Why are so many wars fought in the name of God and religion?

Most wars in history were not fought because of religion but for power, land and politics. Where religion was given as the reason, it was usually not the cause but the victim.

The question rests on a picture of history that is not accurate. The largest and bloodiest wars were fought for worldly reasons. They were about territory, resources, markets and power. Often the real reason was hidden and a noble name was put in front of it. Wars have even been fought in the name of peace. Yet no one would say that peace is to blame for war.

It is the same with religion. When someone claims to fight for God, we do not have to take his word for it. We may ask whether his religion allows this war at all. Usually it does not. Then religion was only a pretext.

If we look at how religions began, the picture is clear. No prophet came to preach war. War was always waged against him. The powerful people of his time sensed that his message would shake their old order. Out of fear for their power they persecuted him and his few peaceful followers. So religion was not the aggressor but the victim.

Only after long patience does the Holy Qur’an allow the persecuted to defend themselves. The verses above show what this is about. It is not about forcing faith on others. It is about people of every religion being free to worship God. And even then the command stands not to go beyond the limit.

When people today commit cruelties in the name of God, they act against the very teaching they appeal to. Seen in this light, it is not faith in God that brings war, but human greed and the fear of losing power.