Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

foobarijk t1_j6cmb7h wrote

Reply to comment by Enasakoma in Massive fire breaks out at oil refinery in Iran by slc73

What are the differences other than disagreeing on who should have been the caliph some 1300 years ago? (and one side losing a battle at Karbala, plus the ceremonies commemorating said loss).

3

Postcocious t1_j6d7om6 wrote

What are the differences between Protestant and Catholic, other than believing who should be in charge?

To an outsider, the differences between one sect and another often appear insignificant. To those within the sects, their beliefs are essential to their identity. Any threat to a person's essential beliefs may result in extreme violence.

Those differences led to the 30 Years War, which killed 5-8 million Central Europeans back when the only weapon was a short-range musket with a bayonet. The Troubles in Ireland came from the same cause.

By design, monotheistic religions create in-groups and out-groups. If my religion is the one and only truth, then your religion - by definition - is false. Since both cannot be true, the very existence of one threatens the other's most basic beliefs, and vice-versa. These intractable disagreements may lead to extreme and prolonged violence, each side fighting until it is literally exhausted of all people and resources.

For a brilliant take on the foolish seriousness behind religious wars, read 'Gulliver's Travels', Book I. Are you a Big Endian, or a Little Endian. Your life depends on your answer.

1

foobarijk t1_j6h03h1 wrote

I don't dispute that they see themselves as different and may resort to extreme violence over these differences. I was just questioning the statement that they are "extremely different". Even to themselves, I doubt that is the case. The magnitude of induced violence is not necessarily correlated to the magnitude of the difference, and in fact, as demonstrated in your example, may even be inversely correlated.

1

Postcocious t1_j6hsg1f wrote

Thanks for clarifying and sorry if I misread your comment.

>The magnitude of induced violence is not necessarily correlated to the magnitude of the difference...

Completely agree.

>... may even be inversely correlated.

A fascinating concept that, if true, speaks to a psychological rather than a doctrinal basis for such violence.

1