think maybe the Muslims should adopt capitalism then, huh?

No I don't think maybe Muslims should adopt capitalism.
They will adopt capitalism. It's inevitable.

bhkad · #5 (**permalink**) 10-13-2007, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saltwn

No I don't think maybe Muslims should adopt capitalism.
They will adopt capitalism. It's inevitable.

Oh?

Obviously you have a reason for thinking that.

Please share that reason with us.

saltwn · #6 (**permalink**) 10-13-2007, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhkad

Oh?

Obviously you have a reason for thinking that.

Please share that reason with us.

Once upon a time (onesy pony time as my son used to say) we knew capitalistic democracy was a good thing and we tried to promote it around the world. We had some success, but were thwarted time and again by war lords, quasie religious leaders and dictators.
Now days we not only have the Internet, but through our trade with recent partners, there has been a boom in competition. That competition in turn causes
people to become inventors; existing creators to think harder and better.
We dropped wind up radios and translated fliers in tribal lands to make sure these people knew care packages were from the U.S. and to let them know we were not the enemy.
Now wind up radios may have been around awhile and 20 years ago an Afghan
or Bosnian or whatever translator could have perhaps been found. But the task is now much easier technically and logistically due to the world wide brain storming still going on to build a better mouse trap.
With this recent technology/competition we (the western world and the U.S. in particular) are still the biggest kid on the block and we are once again the smartest.
Oh! The Iranians, Syrians, and individual weirdos of the world have technology too, you might say. But I would challenge that these no-gooders are retarded in their efforts by that very available technology. As soon as they communicate be it verbally, digitally or whathaveyou, they send a finger print to a lot of places. Much as we cannot click open that enticing spam mail without opening ourselves up to hackers and spammers in many nations, thugs
can't hide their actions in a vacuum.
Yes, as long as a people can be kept in darkness, they can be manipulated.
But light is truth. And truth will set you free.

bhkad · #7 (**permalink**) 10-13-2007, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saltwn

Once upon a time (onesy pony time as my son used to say) we knew capitalistic democracy was a good thing and we tried to promote it around the world. We had some success, but were thwarted time and again by war lords, quasie religious leaders and dictators.
Now days we not only have the Internet, but through our trade with recent partners, there has been a boom in competition. That competition in turn causes
people to become inventors; existing creators to think harder and better.
We dropped wind up radios and translated fliers in tribal lands to make sure these people knew care packages were from the U.S. and to let them know we were not the enemy.
Now wind up radios may have been around awhile and 20 years ago an Afghan
or Bosnian or whatever translator could have perhaps been found. But the task is now much easier technically and logistically due to the world wide brain storming still going on to build a better mouse trap.
With this recent technology/competition we (the western world and the U.S. in particular) are still the biggest kid on the block and we are once again the smartest.
Oh! The Iranians, Syrians, and individual weirdos of the world have technology too, you might say. But I would challenge that these no-gooders are retarded in their efforts by that very available technology. As soon as they communicate be it verbally, digitally or whathaveyou, they send a finger print to a lot of places. Much as we cannot click open that enticing spam mail without opening ourselves up to hackers and spammers in many nations, thugs
can't hide their actions in a vacuum.
Yes, as long as a people can be kept in darkness, they can be manipulated.
But light is truth. And truth will set you free.

Would you like to try again now?

This time in a coherent manner, yes?

saltwn · #8 (**permalink**) 10-15-2007, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhkad

Would you like to try again now?

This time in a coherent manner, yes?

What part don't you understand?

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