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Is Religion to blame?

I was having a discussion with an atheist friend of mine on religion about a week ago. A point that he made that stuck to me most was when he asked. "isn't it ironic that religion seems to be behind every major conflict?" It wasn't the first time I had heard such a statement, but the sad part is it seems partly true on the surface. From the crusaders, Spanish inquisition, Schmaldalic wars and thirty years war in the past to present day conflict such as Israel-Palestine conflict, religious riot in Nigeria, Sunni-Shiite conflict in Iraq, 9/11, Sudan, Uganda and other conflicts not mentioned here.


A look at the Qur'an and the Bible
I grew up as Muslim but am now a born again christian, so I have some idea about what each religion says. Muslims have used the word Jihad to justify most of the conflict they have been involved in. Most people both Muslims and Christians associate the word Jihad with the word Holy War. Christians have also used the bible to justify acts of wickedness.


What does the Qur'an say about Jihad?
The Qur'an divides Jihad into two, the higher jihad and lesser jihad. The higher jihad is the struggle within one's self to remain holy while the lesser jihad involves the spread of Islam. Isn't it funny that the lesser jihad is what is used to justify conflicts. The word higher jihad shows how important it is for every Muslim to make himself pure. If the Muslims who are involved in jihad conflict paid more attention to the higher jihad, I don't think there would be a lot of war. This is because I believe focusing on the higher jihad would help them carry out the lesser jihad without bloodshed.

What does the Bible say?

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 
Matthew 22:36-40
A man came to Jesus and asked him what is the greatest commandment, and he said "Love your God with all your heart and soul is the greatest commandment and the second is love your neighbor as yourself."  Loving God means spending time with him and his word. It is the greatest commandment because it is only through it we could become the Christian God has called us to be. We cant truly love others if we don't have a great relationship with him. If all Christians follow the second commandment, there would be a lot less religious conflict. We cant obey the second if we don't concentrate on the first. We must first love God before we can have the strength to love others, because he is the only one who can give us the strength to love others. Christians who have caused religious conflict have ignored the greatest commandment given by Jesus, which is why it is hard for them to obey the second. There is no way you can obey one commandment and ignore the other because they are alike, just like Jesus said in Matthew 22.

I believe the world would be a different place if followers of both religion practiced what is written in their Holy books. The problem with the world isn't religion but people who use religion as an excuse to justify their selfish acts.

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