Religion Has Started More Wars…
March 28 —
You’ve probably heard this as many times as I have. After awhile you think; “It must be true.” Is it? While it’s difficult to compare quantities of wars, let’s look at the ten bloodiest wars in history:
10. Napoleon’s Wars (1804-1815) 5 million deaths. Not religious.
9. Russian Civil War (1917–1922) 8 million deaths. Not religious.
8. Chinese Dungan revolt (1862–1877) 12 million deaths. Religious.
7. Asian Conquests of Tamerlane (1370–1405) 17 million deaths. Not religious.
6. World War I (1914–1918) 17 million deaths. Not religious.
5. Chinese Taiping Rebellion (1850–1864) 23 million deaths. Religious.
4. Chinese Qing conquest of Ming dynasty (1616–1662) 25 million deaths. Not religious.
3. Chinese An Shi Rebellion (756-763) 35 million deaths. Not religious.
2. Mongol Conquests (1207-1472) 45 million deaths. Not religious.
1. World War II (1939-1945) 56 million deaths. Not religious.
OK, let’s just look at America’s ten bloodiest wars:
10. Iraq War (2003-Present) 3,990 deaths. Not religious.
9. Indian Wars (1775-1891) 4,100 deaths. Not religious.
8. Mexican-American War (1846-48) 13,283 deaths. Not religious.
7. War of 1812 (1812-15) 19,465 deaths. Not religious.
6. American Revolution (1775-83) 25,324 deaths. Not religious.
5. Korean War (1950-53) 36,568 deaths. Not religious.
4. Vietnam War (1965-73) 58,177 deaths. Not religious.
3. World War I (1917-1918) 116,516 deaths. Not religious.
2. World War II (1941-1945) 405,399 deaths. Not religious.
1. Civil War (1861-65) 618,222 deaths. Not religious.
In their Encyclopedia of Wars, authors Charles Phillips and Alan Axelrod attempt a comprehensive listing of wars in history. They classify only 7% as religious. Even an “Ask the Atheist” website says, “I don’t think it’s realistic to expect to be able to attribute any war to religious belief alone.”
Has religion started wars? Sadly, yes. But why would someone want to believe that “Religion Has Started MORE Wars…”? Maybe they want to avoid looking in the mirror. “What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them.” (James 4:1-2)
See you in church Sunday!
Grace & blessings,
Pastor Bob
