The Correlation Between Religion and Violence

[Ernie]

I understand that in the Koran, it starts out more peaceful and ends up more violent. Is that correct? (I'm quite sure that this progression is evidenced in the life of Mohammad.)
The Judeo/Christian narrative from the Fall in the Garden until the book of Revelation is a progression of violence towards a path of peace.

Historically, when I look at Christianity vs. Islam, I don't see one as being less violent than the other.

Perhaps in the 21st century, Christians as a whole are less likely to wage wars, (due to postmodern persuasions) and Muslims are more likely to wage wars, but I am not sure that one is more violent than the other overall.

Discuss. (politely)

[Ernie]

I think it was in NBC News, associating “right wing white supremacist terrorism” with belief in 9/11 conspiracy theories specifically. Basically, anything not agreeing with the current mainstream narrative is “domestic terrorism”.

It is possible that many white supremacists are 911 conspiracy theorists without a reverse correlation.

Exactly. Josh is torturing logic to make his point. Many white supremacists also claim to be Christians. We know that because it is what they say. Does that mean belief in Christianity leads to white supremacy? It does if you follow Josh's logic.

No, but I dare say that belief in Islam leads to terrorism. Terrorism to the degree of flying jets into building on 9/11.

You would get no argument from me. Although I would expand it from terrorism to violence in general. One can generate lists of current wars, or wars and conflicts from the past 20 years and it is striking how many of them involve Islam on one side or both. The recent wars that have no connection to Islam, like the guerilla wars in Colombia and Sri Lanka are almost the exception that proves the rule.

Here is a list of current wars and conflicts: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_o ... _conflicts

At first glance, only the current wars in Mexico (drug war), Congo, and Ethiopia appear to have no connections to Islam one one side or the other. Although some like the conflict in Myanmar between the Buddhist government and the Rohingya minority is a case where the Islamic minority is being oppressed and persecuted.

Islam makes up about 24% of the world's population, but looks to be involved in about 95% of the world's wars and civil conflicts. That strikes me as problematic.

What percentage of the world's Muslim population is happy about the violence and wars that are being waged in support of their particular agenda?

What percentage of the world's Christian population is happy about violence and wars that are being waged in support of their particular agenda?

[barnhart]

I prefer to frame the discussion as the West vs. The Islamic world rather than Christianity vs. Islam. I appreciate when outsiders do not claim the authority to define my faith and I try to extend the same courtesy to others.

[Soloist]

One small point, the Muslims are much more peaceful today then they were in the past.

[Josh]

The most violence ever seen in human history can be laid at the feet of Communism, which is explicitly non-religious. By that standard, religious people of all kinds of religions are less violent than atheist Communists, who brought us the Soviet Union, communist China, and Pol Pot, with hundreds of millions killed.

The argument religion is what leads to violence is just anti-Christian sentiment from people who want excuses for why they don’t believe in God.

[Valerie]

The most violence ever seen in human history can be laid at the feet of Communism, which is explicitly non-religious. By that standard, religious people of all kinds of religions are less violent than atheist Communists, who brought us the Soviet Union, communist China, and Pol Pot, with hundreds of millions killed.

The argument religion is what leads to violence is just anti-Christian sentiment from people who want excuses for why they don’t believe in God.

Amen

Lots of misunderstandings (imho) in this topic. It seems connecting wrong dots-

[temporal1]

The most violence ever seen in human history can be laid at the feet of Communism, which is explicitly non-religious. By that standard, religious people of all kinds of religions are less violent than atheist Communists, who brought us the Soviet Union, communist China, and Pol Pot, with hundreds of millions killed.

The argument religion is what leads to violence is just anti-Christian sentiment from people who want excuses for why they don’t believe in God.

Thank you.
i find it’s most often because they worship self-as-god, and are motivated to dominate.
which i don’t believe conflicts with your post.

Josh:
I think it was in NBC News, associating “right wing white supremacist terrorism” with belief in 9/11 conspiracy theories specifically.

Basically, anything not agreeing with the current mainstream narrative is “domestic terrorism”.

Also true.

[Josh]

Speaking of violence, America is going to war again.

I’m not sure why America feels the need to periodically invade countries on the other side of the globe, but here we are.

[Kai]

I prefer to frame the discussion as the West vs. The Islamic world rather than Christianity vs. Islam. I appreciate when outsiders do not claim the authority to define my faith and I try to extend the same courtesy to others.

Are you not an outsider to Islam seeking to define their faith?
There is disagreement within Islam whether or not it was intended to be a violent religion. I am not knowledgeable enough of the Koran to know what it teaches. Most of my opinions of Islam have been formed by how I have seen it lived out in my life and recorded history. The same is true of Muslims observing Christianity, most of them will not be familiar enough with the Bible, especially the New Testament to know what Jesus taught on the way of peace, their opinion of Christianity will be based on how they have SEEN it lived.
Muslims have every right to believe that Christianity is a violent religion. It is sad but true.

[Szdfan]

I prefer to frame the discussion as the West vs. The Islamic world rather than Christianity vs. Islam. I appreciate when outsiders do not claim the authority to define my faith and I try to extend the same courtesy to others.

Are you not an outsider to Islam seeking to define their faith?
There is disagreement within Islam whether or not it was intended to be a violent religion. I am not knowledgeable enough of the Koran to know what it teaches. Most of my opinions of Islam have been formed by how I have seen it lived out in my life and recorded history. The same is true of Muslims observing Christianity, most of them will not be familiar enough with the Bible, especially the New Testament to know what Jesus taught on the way of peace, their opinion of Christianity will be based on how they have SEEN it lived.
Muslims have every right to believe that Christianity is a violent religion. It is sad but true.

Right. Also important to point out that much of the violence that has happened is a direct result of Western colonialism and occupation in the Middle East.