Human history is defined by
conflict. Since recorded history began, there has not been a
period of longer than ten years where some sort of conflict or war did
not take place somewhere in the world. Wars are fought for
territory and economic reasons. They are also fought because of
differences in religion. Wars are generally territorial and
economic but they become religious when a warring party dedicates their
performance/participation to their God(s). The Crusadeswere a series of wars between the
Christians for Europe and the Muslims of the Middle East. They
were fought over Palestine (modern Jerusalem). The Christians
wanted Palestine because of its signifigance in their religion.
The Muslims fought for it because they were living there. The
overall result of the Crusades was failure and the Muslims kept
the Holy Land. The Christians fought in the name of God as did
the Muslims. World War IIwas a war based on major world powers
seeking to gain new land and resources. Germany and Japan needed
more room for their citizens as well as new supplies of
resources. Italy and Russia jumped on the bandwagon and these
along with a few more countries formed the axis powers. Germany's
reason for war went deeper than land and resources. Adolf Hitler
lusted for a purging of all races and cultures other than white
Christians. His worldwide inquisition began with the Hebrew
people. He could have chosen any of the world's ethnic groups to
take down first, but he went down the predictable path. The
tenants of Judaism, throughout history, have been the scapegoat for all
of the world's problem. God's chosen people are recipients of the
most oppression from being fed to animals in the Roman gladitorial
arenas up until the Holocaust. They simply cannot catch a
break. The second great war when broken down was a religious war
fought between the christian countries of the Allies, the chosen
people of God (not really direct participation, but a psychological
war), and the anti-christ in Germany. "Good" christianity
triumphed over "warped" christianity, thus saving the Jewish
people. The Conflict for
Palestine is a modern conflict that is still taking place.
The way it looks, this conflict may never end. It began in
the 1940s when the United Nations decided to create a Jewish
state. The only problem being that the land given to them was
inhabited by Muslims. It was inevitable that there would be war
and it was no doubt who would win. The Jewish army cosisted of
three times the men with modern weapons versus a rag-tag band of
Palestinian geurillas. The Jewish people earned their part of the
Holy Land but they continued to fight for more and more land. The
Palestinians rejected the land grab and a resistance began. This
is where it remains to this day. Because they consider themselves
God's chosen ones, the Hebrews believe that they cannot and will not
lose to the Muslims. With the concept of Jihad, the Palestinians
deal considerable blows to the Jewish people with suicide tactics and
terrorism. This conflict goes back and forth like a game of
tennis or ping-pong and until one side completely annihlates the other,
the war for the Holy Land will continue. It is often the case
that conflicts occur because a side in a disagreement believes that
they have divine backing and that nothing can stop them. On the
other side of the spectrum, without religion and the comfort
faith provides many warriors would never make it home. Religion
helps countries justify their militant actions at the same time it
provides combatants the spark they need to continue. War and
Religion are an ugly combination but they are inseperable.
Religion is often the cause for war, while war brings people to
religion. I once saw a quote, I dont remember by who or the exact
words, but it went along the lines of: Bullets whizzing by turns the
worst sinners into saints. On that note, I will make a quote of
my own: A difference in faith turns the saints into sinners.
