Global Faith Diversity...

Many wonder why so many people are willing to die, kill, and destroy in the name of faith... Peace, harmony, and love may just be an aspiration...?

I. The fundamental reasons for the existence and persistence of religion are multifaceted, encompassing psychological, social, cultural, and existential dimensions. Here are some key reasons:

1. Psychological Reasons: Coping with Mortality: Religion often addresses the human fear of death by providing beliefs in an afterlife or reincarnation, which offers comfort and a sense of continuity beyond physical death. Sense of Purpose: Religious beliefs and practices can give individuals a sense of purpose and meaning in life, answering profound questions about existence, suffering, and the universe. Emotional Support: Religion can provide emotional solace during times of stress, grief, and uncertainty. Rituals, prayers, and a sense of a higher power can offer comfort.
2. Social and Cultural Reasons: Community and Social Cohesion: Religion often fosters a sense of community and belonging. Shared beliefs and practices can unite people, creating strong social bonds and a sense of identity. Moral Framework: Many religions provide ethical guidelines and moral codes that help regulate behavior within societies, promoting social order and cohesion. Cultural Identity: Religion is deeply intertwined with cultural traditions and heritage. It can play a crucial role in preserving cultural identity and transmitting values and customs across generations.
3. Existential and Philosophical Reasons: Explaining the Unexplained: Religion often provides explanations for natural phenomena and human experiences that were historically beyond scientific understanding, addressing the mysteries of life and the cosmos. Spiritual Fulfillment: Many individuals seek spiritual growth and a connection with something greater than themselves. Religion can facilitate these experiences through practices like meditation, prayer, and contemplation.
4. Historical and Evolutionary Reasons: Survival and Adaptation: From an evolutionary perspective, religious behaviors may have conferred survival advantages by fostering group cohesion and cooperation. Groups with strong religious bonds may have been more cohesive and resilient. Authority and Social Control: Historically, religion has been used to legitimize authority and social hierarchies. Religious leaders and institutions often played key roles in governance and social regulation.
5. Intellectual and Cognitive Reasons: Cognitive Dissonance Reduction: Religion can help reduce cognitive dissonance by providing answers that align with individuals' need for coherence and understanding of their place in the world. Pattern Recognition: Human brains are wired to recognize patterns and seek causality. Religion can satisfy these cognitive tendencies by attributing events and experiences to divine or supernatural forces.

Religion persists because it addresses a wide range of human needs and concerns, from existential questions to social structures and personal well-being. While the specific beliefs and practices of religions vary widely, their fundamental reasons reflect universal aspects of the human condition.

II. Religious Conflict. Estimating the total number of people killed in the name of religion throughout history is highly complex and controversial. The difficulty arises due to the following factors listed bellow. Despite these challenges, historians and scholars have made some estimates based on recorded events. Here are a few major historical conflicts where religion played a significant role:

1. Ancient and Medieval Periods: - Crusades (1096-1291): Estimates vary widely, but a commonly cited range is between 1 to 3 million deaths. - Islamic Conquests (7th-8th centuries): Estimates range from hundreds of thousands to millions, though precise numbers are difficult to determine.
2. Early Modern Period: - Thirty Years' War (1618-1648): This war in Europe had both religious and political dimensions, with an estimated 4 to 8 million deaths. - French Wars of Religion (1562-1598): These conflicts resulted in an estimated 2 to 4 million deaths.
3. Modern Period: - Partition of India (1947): The division of British India into India and Pakistan led to massive communal violence with estimates of deaths ranging from 200,000 to 2 million. - Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970): While primarily political, religious and ethnic tensions contributed, resulting in an estimated 1 to 3 million deaths.
4. 20th and 21st Centuries: - Holocaust (1941-1945): The Nazi regime's genocide targeted Jews, among others, resulting in the deaths of approximately 6 million Jews. - Islamic Extremist Terrorism (Late 20th and early 21st centuries): Various terrorist attacks and conflicts, including those led by groups like ISIS, have caused tens of thousands of deaths.

1) Historical Records: Many ancient conflicts lack detailed historical records, and those that exist can be biased or incomplete.

2) Definition and Attribution: Determining whether a conflict was purely religious or had political, economic, and social motivations intertwined is challenging.

3) Scope and Scale: Some conflicts had multiple causes, and religion might have been just one of the contributing factors.

While these are some notable examples, there are many other smaller-scale conflicts and incidents where religion played a significant role. Aggregating all such events throughout history could suggest that tens of millions of people have been killed in religious conflicts. However, exact figures are impossible to determine due to the aforementioned complexities.

?Well, the death toll from religious conflicts is a substantial but complex topic. While major events like the Crusades, the Thirty Years' War, and the Holocaust contribute significantly to the total, many other smaller but numerous conflicts also add to the toll. Scholars generally agree that millions have died in the name of religion, though precise numbers remain elusive.

III. Major Religions of the World. What are the major religions of the world, and how did they originate, and how do they transform the national governance and politics? The major religions of the world include Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism. Each of these religions has a rich history, distinct beliefs, and significant influence on national governance and politics.

1. Christianity:?? Origin:? Founder: Jesus Christ,? Time Period: 1st century CE. Place: the Roman province of Judea.?? Sacred Texts: The Bible (Old and New Testaments). Core Beliefs: Belief in one God, the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), salvation through Jesus Christ, resurrection, and eternal life. Impact on Governance and Politics:??? Historical Influence: Christianity significantly influenced the development of Western civilization, including the legal and political systems. Church and State: In medieval Europe, the Church held substantial power, often intertwining with political rulers. Modern Influence: In countries like the United States, Christian values have shaped laws and policies, though there's a constitutional separation of church and state. In some nations, Christian democratic parties play a significant role in politics.
2. Islam:?? Origin:? Founder: Prophet Muhammad.? Time Period: 7th century CE.?? Place: Mecca and Medina in present-day Saudi Arabia.? Sacred Texts: The Quran. Core Beliefs: Belief in one God (Allah), Muhammad as the last prophet, the Five Pillars of Islam (faith, prayer, charity, fasting, pilgrimage). Impact on Governance and Politics: Historical Caliphates: Early Islamic governance was characterized by caliphates, which combined religious and political authority. Sharia Law: Islamic law (Sharia) is derived from the Quran and Hadith, influencing legal systems in many Muslim-majority countries. Modern States: Countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia have governments heavily based on Islamic principles. In contrast, nations like Turkey have a secular government despite a majority Muslim population.
3. Hinduism:??? Origin:? Time Period: No single founder; developed over millennia.?? Place: Indian subcontinent.??? Sacred Texts: Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, Mahabharata. Core Beliefs: Dharma (duty/ethics), Karma (action and consequence), Samsara (rebirth), Moksha (liberation from the cycle of rebirth), and a belief in multiple deities. Impact on Governance and Politics: The Caste System: Historically influenced the social and political structure of India. Modern India: While India is a secular nation, Hinduism significantly impacts its culture and politics. The rise of Hindu nationalism has influenced political movements and policies.
4. Buddhism:??? Origin:?? Founder: Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha).??? Time Period: 6th-4th centuries BCE.??? Place: Present-day Nepal and India.??? Sacred Texts: Tripitaka (Pali Canon), Mahayana Sutras. Core Beliefs: The Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, the concepts of Nirvana and enlightenment. Impact on Governance and Politics: Historical Influence: Influenced the governance of many Asian countries, particularly through the promotion of non-violence and ethical governance. Modern Influence: Countries like Thailand and Bhutan incorporate Buddhist principles into their governance. In Tibet, Buddhism has played a central role in resistance against Chinese rule.
5. Judaism:?? Origin:??? Time Period: Over 3,000 years ago.? Place: Ancient Near East, ?particularly Canaan (modern-day Israel and Palestine).??? Sacred Texts: Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), Talmud. Core Beliefs: Monotheism, covenant with God, observance of Jewish law (Halakha), and cultural and religious identity. Impact on Governance and Politics: Historical Influence: Jewish law and ethics have influenced Western legal and moral systems. Modern Israel: In Israel, Jewish religious principles play a significant role in the state’s identity and laws, though there is a complex balance between religious and secular governance.

Conclusion. This report is only an attempt to better understand the religious aspects of people and religion. It is not a comprehensive research, just the beginning and continuing, of the study of global religion... The major religions of the world have profound historical roots and deeply influence the governance and politics of the nations where they are practiced. These influences manifest in various ways, from legal systems and political parties to cultural norms and social structures. The interplay between religion and state continues to shape the contemporary political landscape globally. And, often this religious diversity presents monumental challenges for people around the world though many religion promises harmony and peace...

**Note: This publication is for an educational purpose only, not intended to promote any religion.

~S. Vincent Shin,????? www.dhirubhai.net/in/vshin

Be Vigilant. Be Safe.

“Stay Curious” and “Think for Yourself.”?? Always decide on your terms.? This is my research and analysis. Perhaps you should take a closer look at them and do additional investigation and scrutiny if they interest you. (SVS)

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References (Not limited to):

https://www.worldhistory.org/collection/223/religions-of-the-world/

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/big-history-project/agriculture-civilization/first-cities-states/a/the-origin-of-world-religions-1

https://www.worldhistory.org/timeline/religion/#google_vignette

https://oxfordre.com/politics/politics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228637.001.0001/acrefore-9780190228637-e-813

https://www.statista.com/topics/10326/world-religions/

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