Hmmm...Religion as a motivating factor?
Crusades...
Iran vs. Iraq...
Israel vs. the rest of the middle east...
The Romans wishing to convert the "pagans" to Christianity
Some (not all) of the conflicts between the conquistadors and the native americans and central american/south american indians
Now...I'm not saying that religion WAS (or is) the reason for ANY of these conflicts, but...it was the excuse that the aggressors have used in many of the wars. This debate could go on forever with no right answers, but...whatever your side of the argument is, you must admit that more violence and murder has been performed in the name of religion (in order to gain more territory or power as a "hidden" motive i agree) than for any other cause. Of course, most of the religions are peaceful at their core, but anything which breeds faith to to such an extent has a way of attracting zealots who twist and massage the tenets of their "religions" to fit their own self-serving desires.
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