Why do Religious groups persacute each other?

[East Klent]

Most religions have the same basic idea right? Worshiping one god.

[Astralsideria]

There are quite a few polytheistic religions out there, and some religions in which, as I understand them, there is no God at all. Plus there are, always have been, and always will be, factions (or sects, or whatever you want to call them) of any religion (except ones like Buddhism, where they can just accept people for what they are, a skill we Christians seldom practice) that cannot accept other religions, which leads to things like the Crusades, and things like Islamic extremism. On a smaller scale, it's behind the CofE-RC debate.

EDIT: Personally, I agree with you, and in one thread here, I had the Cardinal-Archbishop of Christchurch-with-St. Andrewsburgh Valour say as much in a message titled "Itolerentia Intolerabilis Est", or "Intolerance Is Intolerable" in response to an Embargo on any non-Catholic nations, or any nations at war with a Christian country. Some aspects of some religions I wholeheartedly disagree with, such as slaughtering animals in some pagan/tribal/other assorted religions, and those, I will argue with 'til I'm blue in the face, but overall, I think we'd be much better off if we could just peacefully coexist. By that, I don't mean cow-towing (probably spelt wrong, but it's the first time I've written it - couldn't think of a better word) to other religions at the expense of our own, like the British Government seems to think we have to, but rather making it so that, in the same way as Jews and Muslims and whatnot have to put up with us blathering on about Christmas and Easter, and St. George's and St. David's and St. Andrew's and whatever, we should try and make a bit of a fuss over their festivals. Not to the point where it becomes patronising, but just so that they feel like they're on a level playing field with the Christian majority.
I'll get off my soapbox, now.

[Luxiai]

They persecute each other because they attack one another, for example: 9/11

[2nd PLT]

shūkyō dantai no tame , oroka sa re , sorezore , ta no hakugai . īe shinken ni , jissai ni shōhi denryoku wa , korera no kotogara no atama , sō shihai no subete no chikara wo zen sekai ni to no sore to omo~tsu ta . ima wa dare ka kenryoku no ichi ni so~tsu te ki ta ni setsuritsu sa re ta toki mā sō de nai kamo shire nai , korera no koto wa , genzai no shunō wa , itsuka , to no ma no shōsai wo nozon da . un , sore wa isshinkyō no shūkyō wa omo ni dono yō ni reihai wo shi , kami wa kare ni mo kakawara zu , karera wa hotondo onaji desu ka , subete no onaji kai , ōku no ikyō no shūkyō kara nusuma re ta mono wo fukumu īarasou yō da . kore wa , subete , omo ni watashi no iken desu . shi te kudasai watashi wo kyosei shi nai de kudasai .

[Lazuril]

Religious zealots often have the mindset of "My god is better than your god"

[Manango]

Because they think they are right, so it is their duty to convert everyone else, or at the very least, inform them (never politely for some reason) that they are going to hell.

As every religion is doing this, if you are one religion, you see other (heathen) religions converting people, and you think.... "they are turning people from God. They are condemning people to hell! This must be stopped". Naturally every religion sees this and they all start molesting each other trying to prove that their god's penis is larger.

The closer the religion is to yours, the more insidious their attempts at converting the followers of your religion (because they might actually have a better chance). Jews/Christian/Muslim hostility. Sectarian violence. Hindu, Muslim violence in India/Pakistan (the religions are not close in theology, but geography, but considering it is all bullshit anyway, it doesn't matter too much).

In the end we have perfect proof that the theory of natural selection needs some refinements, because they all should have selected themselves out of the gene pool by now.

ps. there are religious people who couldn't give a shit whether you are going to heaven or hell. These people don't persecute anyone.

[Astralsideria]

ps. there are religious people who couldn't give a shit whether you are going to heaven or hell. These people don't persecute anyone.

I agree - if Person A is Christian, Person B is Jewish, Person C is Hindu, and Person D is atheist, then A can see that B has a good chance of clawing his way into heaven, because he's Abrahamic. B can see the same about A. A & B both think that C is going to hell, but C doesn't believe in heaven and hell, but does think that A & B will likely not move up in the reincarnation cycle. A, B & C all think that D will be punished, but D just thinks that A, B & C are nutcases, anyway. As long as they keep their opinions to themselves, and just sort out their own fate, then everything works out OK. It's when, for example, A gets it into his head that B is misguided, C is wrong, and D is evil that problems arise.

[2nd PLT]

ps. there are religious people who couldn't give a shit whether you are going to heaven or hell. These people don't persecute anyone.

Those are my favorite kinda religious people.

[Dagnia]

A lot of different reasons, most of them have nothing to do with the gods. Jews were persecuted by Christians more for ethnic than religious reasons. Jews were immigrants and were either forcibly ghettoized or voluntarily stayed in their own separate communities and had their own customs (partly because of the religion, but also because of their immigrant status). They used the "Jews killed Jesus" line sometimes, but that was probably the leaders inciting the masses to kill them. Even converted Jews could be killed in Nazi Germany. With Muslims, it is political, namely Israel.
However, when it is about the god(s), it is usually because the persecutors believe that their religion must be followed in full detail, the idea that there is only one god and one way to worship that god.

[East Klent]

"With Muslims, it is political, namely Israel."
Isreal is Jewish not Muslim

[Uawc]

Isreal is a violent apartheid state which is heretical by Jewish standards and terrorist by all others

Fixed.

[Uawc]

ps. there are religious people who couldn't give a shit whether you are going to heaven or hell. These people don't persecute anyone.

Those are my favorite kinda religious people.

I'm one of them!

[Uawc]

shūkyō dantai no tame , oroka sa re , sorezore , ta no hakugai . īe shinken ni , jissai ni shōhi denryoku wa , korera no kotogara no atama , sō shihai no subete no chikara wo zen sekai ni to no sore to omo~tsu ta . ima wa dare ka kenryoku no ichi ni so~tsu te ki ta ni setsuritsu sa re ta toki mā sō de nai kamo shire nai , korera no koto wa , genzai no shunō wa , itsuka , to no ma no shōsai wo nozon da . un , sore wa isshinkyō no shūkyō wa omo ni dono yō ni reihai wo shi , kami wa kare ni mo kakawara zu , karera wa hotondo onaji desu ka , subete no onaji kai , ōku no ikyō no shūkyō kara nusuma re ta mono wo fukumu īarasou yō da . kore wa , subete , omo ni watashi no iken desu . shi te kudasai watashi wo kyosei shi nai de kudasai .

Needs moar desu.

EDIT: Looking back on this, isn't this thread in the wrong forum?

[2nd PLT]

shūkyō dantai no tame , oroka sa re , sorezore , ta no hakugai . īe shinken ni , jissai ni shōhi denryoku wa , korera no kotogara no atama , sō shihai no subete no chikara wo zen sekai ni to no sore to omo~tsu ta . ima wa dare ka kenryoku no ichi ni so~tsu te ki ta ni setsuritsu sa re ta toki mā sō de nai kamo shire nai , korera no koto wa , genzai no shunō wa , itsuka , to no ma no shōsai wo nozon da . un , sore wa isshinkyō no shūkyō wa omo ni dono yō ni reihai wo shi , kami wa kare ni mo kakawara zu , karera wa hotondo onaji desu ka , subete no onaji kai , ōku no ikyō no shūkyō kara nusuma re ta mono wo fukumu īarasou yō da . kore wa , subete , omo ni watashi no iken desu . shi te kudasai watashi wo kyosei shi nai de kudasai .

Needs moar desu.

EDIT: Looking back on this, isn't this thread in the wrong forum?

You're right, I think this should be on forum 7.
P.S. desu, desu, desu, desu.

[Inertina]

Everyone seems to be missing the "because it's fun!" option

[Kobrania]

Because people that think in barbaric ways, commit acts of barbarism?

I am am not saying that all worsipers are barbaric, but persecution is barbaric.

[Ifreann]

To prove that their god has the biggest dick.

[Kobrania]

From poorly translated German: By god and sky, I smite all before me, their kin and their property, all will burn and salvation will be mine.

[Lunatic Goofballs]

To prove that their got has the biggest dick.

^this.

[Ifreann]

To prove that their got has the biggest dick.

^this.

Except with better spelling.

[Risottia]

shūkyō dantai no tame , oroka sa re , sorezore , ta no hakugai . īe shinken ni , jissai ni shōhi denryoku wa , korera no kotogara no atama , sō shihai no subete no chikara wo zen sekai ni to no sore to omo~tsu ta . ima wa dare ka kenryoku no ichi ni so~tsu te ki ta ni setsuritsu sa re ta toki mā sō de nai kamo shire nai , korera no koto wa , genzai no shunō wa , itsuka , to no ma no shōsai wo nozon da . un , sore wa isshinkyō no shūkyō wa omo ni dono yō ni reihai wo shi , kami wa kare ni mo kakawara zu , karera wa hotondo onaji desu ka , subete no onaji kai , ōku no ikyō no shūkyō kara nusuma re ta mono wo fukumu īarasou yō da . kore wa , subete , omo ni watashi no iken desu . shi te kudasai watashi wo kyosei shi nai de kudasai .

Ma che cazzo te stai a dì? Ma parla come magni!

[Bears Armed]

(Another thread that belongs in NSG rather than in the GA? Sigh...)

[Gopferdammi]

shūkyō dantai no tame , oroka sa re , sorezore , ta no hakugai . īe shinken ni , jissai ni shōhi denryoku wa , korera no kotogara no atama , sō shihai no subete no chikara wo zen sekai ni to no sore to omo~tsu ta . ima wa dare ka kenryoku no ichi ni so~tsu te ki ta ni setsuritsu sa re ta toki mā sō de nai kamo shire nai , korera no koto wa , genzai no shunō wa , itsuka , to no ma no shōsai wo nozon da . un , sore wa isshinkyō no shūkyō wa omo ni dono yō ni reihai wo shi , kami wa kare ni mo kakawara zu , karera wa hotondo onaji desu ka , subete no onaji kai , ōku no ikyō no shūkyō kara nusuma re ta mono wo fukumu īarasou yō da . kore wa , subete , omo ni watashi no iken desu . shi te kudasai watashi wo kyosei shi nai de kudasai .

Ma che cazzo te stai a dì? Ma parla come magni!

Gopfertori, würk schuderhaft interessant das aues, s'hett scho mau müesse düregäh si.

[South Lorenya]

Because being a shallow asshole is a prerequisite to being a religious leader.

Seriously, almost every religion has normal, sensible people on the bottom, yet nutcases who fight over the slightest dogmatic differences at the top. For example, the catholics and orthodox had some petty differences in 1054, and as a result they excommunicated each other -- which lasted for NINE HUNDRED YEARS.

[The Ambrose Islands]

Because both Heaven and Hell actually consider Earth to be one big T.V. show and war and persecution get good ratings.

Gotta keep the immortal masses happy!