Does religion cause conflict or peace?

The Golden Rule. It is often claimed that religion causes conflict and war. It is true that sometimes deeply held beliefs can lead to clashes, and there have been many wars that were caused by disputes over religion and beliefs. However, for many people religion can be a power for peace.


How does religion affect peace?

Religious plurality has a pacifying effect

According to the analysis, countries without a dominant religious group are on average, 17% more peaceful than countries with a dominant religious group. These countries also have on average 25% less religious restrictions and religious hostilities are 40% lower.

Does religion cause most of the conflict in the world?

Likewise the idea that most of the wars of history have been caused by religion is demonstrably false. The vast majority of wars have been conducted in the pursuit of profits or power, or waged for territory or tribal supremacy, even if religion has been caught up in those pursuits.


What conflicts did religion cause?

Modern period
  • Greek War of Independence.
  • Israeli–Palestinian conflict.
  • Pakistan and India.
  • Nigerian conflict.
  • Buddhist uprising.
  • Chinese conflict.
  • Lebanese Civil War.
  • Iran–Iraq War.


Does religion cause conflict?

Religion and Latent Conflict

In virtually every heterogeneous society, religious difference serves as a source of potential conflict. Because individuals are often ignorant of other faiths, there is some potential tension but it does not necessarily mean conflict will result.


Religion, Conflict and Peace | HarvardX



What type of conflict is religion?

Hormby (2006) defines religious conflict as a situation in which religious adherents are involved in a serious disagreement or argument with one religious group and another. this is a situation in which there are opposition in ideas, opinions, feelings and wishes.

What are the negative effects of religion?

To identify with a religious ideology and call it the only truth and way, can only lead to tremendously bad, negative effects — prejudice, bigotry, and all kinds of violence (just think of how many wars have been carried out throughout history in the name of God and religion).

Does religion divide people?

Anthropological studies have proven that religion has been dividing human society for more than 2,000 years.


What is the problem with religion?

Critics of religion in general may view religion as one or more of: outdated, harmful to the individual, harmful to society, an impediment to the progress of science or humanity, a source of immoral acts or customs, a political tool for social control.

Is religion a barrier to peace?

The findings suggest that religious conflicts are likely to last longer than non-religious ones. However, the study reveals that religion has no strong significant influence on conflict termination as well as on the reoccurrence of conflicts and the violence level. KEYWORDS: Religion.

What are some examples of religious conflicts?

The Crusades, the many periods of persecution of Jews, religious conflicts between Catholics and Protestants in sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Europe, the execution of hundreds of Christians in seventeenth-century Japan, the Mormon expulsion from Missouri and Illinois in the 1840s, the Branch Davidian conflagration ...


What religion says about peace?

Some religions emphasize inner peace. Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism teach about the importance of finding peace or achieving nirvana through union with the divine or the universe.

How does religion cause inequality?

Religious inequalities is a term that refers to the way in which individuals and groups suffer from systemic marginalization, exclusion and, in extreme cases, genocide on account of their religious beliefs and affiliation.

What is the positive and negative of religion?

Positive religious coping is where an individual has a close relationship with a higher power, is spiritually connected with others, and has a benevolent world view. Negative religious coping involves spiritual struggle with one's self, others, and a higher power.


How is religion affecting society?

Religious belief and practice contribute substantially to the formation of personal moral criteria and sound moral judgment. Regular religious practice generally inoculates individuals against a host of social problems, including suicide, drug abuse, out-of-wedlock births, crime, and divorce.

Does religion still matter?

Even as it undergoes different forms of change and shifting of importance, religion remains one of the most important social, cultural, and political actors in societies around the world.

Does religion change personality?

Research has shown that struggling with religion correlates to some basic personality traits. Studies on the Big Five, as well as factors such as entitlement, self-esteem, and self-compassion suggest that there is a significant relationship between religious uncertainty and personality.


Can a person live without any religion?

Humans can live without religion but they can't live without spirituality. These are two different entities yet get intertwined due to the lack of awareness among the people. It is a matter of fact that we humans are trivial in this universe.

What are the negative effects of religious conflicts?

During violent religious conflicts, many people have been killed, maimed and wounded. There have also been wide spread disruption of economic activities with negative effects on productivity. Hundreds of churches and mosques, hotels and other related business as well as vehicles, private homes etc, have been destroyed.

Why is religion criticized?

Religion forces people to rely on outside authority, rather than becoming self-reliant. Religion imposes irrational rules of good and bad behaviour. Religion divides people, and is a cause of conflict and war. The hierarchical structure of most religions is anti-democratic, and thus offends basic human rights.


How does religion affect behavior?

Most religions enforce moral behaviour through positive and negative reinforcement by infusing 'god-fearing' elements in scriptures, such as the concept of karma and reincarnation in Hinduism, heaven-hell and salvation in Christianity, paradise and hell in Islamism, peaceful afterlife and reincarnation in indigenous ...

Why is religion important in conflict?

Religion, however, can play an important role in peace-making and conflict prevention and resolution. Religion connects with peace in four major ways: The ideas of human dignity and the common humanity of all, derived from the notion that all are created in the image of the Divine, are foundational to true peace.

How does religion violate human rights?

The use of religion as a justification to control women is more than a violation of their freedom of expression; it leads to other human rights violations, including the right to life and security, freedom of movement, privacy, non-discrimination, and the right to participate fully as a member of society, among others.


What are the 3 main reasons of inequality of the world?

The Causes of Economic Inequality
  • (i) Wages are determined by labor market.
  • (ii) Education affects wages.
  • (i) Economic neoliberalism.
  • (iii) A Kuznets curve – Phases of development.


What type of discrimination is religion?

It is discrimination to treat you unfairly compared to someone else, because of your religion or belief. This is called direct discrimination and is illegal. Examples include: refusing you a bank loan because you're Jewish.