Religion is easily linked to the whole-sale slaughter of groups of people...the old testament god endorsed genocide...and sometimes carried it out. Also interesting is how intensity of religious belief correlates to education level, intelligence level and income level.

The USA worked because it was to be a Secular State. Although now the war-supporters also seem to want to turn my beloved USA into a Theocracy, despite seeing what happens when you mix religion and gov't as in Iraq. Until these Iraqi groups give up their silly supersticions, the violence will continue.

There is no reason or logic when religion is involved. Religion requires to you believe in something you can never sense. It requires you to accept some other person's explanation for how and why things are. That's the first big step to subjugation...to a life of being lead.

It is so sad that the myths and tales which once gave our distant ancestors such hope now bring us so much death and pain. And for what? To give 'meaning' to our lives? So we don't have to think about the finality of death? So we feel special and part of a group?

Meh.

This is just so disturbing to me that these poor people now have to use discretion in naming their children! I cannot describe the sadness the whole situation brings to me.

Just goes to show how stupid organized religon can be !

How sad to hate each other so much, when they can't even tell each other apart. If they focused more on what they have in common, rather than the differences, they might be able to move past it all.

If Iraqi Muslims were truly practicing their religion, they wouldn't be practicing the tribal customs that are dividing their country. "Treat your neighbor as you would want to be treated." The simpliest law of all that would heal their nation, and the disobedience of which is tearing their country apart.

About the time you want to give up on organized religion entirely, you come across the Amish. When their little girls were senselly slaughtered, their message was forgiveness. They asked only for prayer, not only for the familes and friends of the young girls but for the family and friends of the shooter as well. Indeed, they gave forgiveness to the shooter and asked for prayers for him too. Maybe people should take a look at the Amish, whethter Christian, Jew, Muslim, whatever, and remember the message God sends is of love and tolerance. It is people, not God, who have perverted that message.

This reminds me of an old original Star Trek program. Captain Kirk arrives at a planet totally distroyed, except for the last two surviors. The surviors are beamed up and continue fighting aboard the Enterprise. Finally the Captain gets the two together and says you have destroyed your entire planet, what is the all fighting about? They look at the captain with surprise and say basically...look at us we are totally different. Kirk says I don't see a difference? One survivor says he's black on the right side and white on the left side and I'm the opposite!!! I guess my point is that we can always seem to find the smallest differences to drive wedges, start wars and kill each other. How wonderful it would be if we could put the same effort into embracing diversity.

This is less about religion than about culture and power. In a culture where the prevalence of poverty and fear leave people without basic needs, frustration, grief, and hunger easily become rage. Those who use religious language to gain and abuse power thrive in this environment and support further instability in order to gain more power. Religion is not based on hatred, and leaders who abuse their power act only in the name of religion, not according to the beliefs of that religion.

Its not just the Iraqi Muslims killing each other in the name of Islam (!), but Hamas/Hezbollah, The Iranians, and Afghanis/Pakistanis (& add other names). Also the US government pays Pakistan, who pays Afghan groups, who pay Talibani fighting groups. Our own General Ike said, "Never get involved on a land war on the continent of Asia". I say Eurasia counts double. Too bad someone's ego got in the way.

It saddens me to see so many of you blaming the problems in Iraq on organized religion. Saddam Hussein ruled his country through terror, hatred, and deprivation. I do not understand how any of us can sit in our comfortable homes and offices without feeling the need to help these people. At least there is some hope for this country under new government. With Hussein in power there was not hope. It is not God who is responsible for this deplorable situation. It is mankind who use their free agency to make poor choices.

It's time for mankind to stop selling themselves this myth of religion and god and afterlife. It had its usefulness in the dark times before enlightenment, but it's time to evolve beyond the obligatory discrimination and senseless acts disguised as religion. Just as we stopped believing in Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy, so too must man dismiss this notion of an omnipotent creator that favors one group over another. I was raised in a christian church and I have independently studied the four major religions (judaism, christianity, islam and buddhism). And I have found them all to be beautiful theoretical expressions of hope in the face of a chaotic world. But in practice, they can all me misused by an overzealous minority to brutally repress that hope which it is meant to inspire.

What everyone must realize is until a person or a people can understand their relationship to God or whatever their version of the reality they live in. And be at peace with that understanding. There is allways the possibility of prejudice. prejudistic mentality looks for difference as an excuse to view another as inferior, whether it is color shade, taste,or religious belief. Just shows how in tune the amish are to their own reality.

Ironic that the ones who murder for their brand of religion are moving their coreligionists as well as their enemies away from "branding" their beloved children with a religiously recognizable name. Ironic too that for all his sins, Saddam managed to keep this sort of slaughter from the streets of Iraq. This predicted hell was one of the stated reasons Bush Sr. did NOT move further against Iraq after Desert Storm.

This just goes to show that "Religion" is bad. If one wants to believe in "God", ok. But even in the Christian communtiy there are different religions. People are just too stupid to realize that God doesn't care what "Religion" you belong to. He only cares if you belong to Him. Jews, Christians and Muslims believe that God (whichever you prefer) is going to come back at the end of time. If I were God and if I came back to see the mess that religion has caused- I would zap everyone, telling them that they all got it wrong. Religion of any kind is supposed show, first love to God and then love to your fellow man. God help us!!

Historically I think we can agree religion is much like fire or water.
It can be your best friend or your worst enemy.
Human nature is what corrupts religion.

The concept of Religion is splendid but as were the first two brothers depicted in the Bible, it is still yet common for one human brother to find fault with the other.

Those of us who have made the responsible choice to love must lead the way by example for those not yet worthy of this chore. Hey!Some folk are hard to love!

Love; firm, fair, and frequent has worked well for me.
Oh, and be will to die for what you believe. It may be required of you.

I am wondering what some common Christian names are in Iraq or elsewhere in the Middle East.

why is this happing in iraq who is responsible for all this .people of america please tell me

This is the worse of all wars!!! the worst thing about it is being in the name of Islamic religion, even though Islam sayings forbid a muslim to even touch non muslim's properties.But could it really be only the hands of Iraqi's who are dirty with this war??

I am in Baghdad teaching the Iraqis and I have to let you know some realities the press doesnt tell you. First there are some good things going on here. No one is talking about the schools that the US military has built or the hospitals and other good things going on here. Secondly I have had more than one student tell me that reporters who live in the IZ or green zone offer good money for blood and guts stories but not for positive news that is going on. The reporters here make this place much worse than it is in reality.

Who cares if the US built the schools and hospitals? That is EXPECTED because we were the ones who freakin' bombed their schools and hospitols in the first place!

That's not 'good', that just gets you to zero, you gotta do more to get into the positive range.

Like keep the power on for more than a few hours at a time. Or when you 'liberate' a town, keep it liberated.

Reporters deliver what the public wants. The public doesn't care about 'good' things because they are pissed that they were manipulated into this war they do not want. They know Iraq is a failure, they enjoy seeing proof that their warnings and beliefs pre-invasion were right on the money.

Firstly,this is about power,not religion.islam means submission.are they submitting?I don't think so.So they must not be true believers of Islam because it requires submission to God.
Secondly.Why do islamic fascists hate americans the they do.Could it be that we will believe anything whether it be astrology,scientology,witchcraft.anything that centers on self.We are so into self as a nation we have forgotten or chose not to want to know the world.
Organized religion is not the culprit but a stabilizing force when it is used for its original design.And that is to organize religionist thought for a greater good.It is corrupted when politics is introduced.And what is politics except power of the few over the many.This is time period for the many whether they be Shi'ite or Sunni to stand up and declare we will not allow a few to corrupt our religion

I'm starting to think that the only person who can rule Iraq is someone like Saddam.....

It still amazes me that in the 21st century we are still behaving no different than Rome 2 thousand years ago. A republic that invaded for no other reason than that they had the best way to live and will invade and enforce that way because it is in your best interest even if you disagree. Throw in religious fanaticism on both ends and you create nothing but a massive powder keg ready to blow. Don't you just miss the 90's when religion did not dominate the world stage.

4theworld-my mom knew i would be greatness .i once again i'm asking to rethink your intentions.why for the love of humanity hurt one another.whether you believe in christianity or islam .why? both books are no different.one believes in the prophet jesus.the other the prophet muhammond .why i'm asking islam if you love your brother why hurt them why hurt each other.it is not right .it is a beautiful thing when we see in the west when islamic people pray when they kneel and bring their arms over life in front of them and bow into a cocoon.then for the young to look for a space so they can learn and follow a true person.we need people like that in islam right now.jihad is nothing but a rich mans dream.it has no principal or belief.it is the same as man who thinks he has a lot of oil has really in esscence nothing.if jesus and mahammond would meet me would it be a great world.

The most remembered book from my childhood is "Sneeches" by Dr. Suess. I read this book to my children when they were young. Today I can see it's impact on their world views and in how they view the current conflict in Iraq. The book's wisdom is profound.