LogFAQs > #925490260

So conflicting ideologies may not be the source of hatred and intolerance, but they are most definitely a cause. Especially theistic, dogmatic religions that literally state, "this is the way and all others are false."

Not really. As PO stated; while they may have been used as an excuse they were rarely the cause. Nobunaga Oda didn't attack the Ikko Ikki because they believed different, he attacked for various strategic reasons. This is not to say that religions haven't been a cause for war of course, but even when it is you usually see a larger culture and religion trying to displace or oppress a smaller culture and religion and said smaller culture/religion resorting to violence to survive.

Once again, this is not to say that religion has never been used for war. The Flower Wars and the invasions of the Hittites (at least I think. I know one of those really old cultures did it but I can't remember which one) were religiously motivated, for example, but even then those tended to be an exception as opposed to the rule.

Shockingly people don't like fighting and potentially dying just because someone believes differently. It makes far more sense to try and get along in peace and engage in things like trade than it does to try and declare a war simply because someone believes different. Even if you're ruled by another religion it makes sense to try and live a peaceful life so long as said rulers don't try to oppress you and, odds are, they won't because it's surprisingly hard to actually oppress a religion. In fact the most major religious oppressors tend to be atheistic, communist, governments (see the CCP, USSR, North Korea, and so-forth). And it makes sense too since said governments and ideologies often demand complete loyalty to the state and even the most benign and peaceful religion represents deviation from that demand.
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I am the gentle hand who heals, the happy smile who shields, and the foot that will kick your ***! - White Mage