this post was submitted on 31 Oct 2023
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Who said it would eliminate all wars? Of course it would not. But I think that monotheistic religions throughout history were one of the most divisive factors among people that otherwise would get along just fine.
Yes, I believe this is the part that got you oh buddy'd. People make religions, they are a reflection in the mirror. Trying to solve the history of humanity by excising monotheism is like trying to convince your reflection to stop scowling at you
So you don't think religion often drives a wedge between groups of people that otherwise would live together without issues? Well, I disagree. And of course there are other reasons for people to hate one another but 'my made up guy in the sky is better than your made up guy in the sky' is the dumbest one.
Is that what I said? Don't strawman me.
Let me put it this way instead: given any system of self-replicating information, be it DNA or gospel, you will observe convergent evolution. If the environment offers a productive niche, then it's only a matter of time before that niche gets exploited. Monotheism isn't a tragic freak accident -- it's an inevitable response to an unexploited niche. Wishing it away is pointless because then something nearly identical would spring up to replace it. If one wishes to alter the reflection (i.e.: culture), then they must direct their focus upon the subject therein (i.e.: human society)
I think that religion is the reason that's often used to mask simpler motives; people want other people's stuff--their land, their wealth, their resources--without having to expend work to get it themselves. Or perhaps they can't get what they want/need without taking it from their neighbors. For instance, Japan is a very small country, and seriously lacks natural resources; in order to compete internationally, they needed to become an expansionist empire in the late 1800s/early 1900s, which led to them bombing Pearl Harbor in order to attempt to stop our imperial ambitions in the Pacific. Sure, Japan made claims about the emperor being divine, but it was fundamentally about resources.
Of course you can find examples of conflicts not motivated by religion. But do you think that for example Balkans would be such a shit show if all the nations involved had the same religion? They have the same ethnicity and similar language. What's the divisive factor there? The rest of the Soviet Union managed to transition peacefully. Why is that? And what about the crusades? Was the motivation really the land? Or simply religion? What about missionaries and all the harm they have caused? Did any polytheistic religion had missionaries? I don't think so.
And before you start listing other wars and crimes not motivated by religion I'm obviously not saying that without monotheism the world would be perfect. I'm just saying it would be better.