Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Religion

Showing Original Post only (View all)

MineralMan

(148,083 posts)
Fri Dec 21, 2018, 03:26 PM Dec 2018

Is Greed the main source of conflict in the world? [View all]

Sex? Property? Territory? Food? Boundaries? Personal Appearance? Etiquette?

I think religion is way down the list when it comes to conflict. Most conflict begins on a person to person basis. Someone doesn't like someone else's looks. Someone is envious of stuff another person has. Someone doesn't have a mate, but someone else does. Someone parked his car on your driveway. Those brown people who live over there are sneaking into your territory. Someone didn't say thank you when you helped them.

Greed and acquisitiveness seems to me to be the primary source of conflict between individuals, and even between tribes and nations, in one way or another. You need some copper to do something, but you don't have any. Your neighboring area, though, has copper. You want it, but they don't want to let you have it. So, you kill them.

Or you come to some new shores in your big boat, only to find some brown people already living there. So you drive them off or kill them.

Your neighbor got busy and planted a bunch of strawberry plants and the ripe fruit really looks good to you, but his wife is going to make jam out of all of it and your neighbor won't give you any. So, you sneak out at night, pick a quart of them and then stomp all the rest down so there won't be any jam.

Heck, remember when your little sister got a bigger piece of pie for desert than you did. Unfair! So you hit her. Then, your mother came upside your head with a wooden spoon. Damn! That hurt! So you waited until she was out of the room and hit your brother, too. Conflict.

Yeah, religion's way down the list of things that cause conflict. But, still, you got that eternal life stuff, and the guy across the street goes to Hell when he dies, because he goes to the wrong church. Serves him right, the heathen! You've got yours! Say! Maybe you should just kill him and get it over with. Either that or try to convert him to your religion first.

15 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Religion»Is Greed the main source ...»Reply #0