You assume that the presence of religion the only reason we lack peace.
The media is full of reports of people getting into trouble or suffering, and religion is seldom the issue. Are there not troubles based on money, sex, pride, ambition, politics, natural disasters, and disease? I see all kinds of problems arise in my life, and few of them have anything to do with religion. I know the crime series on television are fictitious, but nevertheless, few of the crimes have a basis in religion. As long as you have people in proximity to other people, tensions will flare.
So the answer is no – tensions will continue even if there were no religions.
What Do You Think?
a. What percentage of crime shows have you seen in which religion turned out to be the culprit?
b. How many times were you irritated (lost your peace) this past week by non-religious causes, like someone cutting you off in traffic?
c. Religions are composed of peace-loving people, along with people bent on hurting others. Suppose we narrowed the question further to “If trouble-making religious people did not exist, would there be peace on this planet?” How would everyday life inform your answer?
