While my gut would like to answer in the affirmative, reason compels me to be skeptical about my intuition.  I'm curious about other peoples' thoughts on this? Do you think religion is peaceful? Does it ultimately hold us back from creating a peaceful world? Or, even without religion, would we still find ways to be hostile to one another? Can peace be obtained? What is your formula for peace?

If there were only one religion, perhaps it'd be peaceful ... until the first schism.

I don't think religion is a peaceful influence. I think there are peaceful people, pushy people, and people stupid enough to kill and die over unprovable ideas.

People will still find something to fight each other over.

Religions can be peaceful but as they are all human constructs they can be swayed by humans.

As soon as a perfect symmetry among us all is broken, there will be jealousy and rage, and it will all come crumbling down. So long as we are capable of pettiness, we will find a way to ruin perfection. And if we are no longer capable of pettiness, then we aren't human-- such an angelic species might create a world of peace. But people never can.

Quote: “If you have two religions in your land, the two will cut each other’s throats; but if you have thirty religions, they will dwell in peace”

― Voltaire

Of course no religions would be even better.

Why don't you ask is it possible for humanity to creaty a peaceful world, period?

Religion's just a tool like so many others to give the territorial chimp approach some higher meaning. There are many others. Nationalism maybe the most honest of all, since it doesn't really try to hide the fact of being a chimp not wanting to share with other groups.

(October 24, 2016 at 1:19 pm)abaris Wrote: Why don't you ask is it possible for humanity to creaty a peaceful world, period?

Religion's just a tool like so many others to give the territorial chimp approach some higher meaning. There are many others. Nationalism maybe the most honest of all, since it doesn't really try to hide the fact of being a chimp not wanting to share with other groups.

I was going to say this as soon as I read the topic title. Even if you eradicated religion we would not be in a "peaceful world." Nationalism is probably the root of most conflict; religious identity is just a part of it.

No. History should answer that. 

Now change religion to lobotomy and I might have a different answer.

(October 24, 2016 at 1:41 pm)mh.brewer Wrote: No. History should answer that. 

If you're talking about nationalism, history gave a loud and resounding answer in the 20th century. It's hard to ignore the message.