Defining Religion Re: [FoRK] More faith-driven insanity: kill the teacher!

[Jeff Bone]

On Nov 30, 2007, at 3:49 PM, Dr. Ernie Prabhakar wrote:

> Hi Jeff,
>
> On Nov 30, 2007, at 1:07 PM, Jeff Bone wrote:
>> It may or may not be possible to quantify in absolute terms the  
>> number of deaths historically attributable to religion vs. any  
>> given other cause;  however over the grand sweep of history there  
>> is simply no questioning the truth of the following statement:   
>> religion has an established track record of *continuous* conflict  
>> between different groups of believers.
>
> Sure, but let's generalize it slightly:
>
>> humanity has an established track record of *continuous* conflict  
>> between different groups
>
> Period.
>
> Would you disagree?

No, but that proves nothing.

Given:  two random non-religious groups, and two random religious  
groups.  (Let's further assume that for each pair of groups, the  
constituents of the pair have historically indeed been in  
*contact*.)  Which pair is more likely to be in violent conflict  
historically?

I would guess the latter.

jb