It's not the religion that is responsible for wars, it's the people and their wish for power. Therefore, the separation of church and state doesn't help at all, as we can see in the States, they have more conflicts than Europe.
I think that religion is often used as an excuse for conflict - especially as a means of separating people into 'us' and 'them' then using faith as a loyalty test. But as you (rightly) say - its pretty much always about power, pure & simple.
It does amuse/interest me, we in England we have a national religion & yet are very Secular with an ever declining belief in God. Yet, in the USA with a definite & legal separation (so far!) they're MUCH more religious than we are!
You can find many followers who believe anything if only you tell them you're doing it for their religion. In Germany, it's very similar. And in most other European countries, at least in the West.
I wonder if, long term, the West (apart from the US but even there it seems to be happening) is turning its back on religion? It'll always be around but I wonder if it'll be rare and unusual in, say, the next 100 years or so?
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It's not the religion that is responsible for wars, it's the people and their wish for power. Therefore, the separation of church and state doesn't help at all, as we can see in the States, they have more conflicts than Europe.
I think that religion is often used as an excuse for conflict - especially as a means of separating people into 'us' and 'them' then using faith as a loyalty test. But as you (rightly) say - its pretty much always about power, pure & simple.
It does amuse/interest me, we in England we have a national religion & yet are very Secular with an ever declining belief in God. Yet, in the USA with a definite & legal separation (so far!) they're MUCH more religious than we are!
You can find many followers who believe anything if only you tell them you're doing it for their religion.
In Germany, it's very similar. And in most other European countries, at least in the West.
I wonder if, long term, the West (apart from the US but even there it seems to be happening) is turning its back on religion? It'll always be around but I wonder if it'll be rare and unusual in, say, the next 100 years or so?
I think you are right there. Let's hope they don't have such a big power over people anymore.
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