Why World Conflicts Have Religion at its Core? And Can this Change?
Many of the disputes in the world today revolve around religion, and it has been in time past too. Religion is something that people hold strongly to, especially for it's believers. It not only gives a reprise but for many it's a way of life.
There are enumerous religions in the world with even a more astounding number of followers for each one of them. It is in finding answers to life issues and the deeper questions that have many turning to religion.
On the world stage aspects of religion are taken into account in making decisions and the carrying of identities amongst nations. At the same time, many conflicts revolve around religion.
Why so? For one, there are differences in practices, beliefs, and traditions. And each being upheld by their respective followers. Each wanting to bring prominence and affluence to their religion. And this results in differing views and sentiments.
Could there be a way however to reduce or solve the conflicts that are transpiring out of this? I believe there can be a way. Provided we look at it in a rational and constructive way.
We should see that religions existed in different points of history, in different regions of the world. Each with it's own uniqueness. Perhaps you're not fond of religion; it does still help if we could understand it in a way that each religion responded to the situations, people and requirement of their time.
There were times when information was not vastly available as compared to now, and knowledge and teachings were imbibed and passed on through generations. Reflecting the needs of those times.
Understanding this uniqueness and how it has helped guide people throughout time gives it a whole different view. Yes, the teachings and the ways it is conveyed could be distorted or misrepresented over time; some of it, and this is what leads to untoward consequences - and conflicts in the world - when decisions and actions are based on them.
The way to resolving the issues and tensions we are facing in our world today is to look at the true harmonious values that are enshrined in each religion, for at the root they all hold good purposes.
Recognizing and realizing the similarities in these true values that exist in each religion is what unifies it further. And this is what should be encouraged. It is in cherishing the differences we have as people, and yet uniting through the core resonant values of our deep held faiths that we reduce and eliminate the issues of conflict in the world.
I really appreciate the courage to post an idealistic thought in the world we live in and I truly believe that this is how we should build our world.
Unfortunately the real world works with different mechanisms and responds to different signals.
War is a part of us since the beginning of times and it is conjured by a few basic needs: the need to be stronger than the one next to you, the need to be safe and the need to be appreciated. The world hunger and the stopping of war can be achieved only by sharing resources and wealth. Values like religious values or different forms of western values are present only because we need to feed our stomachs. The western civilizations of modern history proved that any form of organization (like religion) can be dissipated with a proper distribution of wealth.
We just have to keep in mind that other parts of the world are hundreds of years behind on a social and technical evolution scale.
The great issue of our century is that in 100 hundred years we passed from 2 billion to 8 or 9 billion. Education and wealth did not keep up with this geometrical progression. If we want to leave in a common paradise we have to give our species a chance to stabilize in numbers and we have to share our material wealth.
For now you just have to admit that 80%(I am being extremely generous with this number) of the people surrounding us are just animals that would eat you alive if the proper conditions are met. Rationality is still a weapon of educated people that surpassed a certain level of evolution. Every day we are trying too see in the world that surrounds us , more than it is. Before you judge my response please keep in mind that I am not speaking about the potential of the human species , I am just trying to express a view on the cruel reality we leave in.
Again, I really appreciate your point of view and I wish it materializes one day.
Thanks and keep it up.
Very Good that you are thinking very positively towards all Relegion.
Few modern wars are rooted in religion. National pride and competition over natural resources is what truly causes conflict. Religion is just used as a rallying point.