Take an inventory of world strife including ethnic conflicts, civil and regional wars and I believe that you’ll discover that religion or some sort of belief system has played a role in its cause.

Now I am in no way implying that religion is the sole cause for all of the world’s upheavals as the reasons for them are many. What I am stating unequivocally is that religion does more to divide diverse people than it does to unite them.

Notice that I specified "diverse people", because within the same community, clan or tribe a spirit of brotherhood is usually promoted and principles are generally placed before personalities.

Step outside the bounds of that circle and the rules and behaviors change. It becomes an us versus them situation with personalities overriding any and all principles!

So the universal themes of love, peace and the brotherhood of man are promoted and embraced so long as it is with someone with the same skin color, clan affiliation or religious belief.

As a rational thinker, I ask myself, is religion the ultimate "good old boys" club? In other words, if you are a member of the congregation or believer of the faith then you’re OK and worth fighting and dying for. Is that it?

Conversely, using that same logic, if you are an outsider, that is, you do not have the same beliefs or affiliations, then you are not OK and at risk to be fought against and possibly killed in the name of a god……their god, not yours!

In this particualr instance, I am not passing judgment….only reporting what is.