Debate:What is the relationship between religion and the human tendency to kill each other?

No Religion?

This sounds like John Lennons Imagine song. For those who don't know what the definition of religion is, you'd better look it up. What the question really should be asking is that if people didn't believe in anything would they have reason to kill each other. Maybe if they were indoctrinated to the point where they weren't allowed to take a stance on anything. Like if people ever really needed a reason. Don't worry, if there wasn't any religion I'm one hundred percent sure people would come up with a reason to kill, or go to war. Oh, and for you Humanist out there, that's right, Humanism is a religion too.--Roopilots6 18:37, 14 April 2007 (EDT)

communism Vs. capitalism. Jaques 18:40, 14 April 2007 (EDT)

"Humanism is a religion too"

How can you possibly call humanism a religion?

Religions is about dogmas and belifs (often in one divine god) and almost allwas has bunch of traditions which everyone must follow.

Humanism is about trying to make a positive life for yourself and everybody else by following your own conscience, making the best out of everything and showing support to thoes who need it.

There isn't anything supernatural or other accpect of it which can be realted to religion in it, it is only way of describing someone, and mabye describing youself. --Nabroon 05:52, 5 March 2008 (EST)

You can call humanism a religion because it is. Your definition of "religion" is a humanistic one. Try reading religion. Humanism includes the belief that there is no god. That is, humanism has beliefs also. And Christianity has very little if anything in the way of necessary traditions. Philip J. Rayment 06:57, 5 March 2008 (EST)

Of course we would. Not all conflicts are really about religion. Oh, there may be some rhetoric about “God being on our side” and all that, but most conflicts have been over territory, and the control of resources.

Well of course people would still kill each other, however a lot of killing would not have happened and there would be less conflict today. The crusades, purely religious motives. The Northern Ireland situation was caused by politics, however if there was no religion, then there would be no labels by which the two sides could remain two sides, and the whole conflict would now be over. Bolly Ottihw 18:20, 20 April 2007

Kaine murdered Able because of jealousy.--jp 10:48, 21 April 2007 (EDT)

I think we would've found a reason to kill each other. But the reality is that now, conservative americans put the faith of the people as an excuse to get what they want.

Some other reasons

Well, there's money, pride, oil... Totnesmartin 16:58, 16 May 2007 (EDT)

hey did anyone forget jeffery dahmer? he was just hungry... --Wally 19:50, 26 June 2007 (EDT)

There are a bunch of reason to fight wars that aren't based on religion. Genocide would be rarer though. It is either religiously or ethnically based and without faith the distinction between ethnic groups would be less.

Lebensraum

Whatever reasons humanity has to fight amongst each other, one fact will always be certain: Humans are creatures with an ever expanding population, living on a planet with limited living space. Therefore, if you remove every other reason for fighting wars, we will still need to fight wars simply to make room for people to live.--Elamdri 17:06, 16 May 2007 (EDT)