Religion
In reply to the discussion: It might be about religion if . . . [View all]trotsky
(49,533 posts)No. Not just categorically no, but even on a scale - some can be used to "rationalize" or justify it way more than others.
For instance, take the belief in unicorns. I cannot conceive of a way that belief in unicorns would lead to violence. The only way you get to it would be to bolt on additional beliefs like "I believe in unicorns, and that they are invisible but if you murder a human being you can see them." THAT could lead to violence.
Or consider the "philosophy" of white supremacy. That has led to violence, mainly since teaching the superiority of one race automatically implies the inferiority of others.
Now what if you have a founding book for a philosophy that states "I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them" - do you think that might lend itself to violence more than some other philosophies?