RELIGION: A MORTIVATION AND A TOOL FOR WAR

The emergence of religion has exhanced adequate efforts in propagading unionism, most expecially in a homogenous society , but the fact remains that religion has always been a justification for war.
Etimologically, according to the philologist Max Müller in the 19th century, the root of the English word " religion", the Latin religio, was originally used to mean only "reverence for God or the gods, careful pondering of divine things, piety" (which Cicero further derived to mean
"diligence". Also, religion can be traced from the Greek word "religare" which means " to tie" and "binding together". From these lines so far, it can be draw that the pimary function of religion is to create cohesion and collective involvement.

How religion is motivation for war
I would argue that most causes of war right from time immemorial is as a result of religion. There are numerous examples of religious wars. Some of the main ones include the Crusades, Yugoslavia, Iraq, Afghanistan, The War On Terror, The Thirty Year War, Northern Ireland and the numerous religious wars of England and France (which culminated in the Saint Bartholomew Day Massacre). Many wars has been fought in some African countries which act under the canopy of religion.
Religion as generally regarded by judaism, christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Budhism, atheist religion and Asian religions maintain that religion is a force of peace. But a closer scrutining and a critical assesment of the impact of religion will give the impression that religion is also a mortivation for war. According to a well known sociologist, Emile Durkheim, he assert in one of his book 'ELementary forms of religious life", where he defined religion to be 'a unifield system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things'. He asserted that religion create a collective efferverscence and social solidarity, although is proposition might be right but it is not the case that religion brings collectivity in all cases, infact religion divide people mostly in a heterogenous society .An objection to Emile Durkheim assertion will be the fact that religion propagates war, using Nigeria as a case study, there are three main religion in Nigeria namely Christianity, Islam and traditional religion, despite the fact that all these religion preach peace , there can't be a solid and mutual understanding concerning each others religious tenets as regard to there egocentric appeal to their Faith. Many incidents had happened in Nigeria politics been influenced by religion.
In Nigeria, in order to maintain religious tolerance there was a provision of posts and offices occupied by an interested citizens rising from different religious affiliations. But nevertheless, anytime the office ocvupant decide to embark on a project, there can be clamouring from other religion parties by not welcoming the new ideology, and if care is not taking this can lead to sudden war.
It is believed that religion tends to survive in a homogeneous society with just one national religion because there will be a mutual utility and deep seated understanding between the whole members of the community unlike a society with three or four religions recongnized by the state government which is prone to violence and riots. whenever these numerous religion come to together , they can never achieve a common goal based on faith because of there different perspective in religious beliefs.


According to a renowned philosopher Karl Marx, he asserted that "

"Religious suffering is, at the same time, the expression of real suffering and a protest against real suffering. Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people . —  Karl Marx.
This definition is rich in crtical assesment, religion which ought to be a channel for promotion of peace, tolerance, understanding and cooperation is now a weapon to fight