Religion ranks #1 in creating wars

“Religion ranks #1 in creating wars.”

I have heard this charge made from time to time over the years, and it was brought back to mind because someone posted the above comment on Facebook yesterday. The lie is promoted by popular atheists such as Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins,[i] and is uncritically accepted by those whose bias it fits.

There have been religious wars, but the above assertion is patently false! Religion does not rank first in creating wars. Wars are primarily driven by things like expansion of territory, securing political power, and gaining or controlling economic resources. 

When considering the role of religion “creating wars” it has most often only been a secondary source rather than the root cause. Even major conflicts that involved religious differences were usually tied with other concerns, such as political sovereignty, etc.

Researchers relying on comprehensive historical data such as found in the 3-volume Encyclopedia of Wars (Charles Phillips, Alan Axelrod, editors. Facts on File, 2004) and the 5-volume The Encyclopedia of War (edited by Gordon Martel, editor. Wiley-Blackwell, 2012) have concluded that only 6% to 7% of the wars listed in these works can be labelled “religious wars.” 

Realize that I am not saying that religion has never caused wars.[ii] However, I am trying to help dispel the myth that claims religion is the chief cause of creating wars. It is not. Not even close.

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[i] “Religious wars really are fought in the name of religion, and they have been horribly frequent in history.” Dawkins, The God Delusion.
[ii] For example, the Roman Catholic Church waged war (crusades) against the Waldenses based strictly on wiping out these people and their religion.