How many wars is religion responsible for?

Question

Does the solid information exist? I know it is responsible for the majority of wars in human's history but I was wondering if there were any specific answers because I've heard it range from 40% to 90%. Also, if you can specify, which religion is the MOST responsible for wars. I presume it would be Islam or Christianity but I'm not sure.

Answer 1

Prior to monotheism, although there were a great many wars, they were not done in the name of religion.  The Sumerians, Akkadians, Egyptians, Hittites, Greeks, early Romans, etc. did not invade or start wars for religion.  The Greco-Persian wars was not over religion.  Because polytheism believes in multiple gods, one society did not necessarily discount or discredit another sides gods (on the belief that just like their own gods, these foreign gods could become angry).  In fact, a vast majority of gods or goddesses from other cultures were adapted or adopted.  Polytheism isn't exclusive and there as no real reason to fight over.

Once monotheism became more powerful, and more exclusive, and the mentality that it must be spread to save others, then religious wars became more prominent (i.e. Catholic verse Islam, Catholic vs. Protestant, etc).  However, as previously stated (and as the example of the ancients can prove) war is fought for a variety of reasons and very rarely for religion alone.  Even the Crusades was not solely for religion but for territory, land, greed, and power.  Religion was just the excuse.

Humans will always fight wars.  It seems to be our favorite past time.  Religion can just be one of the many excuses, but even without religion, people will find other reasons to fight.  The ancients certainly did.

Given that religious based fighting didn't come about until 610AD or after, it can NOT be argued that wars are fought for religion 40-90% of the time.

Answer 2

Get a clue, everything ancient people did, they did in the name of religion. War is a serious subject, something that you just don't say, I do it because I want to, you say that you do it in the name of your religion. War is fought because of greed, fear, or self defense. Now, if you go to college because you want to get a good job, you are doing this out of greed. If you drive a car, you are adding to the political problems facing today. If you kill Hilter because he slaughtered millions then you do it for justice which is a religious concept. If you want your sports team to win, you can pray, hope, wish or just want but it's all the same thing.  Religion or not, we are all engaged in this world and do the same things, don't blame it on religion, blame it on humans, we are the blame.  

Answer 3

either religion, women, or for financial or property gain, and a few just for the sake of warring, out of boredom, or even overpopulation, and a few more for retalition for some embarrassment. but mostly either someone forcing thier desire on someone else, or someone standing up to force.

Answer 4

If you're talking about wars between two opposite religions, or views, Islam is the most responsible for starting wars.  However, christianity is not far behind.  Protestants and Catholics still do not get along to this day in Ireland.  I would say that about 70% of wars are contingent upon religious beliefs from one side or another.

Answer 5

Humans fight wars to expand their territory or protect it.  Religion is used like political alliances to increase the number of people on your side and give them a reason to fight. I wouldn't blame wars on religion any more than I would blame it on the formation of states.  It is simply human nature and the most efficient way for competing humans to ultimately solve their differences.  Many religions provide means to avoid most wars but that usually only helps if they are all the same religion.

Answer 6

All of them. Religion may not be that major reason, but you can always sneak in that reason give or take the situation.

Answer 7

I'd have to say that most wars are started and fought over some disagreement about religion or philosophical beliefs. In the middle ages, when the pope encouraged kings to fight the crusades, no one had any idea what the long range outcomes would be - we are still suffering the consequences of that experience. Jewish people have been hated by most other religious groups for a variety of reasons, but mostly jealousy. Again, in the middle ages, the Jews were the money lenders. When someone was in debt, and didn't want to have to pay the debt, some trumped up charge was filed against all Jews, and many were massacred. Often kings were behind this. The Jews were expelled from Spain in the late 1400's and in some places they are still being persecuted. Islam is not the enemy, it is fundamentalist Muslims who are the terrorists. Islam itself is a religion of peace. Unfortunately, the fundamentalist leaders convince poor, uneducated Muslims that the Qu'ran tells them to kill the infidel. It doesn't, but if you are uneducated and cannot read for yourself, you believe what you are told. The Qu'ran does not promote suicide but that is what these suicide bombers are told, that if they kill others in the name of Allah, they will be saved. So, ultimately, religion I think, plays a part in all wars. Fundamentalism, whether Christian, Judaic, or Islamic, is dangerous. It does not allow for diversity, and judges others, which is playing God.

Jingles

Answer 8

The answers were getting tedious until Bravozulu who I think explained it well.  

Answer 9

I agree with Bravo to an extent, but not completely.  

Religion and other ideologies are more often excuses and less often causes.  This does not, however, excuse religious persons who have encouraged or called for wars claiming that whatever deity was on their side or for - in many cases - directly funding war efforts.

War is a complex form of cultural exchange.  It is best not to take the generalizations very seriously when dealing with the issue of cause.  However, economics is almost always an aspect of the decision to engage.  

What we can say is that religion has certainly played a part in most of the historically documented wars we are aware of, but is usually not the ultimate cause.  And yes, as others have attested, the universalizing religions (as opposed to those which do not seek to expand their influence) tend to be more readily involved than others.