Do Religions Cause Wars?
70Religious Symbols Around the World
Introduction
I have seen a few comments lately that claim religion is the cause of wars. I know that I have read in forums and other sites that religion is the biggest cause of wars in the history of the world. I am going to attempt and examine what causes most wars.
Very few that I have noticed have said anything about people just being evil or wicked. This is what really causes wars. In my opinion it is evil men and women that cause wars and fighting. I am going to attempt to show this in the article I am writing. I will be quoting some Bible scriptures also so be prepared.
Clone Wars
The first time the word evil appears in the King James Version of the Bible is in Genesis. The verse is below.
Gen 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Nearly everyone knows about the tree of knowledge of good and evil. They know that according to the Bible, Adam and Eve both ate of this tree and their weyes were opened that they could see their nakedness. This was the very first sin of man.
Before this happened, nothing they did was wrong. There was no such thing as sin in their lives. They didn't really need the knowledge of good and evil, but the serpent made it sound so great and rewarding to them, that they decided to try it.
The original word in Hebrew is ra‛ / râ‛âh. It has many definitions;
1) bad, evil (adjective)
1a) bad, disagreeable, malignant
1b) bad, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery)
1c) evil, displeasing
1d) bad (of its kind - land, water, etc)
1e) bad (of value)
1f) worse than, worst (comparison)
1g) sad, unhappy
1h) evil (hurtful)
1i) bad, unkind (vicious in disposition)
1j) bad, evil, wicked (ethically)
1j1) in general, of persons, of thoughts
1j2) deeds, actions
2) evil, distress, misery, injury, calamity (noun masculine)
2a) evil, distress, adversity
2b) evil, injury, wrong
2c) evil (ethical)
3) evil, misery, distress, injury (noun feminine)
3a) evil, misery, distress
3b) evil, injury, wrong
3c) evil (ethical)
The definition is according to Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew Definitions.
Are Men Evil?
I know not everyone will agree with me here, but I have to write it anyway. Men are inherently evil. It is in our nature to do what pleases the flesh no matter what it is. Now since men are evil, the only deduction anyone can make is that because of the evilness of man, wars start. It has nothing to do with religion or belief systems.
I want you to think about something right now before you go on. Who taught you how to tell a lie? Think long and hard on this question, because it proves a big point, according to your answer.
Worthy is the Lamb by Third Day
Attempt to be Good
After we find out that we are liars and are indeed evil, as we grow we must be taught manners. Most people know what manners are. We are taught to share and give. If we're not taught to do these things, then we will remain selfish and keep everything for ourselves no matter what.
So how long does it take to be a good person who never lies, steals, forgets to give and/or share? I am still undone myself personally. I have a long way to go but I will get there one day, but only through Christ Jesus.
Being good is not what the flesh wants to be. The flesh wants everyone to think it is good, but it is evil. It is enmity against God and no good thing comes from the flesh. Paul wrote, "Where good is, evil is also present," signifying that the flesh is always there even when we do something in the spirit.
What causes Wars if not Religions?
Pride is one of the biggest causes of wars. Man can't stand to be put down in any way shape or form. Sports stars many times get mad and fight over trivial things. It is more prevalent now than it ever was before.
A baseball player used to expect to get beanedif the batter before him hit a home-run. That was part of the game. These days if a ball comes close to the batter many times it will cause a fight.
Hatred is another major cause of war. Many hate for different reasons. Some hate because "those people" have it better than we do. Some because they have oil and we want it, (reminiscent of the current war in Iraq according to many people).
Nation against nation only for the goal of being called the best nation. There are many other reasons which I will not even try to detail but I will try and make a good list.
Greed
Lust
Envy
Pride
I am sure there are many more that I haven't though of. Any comments are welcome and suggestions to add to this hub are also welcome.
CommentsLoading...
That was fast LG. I didn't expect comemnts this soon. Thanks for the read and comemnt. By the way, how is your blogging job coming along?
I hit some snags with the software. We are still working on the why's and how's to get past that issue. For now I just keep cheking in and re-downloading the program. It isn't a big program but man did I have troubles with it so far.
Thanks for asking. I also posted a new hub that you might have an interested in--http://hubpages.com/_35sahxpt0lubf/hub/How-To-Pain
You could pass the informatin along to those who you know that live in apartments and such....
I will check it out after I shower LG. What kind of software you having trouble with?
Good Hub enjoy reading you hubs i agree with LG
Article Helper. It's thier software. Seems to lock up on me all the time. They thought it was a virus on my computer--and it still locked up on me with the spell checker that is in it. It has to be their program because all the problems I am having is in the program while I am using it and not while I am not using it. So they said a new version was coming out that would fix the spell check thing....we will see. Tnanks for asking!
Great hub Sir Dent!!
The Civil War, WWI and WWII were all fought over resources. Korea and Vietnam was over the spread of communism. Revolutionary War was over taxes. The muslims attacked us on 9/11 because they want to conquer the world and abolish Christianity and any other belief except what they believe. We attacked back but it was not because of religion.
Thanks comemntonthis for the read and comment. I appreciate it very much.
LG I hate it when things don't work as they're supposed to so I can imagine how it feels to you.
Thanks Froggy for the read and comment.
Allshookup, I mentioned the war over oil in the hub. But do you think the wars over resources might actually be because of greed?
Well, Sir Dent--I do know that if I continue to have problems with their software, I wo't be emplyed by them anymore--not my fault though and nothing I can really do about it.
Thanks for the comment on my hub!! Great Advice!
I understand what you're saying LG. If I understood correctly you would be getting paid a good commission also. Many only want to pay no more than 5 cents per word.
The one we are in now I feel is over greed, yes. In the Civil War, the North was greedy in how it was taxing the South. Or that's how I see it at least.
yeah and it's full time work and I could use the money.....This has happened everytime I get a job doing something on the internet--some way or another I hit a big snag-----really makes me wonder If I am not SUPPOSED to be just a housewife.
Anyway this is taking away from your hub. Sorry to have derailed it.
Allshookup, I must have missed something way, way back in high school. I alwqays thought the civil war was to free slaves. I never heard anything about it being over taxes. You don't have to explain but you can if you want. I appreciate your input and your take on the matter.
LG don't worry about hijacking the hub. I asked you a question.
There were many reasons for a Civil War to happen in America, and political issues and disagreements began soon after the American Revolution ended in 1782. Between the years 1800 and 1860, arguments between the North and South grew more intense. One of the main quarrels was about taxes paid on goods brought into this country from foreign countries. This tax was called a tariff. Southerners felt these tariffs were unfair and aimed toward them because they imported a wider variety of goods than most Northern people. Taxes were also placed on many Southern goods that were shipped to foreign countries, an expense that was not always applied to Northern goods of equal value. An awkward economic structure allowed states and private transportation companies to do this, which also affected Southern banks that found themselves paying higher interest rates on loans made with banks in the North. The situation grew worse after several "panics", including one in 1857 that affected more Northern banks than Southern. Southern financiers found themselves burdened with high payments just to save Northern banks that had suffered financial losses through poor investment. There has always been the slavery issue. But, a lot of people don't realize that there were slaves who formed their own regimines and fought to stay slaves. They volunteered to fight to keep their way of life - slavery. So, it goes to question as to what the war really was over. Most people are taught that it was over slavery period. But, there were a lot of issues during that time period. Slavery was only one and quiet a few of those chose to fight to keep that way of life. If people volunteerly (is that a word? lol)fought to stay what they were, then why were people fighting to change it? At least this is the way I have been taught. I don't think it was a simple as one issue. I think it was over alot of things. But the southerners didn't like the taxes they were being stuck with. That much is true. But other issues are true too.
Thanks for the history lesson allshookup. :D Can't do a real smiley face but I can try. :D
Awww thanks SirDent! Very sweet of you :)
Very good hub sirdent. You make some interesting points in this hub.
Thank you Sweetie for the read and comment. I always appreciate your input.
Wow what a great history lesson. Surprised they don't teach that in the schools...
Sir Dent,
I have to get more memory and instead of just getting more memory for this machine as a bandaid for the long term we are going out tonight and getting me a new computer. We will have to get it on credit and open a credit card for Circuit City. This worries me because of the banks collapsing. I might be down for a week until I can figure out how to move the information that is on this computer to the new one. It is a much needed upgrade though as this computer is over 8 years old. I don't want to get rid of this computer but use it for work only. I asked Jerrico Usher to help me with this as he is the one that got me into his company that he works for. I will let you know when I will go down.
Sorry it had to be here in your hub, but.....
I agree that religion is rarely the cause of a war. Religion just makes a great tool to bring war about (as is patriotism). Rich, powerful leaders invoke religion to give the populace cause. Whether you are King, Permier, President, or High Priest, you're not going to convince mothers to send their kids to war with the argument, "Hey, they have stuff I want," or with ,"Hey, they're going to take some of my stuff." That just doesn't happen. And while it's easier to sell an 18 year old a story of bravery and adventure, "dulce et decorum est," they too need at least some vestige of a cause. However, and particularly in less educated masses, but anywhere if the leader has the charisma that he needs, you merely have to invoke the will of God. If God says you have to kill them, well, that's a different story, particularly if you aren't being provided with an education with which you might question that proclamation, and perhaps noodle through the real reasons on your own (i.e. recognizing that the King wants access to the "enemy's" oil field).
So, imo, its NOT religion that starts wars. It's leaders whose power overflows.
Also, (and I hope you don't delete my posts this time) but I don't agree that men are inherently evil. I believe to say that, the original sin debate hinges unneccessarily on a false binary. Humans are born and there is a sliding scale of natural aggression and timidity (ask any child psychologist). I believe the statistic I read last was that 15% are full on timid, and 15% are full on agressive. The rest fall on the sliding scale in between with various levels of agression. You know I'm in the evolutionary camp, but don't delete me for that. God could just as easily have started that process as any other reason. My point is that, from an evolutionary stand point agression is what underlies the "evil" you talk about. Agression drives a base pursuit of gain (ostensibly for survival purposes). That humanity evolved as a social creature suggests that extreme agression was never tolerated (primate studies have confirm this) by a social group, and the concept of a benevolent king, while paradoxical in some ways, implies that for order, an agressive personality was desireable as a leader if one could be found with agression levels situated at just right spot on that sliding scale. I hope this makes sense. And it quite suits belief in God if one chooses to see it. The teachings of the Bible codify this into language and guidance, giving method to people to help them recognize what is happening and how to make a society work. If all men were aggressive (evil) civility would never have happened. The 85% below the agression line held it all in check (probably mostly the last 65% but I'm making numbers up at this point lol).
So bottom line, SirDent, in my opinion evolution agrees with you.
Lady Guinevere,
I know this is off topic, but do not worry about opening a line of credit with Circuit City. However, I would suggest to open a line with Best Buy as they have more computer options and better prices, and you can order over the Internet. I always pay off my credit cards, which helps to build credit.
Thanks for letting me know LG. Be sure you get a good computer that has everything you need.
Shadesbreath, one thing that you stated in your comment really bothers me. You said, "(and I hope you don't delete my posts this time)" I never delete comments unless they are merely to spew profanities or spam, except on the few occasions where the comment may be double posted.
Now I wonder where you think I deleted your comments.
I appreciate your opinion and comment. And I disagree with your premise also, but I'm sure you realized I would.
Well, you deleted some of mine awhile back that were not profane at all, but, perhaps it was by mistake. Heck, I drink a lot maybe I'm just remembering wrong, hey? No worries though, I'm glad you let my take stand here. I think if you really looked at it, you'd find that morally we agree almost perfectly here, the only difference between us is what we believe explains how the circumstances came about. In a way, the hows and whys of it don't matter so much when we at least came to the same conclusion in the end, no? Leaves room for peaceful coexistence at the very least.
I hide comments sometimes when a hub gets a lot of them. They are always viewable by clicking the link to show more comments. Maybe that's where you're missing them.
We can live in peace, but only when hate, greed, envy, etc. . . is eradicated.
Here is my new computer:
http://www.officemax.com/omax/catalog/sku.jsp?skuI
Now I have to figure out how to get things off of this one onto the new one.
Sweetie I apologize for missing your comment earlier. I don't know much about Best Buy and Circuit City personally. I live out in the boonies away from stores like that.
LG I am glad you got a new computer to replace the old one. I believe that's something I must do in the near future.
That is an awesome computer by the way.
Religion is a tool to suppress and divide. No one can truly beleve in something that they haven't had direct experience to. I do believe in a Creator and I can find good in most religous practices, but I would never try to make my belief the one and only way to live. I believe that our Creator would want us to love collectively and not individually. Here is a nice saying " God wants spiritual fruit, not religous nuts"
sirdunce is how some of the hubbers are beginning to refer to you sirdent. why do you suppose that is?
leopold
Wow, it is nice to read hubs that do not come from the feaver swamp. The comment s are pithy as well
leopold fumaas says:6 hours ago
sirdunce is how some of the hubbers are beginning to refer to you sirdent. why do you suppose that is?
leopold
SirDent: Why not give a link so I can see if it's true?
Thanks for the read and comment verax.
WHY DOESNT GOD STOP SOME OF THESE KILLINGS,,,,,
So you are asking why God doesn't force them to stop killing. Why doesn't God just force everyone to do what is right and good? All men have a choice to do what they want to do. God will not take away anyone's choice, but if He did, He would take everyone's choice away.
Thanks for the read and comemnt. :)
I do not believe in dog
Thanks for that information earnest. I imagine the next time a dog starts gnawing on your leg you will simply tell it that it isn't real and it will go away.
hahahahahhahahah SirDent! Love it! You've made me laugh so hard I'm crying! So, what is this thing laying here watching me type with her big sweet ----- --- eyes? hahahhahahhaha
Thanks for the read and comment Allshookup. I'm not sure what you saw watching you type. Maybe it was an ad, but I really have no idea what you mean.
Well, she has 4 legs, sweet eyes, chases toys and brings them back to me, and loves chewing on a bone or my furniture, whatever mood she's in. And since there's no such things as dogs, well, what is she?
LOL Allshookup. That went right over my head. Good one. ;)
I've been debating others a little about this issue recently, so appreciate the information here!
Thanks for the comemnt funwithtrains. Many believe that it is religion itself that causes wars, mainly Christianity and Islam. They just don;t believe that some are evil and wicked. They think if they don't use those words or acknowledge them, that they aren't real.
I agree SirDent; we were all born with the curse of sin. I believe that God created man to be a perfect creature, because He created man in His own image. But leave it up to man (woman) to blow it. I think that maybe greed was the first mistake. God had placed Adam and Eve in a beautiful garden where they had access to everything except one thing and that was the fruit from the tree of life. Eve got greedy, she wanted it all and Adam followed right along.
I believe that wars are started by words that come out of the mouths of fools.
Nice hub, SirDent - I disagree with a few of your other hubs, but this one carries an important message of peace.
Most war stems from the simple philosophy, "Kill everybody and steal all of their stuff." Nothing to do with religion!
I think all religion are good but human with bad minds Cause Wars
So true SirDent, man not religions start wars. Nice Hub.
I didnt understand nfink
If you think that religion is a political idea, then why not it causes war?
Dimitar Zahariev theorizes that all wars are caused by the Emotional Breakdown Syndrome or EBS. Its external mark/s is/are located in the nape of the neck. The science that has originated from the assumption that EBS is the root of evil is called Egology. It is based on Dimitar Zahariev's methodology which aims to help people ignore EBS.
Yes. I agree with you. Religion gets blamed for everything these days. Thank you for shedding some light on the subject.
That's true, James. God is blamed for everything bad in the world today.
if 'adam and eve never ate the apple' then we would not sin and also didnt 'god' create the so yes it is due to religion
Slick dude, you seem to not even have a clue about what you wrote. Adam didn't have to eat the fruit and neither did Eve. It was due to their own selfishness and pride that they ate the fruit. Satan is and always will be the deciever.
......Hello Sir Dent so nice to meet with you and thanks for dropping by my hub and making my day. This is a provocative hub subject in which you write of - to be sure - and I suppose just like hotbed topics like abortion and politics there will be always be two sides to every story/viewpoint - and this is yours - so thanks very much for the other side of the debate, if you will, and I appreciate the effort that you put into it ......
Epigramman, I wrote this after heated discussions took place in the forums over religion and wars. I appreciate your read and comment very much.
People use religion for many reasons and religion uses them. Any religion associated with violence, leading to death and destruction - be it in wars or otherwise is based on condemnation. How does that figure with Christianity? Anyone not seeing how religion has played a part in millions of deaths over the last 20000 years needs to go back to school and their history books.
skypoetone, you seem to go the way of many who say we should be responsible for our actions, yet you blame religion for the actions of man. It is man who creates wars. Religion is always blamed for the evilness in the hearts of men.
peace SirDent it was a good hub and nice effort on your part to prove what you wanted to; well in Islam its believed that man has both tendencies to do good and evil; genie has predisposition to do bad in most times; while angels cant do anything bad.
I beg to differ on one of the assertion that 'man is inherently evil'.This argument doesn't have any solid base to be accepted, if that was so; this world would have been literally a hell.According to some muslim philosophers, there are three kinds of the people.ones who abide by the commandments of ALLAH (swt) even in absence of the law enforcing authorities;those do not need any law to govern them as they have propensity to do virtuous deeds any way in most cases.
Similarly there are people who need to be always kept an eye upon them an ever ready vigilance of the rule of the law; while some are amid way likely to go either way.
Its my firm belief that no religion takes its followers to the unnecessary and unjustified war driven purely by worldly matters.Its indeed followers of the various religions who out of sheer ignorance fight to one another.
God makes while man destroys.
SirDent, sorry to burst your bubble BUT I disagree. You and others here should try thinking outside your obvious indoctrinations. God also gave humans the ability to think for themselves (Did He Not?) So look at the Holy Wars – The Christian Crusades, the hate-filled bias during the last 2000 years… I’m not a history lover but there’s enough evidence of wars to show how Religion and those affiliated with it have massacred millions – Terrorists love to spew its rhetoric in the name of God – Do you have ears to hear.
From this you might surmise I have no faith – no God, but you would be wrong. I am not an Atheist but a reluctant Agnostic – my God could never be associated with the kind you read in your Bible.
mtariqsattar, you said, "I beg to differ on one of the assertion that 'man is inherently evil'." Then you wrote, "God makes while man destroys." Taking both statements as you wrote them, there is a contradiction.
You see, man does destroy. This is what evil does. Evil destroys because it is full of hate.
skypoetone, if I started a war and said I do it in your name, would that make you responsible?
You spread what you believe or don't believe but do not see the real facts behind it all.
NO matter how many were killed or murdered in wars, God did not ordain the crusades, (if that is what you are referring to). They were fought to gain land and riches.
Men cause wars. Wars are started because of hatred, greed for wealth and greed for power. Nothing more and nothing less.
Just so you know and might be interested, I wrote about the first crusade also. http://hubpages.com/hub/TheCrusades
Did you know the crusaders also killed other Christians along the way?
If it had my ‘blessing’ then I would be no less guilty of the offence. If you believe in The Biblical God or Koran, IT provided more than blessings, IT conditioned atrocities, via God-given tactics, which produced massacres and even infanticide. These are the ‘facts’ that many Holy-Rollers gloss over, and this is the idiocy that created modern-day evils; the likes of Al Qaeda and religious fanatics hell-bent on destruction.
I think sentiment make us to ignore and deny some fact by turing things around or saying it to fit our purpose. Why did God plant the tree of evil while he knows Adam and Eve will eat it? Maybe he planted it so that he can send his son or come himself to be killed in an effort to save the world. That is out of it.Religion is good and if understood in the right spirit can bring peace among humanity.However, I think it is better that you accept the fact that some people cause conflict/hate in name of religion
Sirdent..if you read it carefully what i wrote earlier- i said man has both the tendencies of doing virtue and vice where as GOD is holy and does only Godly things and makes things while man destroys( it was presumed in my response that man has both the tendencies).
People cause wars. People choose to do evil things including genocide. People will, like little children, say "but they started it" and go on to commit the very horrors they are complaining about. In art, Romeo & Juliet. The Hatfields & McCoys. Very sadly, too many genocides to count. Bosnia, Asia & Africa today. I believe we have the choice to do good or evil. We have the responsibility. There's no free ride.
I am totally behind the comments made by SKYPOESTONE. Religious fanatism to convert other cultures and people that think, act, dress and whoknowswhat differently is the purest form of evil...and there is no religion in past world history that has refrained itself from the most horrible acts to achieve the the spreading of their 'truth and the only truth'. Men may be committing such crimes, yes, but religion is the 'kathalyst'. So you' all start your lives with the assumption that you were born evil and need to redeem yourself because a 2000 year old book tells you so? And you are always forgiven, no matter how horrible the crime if you just 'redeem'? What a way to start off to a better world, eh! In my opinion everyone is made perfect in every way, and a bit of logic and tolerancy would be much better than all your hypocricy and superstition. Peace!
Lady Guinevere Level 6 Commenter 3 years ago
People who are ignorant of the facts cause wars. Those who don't or won't tolerate other cultures and beliefs cause wars. It is not religion or belief systems that cause wars--People cause wars--all it takes is one peron and then you have the mob mentality.
Good Hub, Sir Dent!