Is religion the cause of most wars?
Is Religion the Cause of Most Wars? A Biblical and Historical Perspective
The claim that religion is the primary cause of most wars is a common critique, particularly among skeptics and critics of faith. While it is true that many historical conflicts have been fought with religious motivations or justifications, the issue is far more complex. A proper analysis reveals that religion, though involved in many conflicts, is not the primary cause of war. Instead, the ultimate root of conflict is found in humanity’s sinful nature, as explained in Scripture. This lesson examines the role of religion in historical and modern wars, addresses common misconceptions, and provides a biblical framework for understanding the true causes of conflict.
Historical Conflicts Involving Religion
Many wars throughout history have had religious overtones, involving various faiths:
The Crusades (11th–13th Centuries): A series of campaigns to reclaim the Holy Land from Muslim control and defend the Byzantine Empire from Islamic invasions.
The French Wars of Religion (16th Century): A violent conflict between Catholics and Protestant Huguenots in France, culminating in events like the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre.
The Thirty Years' War (1618–1648): A devastating conflict in central Europe between Catholic and Protestant states, influenced by both religious and political factors.
The Troubles in Northern Ireland (20th Century): A complex conflict involving political and religious dimensions between Catholics and Protestants.
Other examples include Islamic jihad, which has historically expanded and defended Islamic territories, and the wars of conquest in the Old Testament, such as Joshua’s campaign to claim the Promised Land under God’s command (Joshua 1:1–6).
While these conflicts involve religion, they are not exclusively caused by it. Political, economic, and cultural factors often interplay with religious motivations.
Religion as a Secondary Cause of War
Though religion has been cited as a motivation in many conflicts, it is rarely the primary cause. To understand this distinction, consider the 20th century, one of the bloodiest eras in human history:
World War I and II: These wars were driven by nationalism, political alliances, and territorial ambitions, not religion.
The Holocaust: This genocide, orchestrated by the Nazis, was rooted in racist ideology, not religious zeal.
Communist Revolutions: In countries like Russia, China, and Cambodia, millions perished under atheistic regimes that actively sought to suppress religion.
These examples highlight that secular ideologies—such as communism, fascism, and nationalism—have been far deadlier than religion. Scholar Philip Jenkins notes that less than 10% of recorded wars have religious causes, with political, economic, and social factors being more prominent.
The Biblical Diagnosis: The Root of War Is Sin
The Bible provides a deeper explanation for the causes of conflict, focusing on the sinful nature of humanity:
The Heart’s Corruption:
“For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” (Matthew 15:19, NKJV).
Human conflict arises from the sinful desires of the heart, which manifest in actions like greed, hatred, and violence.Selfish Desires and Strife:
“Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war” (James 4:1–2, NKJV).
James directly attributes conflict to selfish desires and the pursuit of personal gain.The Deceitfulness of the Heart:
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9, NKJV).
This verse underscores humanity’s fallen condition and its role in fostering strife and division.Rebellion Against God:
“Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5, NKJV).
Sinful rebellion against God is the ultimate source of all human conflicts, including wars.
A False Premise: Eliminating Religion Ends War
Critics like Richard Dawkins argue that removing religion would lead to a more peaceful world. However, this view fails to account for humanity’s sinful nature. The 20th century, dominated by secular ideologies, was rife with violence and oppression. The suppression of religion in communist regimes did not lead to peace but to unprecedented atrocities.
The idea that removing religion will create harmony misunderstands the human condition. Sin, not religion, is the root cause of war. Without true religion to act as a moral restraint, sin would reign unchecked, leading to chaos and destruction.
True Religion Promotes Peace
Biblical Christianity offers a solution to humanity’s propensity for conflict. True religion, as defined by Scripture, promotes love, forgiveness, and reconciliation:
Peacemaking as a Christian Virtue:
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9, NKJV).
Christians are called to pursue peace and reflect God’s character.Loving Enemies:
“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44, NKJV).
Jesus’ teaching directly opposes the cycles of hatred and retaliation that fuel war.The Gospel’s Transformative Power:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV).
The gospel changes hearts, replacing sinful desires with the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23).
The Ultimate Peace: The Reign of Christ
While true religion mitigates the effects of sin, ultimate peace will only be achieved when Jesus Christ returns to establish His kingdom:
“He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2:4, NKJV).
Until then, Christians are called to be ambassadors of peace, pointing others to the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ (Isaiah 9:6).
Conclusion
Religion is not the primary cause of war. While it has played a role in many conflicts, the root cause is humanity’s sinful nature. Secular ideologies have caused far more destruction than religion, and removing religion would not eliminate war. Instead, the gospel of Jesus Christ provides the ultimate solution to conflict by transforming hearts and offering hope for eternal peace. Only in Christ can humanity find the peace it desperately seeks. “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, NKJV).
