Atheists and secular humanists consistently make the claim that religion is the  cause of violence and war throughout the history of mankind. One of hatetheism’s key cheerleaders, Sam Harris, says in his book The End of Faith that faith and religion are “the most prolific source of violence in our history.”

While there’s no denying that campaigns such as the Crusades and the Thirty Years’ War foundationally rested on religious ideology, it is simply incorrect to assert that religion has been the primary cause of war. Moreover, although there’s also no disagreement that radical Islam was the spirit behind 9/11, it is a fallacy to say that all faiths contribute equally where religiously-motivated violence and warfare are concerned.

An interesting source of truth on the matter is Philip and Axelrod’s three-volume Encyclopedia of Wars, which chronicles some 1,763 wars that have been waged over the course of human history. Of those wars, the authors categorize 123 as being religious in nature, which is an astonishingly low 6.98% of all wars. However, when one subtracts out those waged in the name of Islam (66), the percentage is cut by more than half to 3.23%

That means that all faiths combined – minus Islam – have caused less than 4% of all of humanity’s wars and violent conflicts. Further, they played no motivating role in the major wars that have resulted in the most loss of life

The truth is, non-religious motivations and naturalistic philosophies bear the blame for nearly all of humankind’s wars. Lives lost during religious conflict pales in comparison to those experienced during the regimes who wanted nothing to do with the idea of God – something showcased in R. J. Rummel’s work Lethal Politics and Death by Government:

Non-Religious Dictator Lives Lost

• Joseph Stalin – 42,672,000
• Mao Zedong – 37,828,000
• Adolf Hitler – 20,946,000
• Chiang Kai-shek – 10,214,000
• Vladimir Lenin – 4,017,000
• Hideki Tojo – 3,990,000
• Pol Pot – 2,397,0003

http://carm.org/religion-cause-war (thanks to the writer & Editor for this article, Robin Schumacher & Matt Slick)

The Bible in James (naturally) agrees with Christ when he says: “What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel,” (James 4:1–2).

Country Unspecified.(outside Uk)

Three men were walking down one of the streets in the shanty town, specifically looking for people who needed prayer for healing.

One of the gentlemen then had a strong sense that “the next man they would come across would have neck pain and God would heal him”.

They stopped outside the next shop. The 45yr old man standing there had had neck pain for several years, unhelped by medicines.

He was asked ,”can we pray for you in Jesus name”. He agreed willingly.

They prayed together for about a minute and then stopped to ask how he was feeling. With almost expressionless face he said “yeah, the pain in my neck has completely gone but my back still hurts” So the three man prayed for his back for another minute. That also improved. (He has been seen several times since & remains well)

Note.

Miracles on their own do not bring people into relationship with Jesus. People are often willing to have their illness prayed for but the idea of repenting & turning to a new faith is not so popular.

Extract from “GO” July -Sept 2014

The persecution of Christians in Nigeria and Iraq illustrates the serious way in which freedom of religion or belief is being denied to so many. Surely every MP in the House of Commons should take a serious interest in this?

This is why we are pleased to see that Christians on the Left, a group affiliated to the Labour Party, are hosting an event with the All Party Parliamentary Group on Freedom of Religion or Belief specifically to engage with and inspire Labour MPs about freedom of religion or belief.

“International Religious Freedom – the next human rights frontier?” will be held on 8 July at 5pm in Committee Room 20, Parliament, and is a brilliant opportunity for Labour MPs to get involved in the discussion.

Wayne David: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how
much her Department saved for the Exchequer by closing the Passport
Office in Newport.

Howard stands alone as the last line of the U.S. defense, and he shoulders the burdens and scrutiny of the position. To succeed, Howard depends on his own anchor, his faith in Jesus.

“The most important thing in my life is Christ,” Howard told a youth group he volunteers with. “He’s more important to me than winning or losing or whether I’m playing or not. Everything else is just a bonus.”

Reported cases of slavery in Wales are the “tip of the iceberg” a government expert has said.

The Welsh government’s anti-slavery co-ordinator Stephen Chapman told BBC Wales they just “don’t know how big that iceberg is”.

Mr Chapman appealed to communities to reported suspected cases of slavery.

Its not a word commonly used today but it does describe passion, enthusiasm and fervour towards something.

The Bible encourages us to have spiritual fervour and zeal for God and His way of life.

Its easy to fall in to the trap of working up a passion & to try hard in our own strength to do all the things we think we should do to please God.

In Galatians the Christians  had made a similar mistake. Having become Christian by spiritual new birth & life they then tried to live this life without the power of God.

We need to realise that God has given us His Holy Spirit (John 14) to enable us to live His life of Zeal in us.

Thanks  Ian  (22nd June 2014)

Chris Evans: (MP) As the Minister will know, in conflicts such as those in
central Africa, child soldiers are open to all kinds of physical, sexual
and mental abuse. What are the Government doing to put pressure on those
countries to stop the use of child soldiers in conflicts of that nature?

GUIDELINES ON ASSISTED SUICIDE AND PUBLIC SAFETY

• Session: 2013-14
• Date tabled: 10.03.2014
• Primary sponsor: Bruce, Fiona
• Sponsors:
  • Glindon, Mary
  • Dobbin, Jim
  • Jackson, Stewart
  • Shannon, Jim
  • Meale, Alan

That this House notes and draws to the attention of those wishing to change the law on assisted suicide, the remarks of the Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Lord Faulks, during a debate on 5 March 2014 in the House of Lords, that since the publication of the Guidelines of Assisted Suicide four cases were referred onwards for prosecution for murder or serious assault; believes that the emergence of these cases shows how well the current guidelines are working; and reasserts its belief that to relax the current law would add further to the number of unlawful killings and murders and that the most important considerations are the protection of vulnerable people and public safety.

“forgiveness made me free from hatred. I still have many scars on my body and severe pain most days but my heart is cleansed. Napalm is very powerful, but faith forgiveness and love are much more powerful. We would not have war at all if everyone could learn how to live with true love, hope and forgiveness.”

Kim Phuc Spoken Essay ” the long road to Forgiveness  30th June 2008