Yes. Repeating myself from a previous post, is it not obvious from a study of history, social and evolutionary psychology that we are a war-making species; that we fight over power, prestige, status and dominance, and that the flags we fly and ideology we adopt merely help us to identify friend vs. foe? Religious affiliations associated with warfare are confounded with other factors (such as territorial disputes) than are known factors in warfare.
I believe it was Freud who thought some of basic religious tenants such as loving neighbors and turning other cheeks were impossible given human nature as he understood it. We need the distinction between in and out-groups. If religion doesn't serve that purpose, other cultural markers will. Sounds depressing, but, we should take a page from non-human animal aggression. Take away the guns, leave the threat displays and ritual fighting, and let mankind "duke it out" safely (thought some evolutionary psychologists would argue that we are more likely to actually kill, even without weapons, than our animal relatives). ============================================ John W. Kulig Professor of Psychology Plymouth State College Plymouth NH 03264 ============================================ "Live simply that others may simply live" Contemporary saying. > -----Original Message----- > From: Herb Coleman [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2003 10:58 AM > To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences > Subject: pursuit of power vs. religion > > It seems to me that all of the examples below can also be interpreted as > examples of peoples quest for power. > > > Let's see: > > > > The Holocaust--hatred of the Jews (religiously based). > > > Yes, Jews were targeted and their businesses and property confiscated by > those who were previously disenfranchised after WWI. Also, Gypsies, > homosexuals, "intellectuals " and anyone who disagreed with the regime > was likewise targeted. > > >The killing of Buddhist monks and nuns in Tibet by the Chinese > >(religiously based). > > > This was done, I believe, by a government that was non religious in > order to maintain and cement control of a population. > > >9-11 (Islamic Fundamentalism). > > > In name only. We know that 15 of the hijackers came from Saudi Arabia > where one family rules and controls everything and these men were > marginalized. Suicide attackers only come from populations where there > is a sense that one will never get a chance to lead or be truly free. > If think about a suicide bomber is a last final act of desperation. > > >Mass killings of Christians in the USSR (by Stalin) and in China > >(by Mao) (religiously based hatred). > > > Also based on a desire to control the population and solidify power. > > >All wars involving Israel (religiously based) > > > Land, and water access can also be seen at the heart of of this conflict. > > >The Iraq/Iran war (Shite versus Sunni Muslim religious war). > > > Once again fighting for the right to control. There are also > territorial issues here. These countries are oil producing neighbors. > The other issue is that religion can lead to ethnicity's. That is > generations of families and kinships. This the Shiites in Iraq can > actually be related to the Shiites in Iran. This is why Turkey fear the > Kurds gaining power in Northern Iraq. They are afraid they will lose > control over the large population of Kurds living in Turkey. > > >Many tribal wars in Africa (based on differing religions). > > > Wrong again. Many of these battles have colonial roots. The Hutus and > the Tutsis weren't violent enemies before colonialism . However, as > with the Sunnis and Shiites in Iraq when a regime gives power of a > minority over a large majority and that power is abused seeds of > resentment are sown. Once again we are seeing struggles for power and > anger over past wrongs that have very little if anything to do with how > the other prays or doesn't pray. > > But that's just my opinion...or is it? > > -- > > Herb Coleman > IT Manager, Rio Grande Campus > Adjunct Psychology Professor > Austin Community College > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > 512-223-3076 > ********************************************* > * Every action has a connected and directed * > * pre-action. * > ********************************************* > -Herb Coleman after seeing "Bowling for Columbine" > > > > > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
