Religion and Violence

Religion and Violence

Introduction

The link between religion and violence is considered to be as old as religion is itself. People from all around the world express hatred, brutality, and passions against others in the name of religion (Kishlansky, 2011). In fact, the progress in science and technology has provided the extremists with advanced means of killing innocent people. This essay discusses the linkage between religion and violence.

Discussion

Every religion of the world preaches its followers to maintain peace in the world. Religion is supposed to be the source of reconciliation and peace developer. No religion of the world allows its followers to force someone to follow the religious doctrines against his own will (Selengut, 2008). However, the extremist groups and persons belonging from different religions fail to accept the fact that everyone has a fundamental right of practicing his own beliefs. This gives rise to various forms of violence in the name of religion.

The violence which is initiated or governed by the religious concepts, or doctrines is termed as religious violence. This violence ranges from actions taken against religious persons, objects or places. Mostly, different religions are considered responsible for the violence or terrorist activities which cause destruction of lives and properties at large scales. Thus, instead of condemning the individuals or groups which are involved in the terrorist activities, the religions are condemned. In the following, the essay discusses the causes due to which religion becomes responsible for creating violence, or religion is at least considered to be responsible.

History is evident that religions have been playing a vital role in all the major wars. Most of the destructive wars have been fought based on the religious, cultural or ethnic grounds. The people did not really accept that religion was the cause behind any of these wars; they ...