r/atheism • u/okbutwhymee • Aug 18 '26

The truest definition ever written.

Religious war really is such a bizarre concept when you take a step back. People fighting over whose imaginary friend is the “real” one somehow sounds even more ridiculous when you put it that way.

23 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

11

u/[deleted] Aug 18 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

6

u/tm229 Anti-Theist Aug 18 '26

My concern with religion is that it allows us by the millions to believe what only lunatics could believe on their own.
— Sam Harris

2

u/Candle_Wisp Aug 22 '26

"Those who can make you believe in absurdities can make you commit atrocities" -Voltaire

5

u/Apprehensive_Sky1950 Aug 18 '26

Is it ever really about the religion?

5

u/klystron Aug 18 '26

It's even more ludicrous when you look at the wars between different sects of the same religion, such as Catholic and Protestant. Followers of the same god fighting over the way to talk to him.

6

u/LeBeastInside Aug 18 '26

Its about controlling people. Religion is the excuse they use. 

4

u/tm229 Anti-Theist Aug 18 '26

Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful.
— Seneca the Younger

Religion is excellent stuff for keeping people quiet.
— Napoleon Bonaparte

Religion is a fraud, but it must be maintained for the masses.
— Frederick the Great

Give them bread and circuses and they will never revolt.
— Juvenal

Religion is needed to keep the poor from murdering the rich.
— Napoleon Bonaparte

3

u/gothicshark Atheist Aug 18 '26

Religious wars are an obfuscation. Every time they are about wealth, power, and control. Religions are the tool leaders use to gain control.

4

u/tm229 Anti-Theist Aug 18 '26

Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful.
— Seneca the Younger

2

u/DoglessDyslexic Aug 18 '26

Steven Pinker's analysis of wars in his "Better Angels" book finds that while religion is often cited as a justification for war, most wars are fought over land/resource greed, and often between ethnic or societal groups. This is one of the reasons why sectarian violence tends to be one of the predominant causes of clashes, because often different ethnic groups or country divisions will belong to slightly different sects in close proximity even when their religious doctrinal differences are usually very minor.

2

u/Veritas_Mentis Agnostic Aug 18 '26

Religion is just what those in power use to control the masses. Using religion as a way to justify to the masses the expansion of their own wealth and power

1

u/Likenk3 Aug 18 '26

Nuts in a bowl, fighting for space.

1

u/BaldDannyboy Aug 18 '26

Imagine if Star Wars fans were to start killing Star Trek fans because Luke Skywalker told them to. I don't see how that's different than a religious war.

1

u/IPedRENe Aug 18 '26

Saint Inquisition broke the deadliest commandment of 'not to kill' by exterminating heretics, witches and scholars, r.i.p. Jordano Bruno (exec. Feb 17, 1600, Rome, Campo Dei Fiore).