Expert: Brenda Martin - 4/21/2009

Question
Hello,
   Currently in school i am doing an inquiry into religious wars with the question "To What Extent Does Religion Influence Violence Between Groups?". I was wondering what your opinion is on some of the religious wars that have taken place between different branches of the Christian faith and between a Christian group and another religion group? Also i was wondering what your opinion is on why these wars have taken place.

Thanks! Anna

Answer
Hi Anna, you asked--"TO WHAT EXTENT DOES RELIGION INFLUENCE VIOLENCE BETWEEN GROUPS?"

Consider these comments by observers of the religious scene:-

“The innermost reason for inhuman savagery is religious.” (National Review)

“The chief motivation for war is no longer greed but religion.” (Toronto Star)

“The Holocaust ‘was all done by baptized Christians.’”—The Tampa Tribune.

Think of the massacres and reprisals perpetrated by Buddhists and Hindus in Sri Lanka, the murders and atrocities involving Catholics and Protestants in Ireland—why, the list seems endless! “Hindus, Moslems, Sikhs and other sects have been bloodying each other for centuries in India,” lamented U.S.News & World Report.

After World War II, The New York Times said: “In the past local Catholic hierarchies almost always supported the wars of their nations, blessing troops and offering prayers for victory, while another group of bishops on the other side publicly prayed for the opposite outcome.”

Some wars may be touched off by political or territorial disputes. Sooner or later, however, religion is found deeply involved in them. Time and again members of the clergy on both sides are found appealing to the same God for blessings over their troops, calling their efforts ‘just’ or ‘holy’ wars, and promising instant heavenly reward to those who may be killed in such battles.

The crusaders were responsible for some of the worst massacres and atrocities in history—all perpetrated in the name of Christ!

One authority said-- “Religion has been one of the most powerful forces in history.”

The Christian Century: “Perhaps nothing has done more to discredit Christianity than its practice of taking a stand virtually indistinguishable from that of non-Christians on the practice of war. That Christians on the one hand espouse the faith of the gentle Saviour while on the other they warmly support religious or nationalistic wars has gone far toward damaging the faith and promoting the kind of cynicism about religion that has been pervasive among thinking people for centuries.”

YOUR OPINION ON SOME OF THE RELIGIOUS WARS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE BETWEEN DIFFERENT BRANCHES OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH AND BETWEEN A CHRISTIAN GROUP AND ANOTHER RELIGION GROUP?

My opinion is from a biblical viewpoint, I see these things & see a fulfillment of scripture—

Paul said that in the “last days” false religion would be—

“Having a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power.” (2 Timothy 3:5) The Bible has the power to change lives for the better. (Ephesians 4:22-24) Yet, many today use their religion as a screen behind which they carry on unrighteous activities that displease God. Lying, stealing, and sexual misconduct are often condoned by religious leaders & as we can see many religions preach love but support warfare.

So I see all the wars caused by religion as evidence that, all these religions are false & that we are living in the last days. (2timothy 3;1-5)

WHY THESE WARS HAVE TAKEN PLACE?

Well although religion is backing war, someone even more powerful is backing false religion—

“We know we originate with God, but the whole world is lying in the [power of the] wicked one” (1 john 5; 19)

The same “wicked one,” Satan, who induced Cain to murder Abel continues to sow hatred among mankind and to provoke conflicts and bloodshed on the basis of political, religious, and ethnic divisions.

Jesus said that- “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom.” (Matthew 24:7)

The Bible explains that Satan, “the ruler of this world,” is full of rage because he knows that his time is very short now that Christ’s presence as King has begun. (John 12:31; Revelation 12:9, 12) Such visible evidence of Satan’s rage and of Christ’s presence has been abundant in our time.

Did you know by the way that there is only ONE religion in the world today that doesn’t support war Anna?

For instance--Because of their refusal to bear arms against their fellow man, over 13,000 Korean Jehovah’s Witnesses have served a total of 26,000 years in prison. (2 Cor. 10:3, 4) All young brothers in that land are aware that they will face this issue, but they are not intimidated. It is sad that the government would label as “criminals” Christian ministers whose only “crime” is that they refuse to compromise their Christian neutrality, don’t you think?

All the best
Brenda