Debate: Does religion cause war?
Side: Yes

I'm not sure I understand.If by Christian you mean someone who half believes, but in daily life never follows rules of the Bible, except ones they agree with, then no, that's not the sort of person who would have a burning desire to fight for god.I know not every religious person is a blood thirsty monster, "If they are so motivated by these millenia old religions, how come it is only in the last century that they've been fighting over Isreal?" In the Torah, the Jews were forced out of Israel, the land they felt was protected by their God. They've felt that that was their land ever since. Violence now might be caused by easy transportation to such a place. 100 years ago, we did not have planes or cars or tanks or guns with the capabilities we do now. Also, 100 years ago, most people lived the same. Now, some countries have computers and cars and complex cities, which Muslims view as sinful, "promiscuous" women, and of course, now that science has come this far, they are fighting for one last chance to bring the world back to the 5th century."You have such a misguided interpretation that it's scary, many christians aren't prejudiced against other religions (this may be different in backwards America), they do not see muslims as heathen in the saem way they don't see atheists as heathen. They do not fight in some desperate attempt to become a martyer for their religion, they fight because they feel the need to protect those they love." If that was true, I think the world would be a much better, and more peaceful place. As ChadOnSunday said, George Bush felt a call from God to murder people. Nearly every Christian agreed, which is why we are STILL in the Middle-East, fighting and killing. But, I never said religion purely caused war. I said it is a justifier. Oil and control is the main cause, isn't it? I'm not sure, the government is not honest.However, Christians and Muslims in their holy book do look down on heathens as being wrong. By definition, I am a heathen. I do not follow Christianity, and so I would be looked down on, or Christians would attempt to convert me. Not all, but many would be shocked, offended or just want to convert me. On a debate website, this is fine, but this has happened in the real world.In the real world, I would never debate anyone unless they were actively seeking to debate."You're making this up as you go along"Can you prove that? Or does what's true offend you? I have talked to many atheists, and nearly all say something like "With only one life, I would rather live it happily and do good things for people than serve in war and kill people, or risk my only life."If you think that risking your life like that is bravery, then that is sick. Courage is doing what's right, even though it's hard, when the wrong thing feels easy or expected of you. To end a problem with a gunshot or bombing is not courage. I would not throw my life away because I know when I'm dead, I'm dead.If all people thought like that, would there be war? With no way to justify fighting in the name of God, with no heaven to bring you to a wonderful place of happiness after you die in glorious battle, why in the world would you fight?Perhaps to bring down nazism, yet all people who are fighting in war today are not fighting communism or nazism, but fighting people who live in third world countries. How can you justify that without calling them religious extremists? If a Christian military, a nation run by a Christian president is fighting against Muslims.... that sounds a lot too much like the crusades, the crusades being fought for God, and for land and materials and money for me to think that it is a purely secular war.This war today, and many in the past have been justified with religion, with other causes as primary or secondary sources.I am not prejudiced, I do not assume all religious people are warmongers, but the people who fight in war primarily seem to be religious judging from the number of Christians in the US military and the enemy we are currently fighting.