Does Religion Cause War?
Presentation Outline
• Aspect of religious diversity in the modern society
• Main sources of religious conflict
• Need for integration in the midst of religious diversity
• Global concern over religion-based violence and polarization
• Constructive argument for and against religion-based conflicts
• Aspect of radicalization among religious groups
• Conclusion
Religious conflict has been a major issue of concern to governments across the world. In some cases, one community attacks another community on the basis of difference in religion hence causing tension and mistrust. Such aspect leads to polarization among different communities on the ground of religion, minority group being at the disadvantaged position (Juergensmeyer, 136). It has become nearly impractical to find a lasting solution to religious wars in some countries. One or both sides of the religious divide tend to maintain their hard-line position against another. On the contrary, an aspect of religious diversity in the United States has not been an issue of concern for several decades. Differences in faith do not affect people’s integration and national building activities (Hunsberger, and Lynne, 814). Comparing the two circumstances, it is clear that religious diversity can either cause disharmony among communities or create strong bonds regardless of one’s faith. It depends on how the country manages issues of diversity and national values.
There are various factors that contribute to religious wars among different communities. These include poor governance, management of key resources, political interference, and radicalization among others. A country like Nigeria in West Africa experiences frequent faith-based conflict between Northern and Southern population (Salawu, 348). The two communities, Christians and Muslims fight over oil and gas resources each demanding a fair share from the revenue generated. Religious radicalization also plays a major role in causing polarization and mistrust (Love, 621). In this case, it depends mainly on individual orientation in the religion. There have been accusations of incitement against other religions by the Muslim leaders in African countries. Whether this accusation is true or false, these leaders contribute significantly towards widening of the gap between various religious groups. They play a crucial function in shaping the thinking and attitude of followers, especially in matters of relating with other religions.
The government and religious leaders have a mandate of creating an enabling environment for all religions in the country to unite and integrate without fear or suspicion. Communities should not take religion as a factor to propagate hate and division in the society. To realize harmonious community, religious leaders need to take proactive steps to train followers on tolerance and appreciating diversity (Love, 634). The government should also ensure inclusivity in all issues regardless of one’s religion hence facilitating integration. In such scenario, religion should not cause war in a country. Despite of differences in faith, people should learn to accept others, tolerate the diverse beliefs, and form a united country. United States of America is one the countries that progress harmoniously without regard to religion. Americans do not judge or define each other on the basis of faith and in most cases, they interact and intermarry with less concern on one’s religion.
Currently, violent conflict and polarization among various religious groups have become a major concern for the international community. Minority communities in the Middle East and other Arab countries feel threatened by the majority Muslims. In addition, there have been frequent violent attacks against one religion in Israel and neighboring countries (Basedau, et al. 206). Currently, terror groups in East Africa carry out violent attacks using religious cover. They kill Christians in all their missions, hence creating animosity that might prompt a reaction against the Islamic religion. These cases represent a small percentage of religious wars going on across the world. It is a security concern for many governments who seek lasting solution for the menace. In other words, the world is getting tired of frequent religious conflicts where one religion rises against the other for no reasonable cause (Juergensmeyer, 142). A military response seems not to provide a sustainable solution to the challenge in most instances; hence the issue has become a challenge to leaders.
In modern society, there is no place for religious war. It is important to look at the existing conflict in a wider perspective. First, people do not fight each other due to inter-faith conflict. There is no single religion that justifies killing and subjecting innocent people to suffering (Basedau, and Alexander, 157). Most leaders use people’s weakness; incite them against another religion with a hidden interest. Most African leaders use religious differences to cause polarization in order to retain political power. Others use religious sensitivity to cause chaos with an aim of discrediting the government on the basis of security. Politicians have become insensitive on the issue of the state’s security and all what they care is their selfish ambitions. They frustrate efforts of the government using ‘religious war’ with an aim of dividing citizens along religious lines and discredit the government hence gaining political mileage.
In the case of Kenya, a country in East Africa, political leaders propagate lies and incitement against particular religions to cause disharmony. There is also an accusation of funding terrorists’ activities to expose the weakness of the government. Such issues make most people in Kenya to see terrorism as a religious war (Odhiambo, 193). Terrorists in the most recent attack on one of the universities in Kenya killed Christian students only as a way of creating a scenario of religious war between Christians and Muslims. Besides local politics, terrorists also have their own interests, and they seem to fulfill them by dividing people on the basis of religion. In the case of Kenya and Nigeria, religion does not play any role but a small group of people hide under the umbrella of Islam to propagate hatred.
Interaction among diverse religious communities in America sets the ideal example on how people relate with each other with no regard to religion. The government manages to enhance unity among American citizens and build trust among them. To Americans, religion is a personal choice, and everyone has a freedom to propagate his or her faith without fear provided he does not cause discomfort to others. It is, therefore, unimaginable to experience people fighting and killing others in the name of religion. Common people have no problem with divergent religious beliefs. They can live together, interact, and even intermarry without much concern for religion. Whenever other issues like politics which always have selfish interest, there is a fight and unending conflicts. Africa has become prone to religion-based wars where politicians play a significant role in fueling these conflicts. In conclusion, religion does not cause wars, but other factors hide under its umbrella to fuel violence and conflicts.
Works Cited
Basedau, Matthias, and Alexander De Juan. “The’ambivalence of the sacred’in Africa: The impact of religion on peace and conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa.” (2008).
Basedau, Matthias, Birte Pfeiffer, and Johannes Vüllers. “Bad Religion? Religion, Collective Action, and the Onset of Armed Conflict in Developing Countries.” Journal of Conflict Resolution (2014): Print
Hunsberger, Bruce, and Lynne M. Jackson. “Religion, meaning, and prejudice.” Journal of Social Issues 61.4 (2005): 807-826.
Juergensmeyer, Mark. “Religion as a Cause of Terrorism.” The Roots of Terrorism (Democracy and Terrorism) (2006): 133-143.
Love, Roy. “Religion, ideology & conflict in Africa.” Review of African political economy 33.110 (2006): 619-634.
Odhiambo, Elijah Onyango Standslause. “Religious Fundamentalism and Terrorism.” Journal of Global Peace and Conflict 2.1 (2014): 187-205.
Salawu, Beshiru. “Ethno-religious conflicts in Nigeria: Causal analysis and proposals for new management strategies.” European Journal of Social Sciences 13.3 (2010): 345-353.
