Ethnic conflicts are often accompanied by gross human rights violations, such as genocide and crimes against humanity, and by economic decline, state failure, environmental problems, and refugee flows. Violent ethnic conflict leads to tremendous human suffering.

Forces that Lead to Devolution These areas have some local autonomy because the physical barriers make it difficult for a central government to rule. Other physical features that can lead to devolution include deserts and large bodies of water. Ethnic separatism occurs when minority groups fight for independence.

Religion can cause ethnic conflicts when the religious beliefs of an ethnic group are threatened by another group or when religious laws are believed to call for conflictive action. Occasionally, this involvement of religion can transform a secular conflict into a religious one.

All religions have their accepted dogma, or articles of belief, that followers must accept without question. This can lead to inflexibility and intolerance in the face of other beliefs. Religious extremists can contribute to conflict escalation. They see radical measures as necessary to fulfilling God’s wishes.

As you can see, the negative effects of religion on society are enormous. To blindly follow a religious or any other ideology simply means to restrict your perception, suppress your thoughts and emotions, and live in hypocrisy — in other words, to live in pain and misery.

The Golden Rule. It is often claimed that religion causes conflict and war. It is true that sometimes deeply held beliefs can lead to clashes, and there have been many wars that were caused by disputes over religion and beliefs. However, for many people religion can be a power for peace.

Christians have held diverse views towards violence and non-violence through time. Currently and historically there have been four views and practices within Christianity toward violence and war: non-resistance, Christian pacifism, just war, and preventive war (Holy war, e.g., the Crusades).

Church conflicts are caused by serious disagreements or variances among members or groups in the church. Large decisions about new pastoral staff, the use of a building or mission fund, the structure of worship services, church events, and so on, tend to be at the heart of these disagreements.

The European wars of religion were a series of wars waged in Europe during the 16th, 17th and early 18th centuries. Fought after the Protestant Reformation began in 1517, the wars disrupted the religious and political order in the Catholic countries of Europe.

This led to the War of the Three Henrys and later brought Spain to the aid the Roman Catholics. The wars ended with Henry’s embrace of Roman Catholicism and the religious toleration of the Huguenots guaranteed by the Edict of Nantes (1598).

The war lasted from 1618 to 1648, starting as a battle among the Catholic and Protestant states that formed the Holy Roman Empire. However, as the Thirty Years’ War evolved, it became less about religion and more about which group would ultimately govern Europe.

One of the differences between Protestants and Catholics is the way they view bread and wine during religious services. Catholics believe that the bread and wine actually turns into the body and blood of Christ. Protestants believe it stays bread and wine and only represents Christ.