Let me also say that not all Christians are bad, not Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Taoists, etc...

But I look around it seems as if most of the religions in the world are in a constant state of competition.  There's this power struggle to convince members of other faiths or those not as "faithful" to be more faithful and of a specific faith.

This constant competition leads to excessive violence and bloodshed (Just look at Nigeria with the adoption of Sharia in the North and the constant issues between the Christians and the Muslisms due to this) and intolerance and fear, and, and, and...ad infinitem.  .

But why? Why is this happening?

I think that most religions, like most countries, are based on just a couple of basic laws.  

1). Sovereignty.

2). Organization

3). Fear/Anger

Think back to your history classes.  Think about the rise of the city-state.  When small groups of people banded together.  They had a clear organization based on fear or loathing of this "other" group and that other groups ability to take away sovereignty.

Wars were fought based on territory and less on if you can hunt in a specific area or to stop the spread of disease.  Instead of city states working together to make life better for both states, they would fight to gain sovereignty over the other city state.

I'm thinking rather Machiavellian today.

What bothers me the most in this concept is that the peacefull teachings of all of these religions gets lost in the pursuit of the next convert, the next conquest, the next area to turn savages and Pagans (isn't that funny how that works, Pagans and savages are not the same at all and most "savages" aren't, but that's another diary) into the "right" religion.

So, I'm curious.  Do you believe that States and Religion go hand in hand?  Did they evolve together? Are they closer now than in the past?

One other thought came to mind recently as well.  Not long ago I was told by a good friend that about every 30 years (give or take a couple) there's a major "red scare."  That there is a rise in Right wing ideology that searches for those in opposition to it and crushes it to the best of its ability.

I'd be willing to believe that this is similar for Pagans.  I wonder how much longer I'll be able to put on the web what it's like being Pagan without fear of retribution or for that matter what it's like believing that everyone needs to be able to feel free to speak their minds and do good for others...curse my Socialism!!