Religion: A Catalyst for Conflict?

Religion is the solace of the state. Throughout history, its purpose has been to pacify the people and keep the calm. However, now and as always, it has revealed itself to be the eternal enemy of all; The self-perpetuating shepherd who robs people's hopes and dreams; Places them in an air-tight box; Then puts them upon a flag-covered altar. Religion, despite its obvious flaws and vices, is still looked to as a binding force by humanity.

Contrary to their proclaimed intentions, Christianity and Islam have both been the greatest causes of hostility in the modern world. The Tit-for-Tat Revenge Policy, which dates back to the Medieval Crusades, is still alive and kicking across the globe. With a few well-chosen words, ministers can inspire wars, simply, by invoking the presence of their predecessors. A perfect example of this would be Pope Benedict XVI's recent inflammatory speech, in which, he quotes a Byzantine emperor who believes the Prophet Muhammad's teachings were evil and inhuman.' Are these the words of a religion that wishes to keep the calm? Absolutely not! Infuriated Muslims from around the world went to protest, both violently and non-violently, for the honor of their Prophet. These words don't come from hate and they certainly don't come from the Almighty'; these words come from power-hunger.

Apparently, there's something nave about mankind, which, has kept it from abandoning religion altogether. The only major thing hindering humans from achieving their full potential is the Moral Majority and Religious Right. If it weren't for the blind obedience of democratic governments to the so-called Almighty,' Science (the true Almighty) would be in the foreground of people's interests, instead of finding new cloaks of passivity.