Comment by Dr. Bob on November 15, 2013 at 11:54am

Only if we're really not being intellectually honest with the kids.

That photo might be better with flags, since nationalism and odd perceptions of "national self-interest" have caused more armed conflict. 

I'd say the real cause of conflicts tends to be competition for limited resources.  If we're looking for reasons why different groups of people clump together when competing for resources it's family first, and then tribalism in all its flavors - tribe, ethnicity, nation, religion.   It's intellectually dishonest to condemn religion without condemning in even stronger terms tribalism, ethnic identity/racism, and nationalism. 

Comment by Reg The Fronkey Farmer on November 15, 2013 at 12:39pm

Very true Bob, nobody have every been killed in the name of any religion. We should just put warning stickers on them or not allow children to read such books until they are (say) 16 years old.

Comment by Warren on November 15, 2013 at 12:47pm

Religion is a tool of politics or perhaps the other way around also to control the population and justify horrible morals toward one another

Comment by John Cook on November 15, 2013 at 2:54pm

Dr. Bob is correct. Hatred and opposition to another group is fairly natural in tribal societies, however it has been shown that when two tribes meet they are generally wary but initially friendly. Over time difficulties develop that concern resources and within that it is often the proximity of another tribe that creates animosity--then comes ethnicity, nation, religion and other differences. Give man a reason to hate and you have the found the best motivator of all.

Remember what Rumpelstiltskin said in Shrek?  "Get yer mob on!" so true, so true. The inherent difficulty in religion is that all modern religions, perhaps except Jainism, are based in converting others. Thus those not converted are seen as antagonists. Religion, as supportive of static, unchanging knowledge continues the reasoning needed to avoid learning and thinking. There is far more but this is not the time to get overly involved.   
 

Comment by Ed on November 15, 2013 at 9:47pm

The idea that two groups, whose differences lie in a mixture of ethnicity, religion, & nationalism, would rather take up weapons and kill one another instead of reaching a peaceful resolution shows that we have not come far enough in our evolutionary development. Man's proclivity to maim and kill those in disagreement with one another somehow remains an acceptable choice of action. I can only think our civilization would be that much farther ahead were we to dispense with those archaic tools that unfairly challenge and rebuke those who hold opposing views and values. Religion remains a tool to fan the deadly flames of war and conquest; Palestinians and Jews are an unfortunate example.

Comment by ɐuɐz ǝllǝıuɐp on November 15, 2013 at 10:01pm

Excellent picture

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