Historically speaking, are religious & political extremes responsible for the greatest sufferings of humanity?

Question

Pls, coherent,completed thoughts only.

Answer 1

All you have to do to answer that question is look at today's headlines. The radicalism in the muslim countries; the hate in the middle east; the dictators in Africa; the political oppression in China; all of these are mirror images of life on earth for the past 5000years !

Answer 2

One could make that argument. The differences between political and religious zealots have been at the heart of almost any war or conflict, that you can name. Look at the "ethnic cleansing" in Europe, during WW II. The conflicts in Africa, Bosnia, Somalia, etc. and I'm only going back as far as WW II.  

Answer 3

Yes, because extremes are by their very nature not reconcilable with each other, or even with the middle. So if one side has an extreme viewpoint, be it political, religious or even economic they will not cooperate with anyone else. And if that tension is not defused, eventually it leads to open conflict. That conflict can be anything from social stigma and ostracization to national warfare, it just depends on the scale of the beliefs involved.

Answer 4

First, I think it's inappropriate to lump together religion and politics in this question.  It puts answerers in a bind if we disagree with one or the other.  

Anyhow, yes, extremes have been responsible for much suffering.  There have been corrupt so-called Christian and Muslim governments as well as atheistic ones.  Those on the right and those on the left have done terrible things for various reasons.  

I would not be quick to agree that 'religious and political extremes' are responsible for the 'greatest' sufferings of humanity, simply because I cannot judge what the 'greatest' would entail.  Although the Holocaust, for example, was a great evil, so was the Atlantic Slave Trade, and the dropping of the A-Bombs during WWII, as are the incredible numbers of abortions that happen daily in this country.  Depending on your perspective, you might consider a particular one of these or none of them as 'greatest'.  However, it is otherwise fair to agree generally with your premise, I think.

May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you.

Answer 5

Well besides the obvious political reasons, many wars were fought over Religious reasons, I.E. the crusades, the Reformation wars, The Mormon wars, and Islamic. The only religion that a war was not fought because of, was Buddhism.

Answer 6

they might be second and third with endemic diseases number one.

Answer 7

Theres no doubt in my mind!