Religious Wars

"Wisdom is realizing one's former truths were lies." Charles Tolleson, Skeptic

The Sunnis and Shias have long been arguing and killing each other over who should be Caliph of the Muslim world, a descendant of Muhammad or some other qualified person.

Islam.about.com-- "The Shia Muslims believe that following the Prophet Muhammad's death, leadership should have passed directly to his cousin/son-in-law, Ali. Throughout history, Shia Muslims have not recognized the authority of elected Muslim leaders, choosing instead to follow a line of Imams which they believe have been appointed by the Prophet Muhammad or God Himself. Sunni Muslims agree with the position taken by many of the Prophet's companions, that the new leader should be elected from among those capable of the job Sunni Muslims agree with the position taken by many of the Prophet's companions, that the new leader should be elected from among those capable of the job"

The Sunnis and Shias will continue to give the reason for killing each other as religious. The reason is over political power. This is what happened in the late 1500s between Protestants and Catholics as they killed each other. http://www.lepg.org/wars.htm History has shown the Protestant and Catholics were fighting over their beliefs, but the leaders inspired the fighting, over power and politics.

Like the Catholics and Protestants, when the Sunnis and Shias get tired of the blood letting, the leaders will have to compromise. Then Islam may be a stronger threat to the west, but by then, ipods and technology will have turned the Muslim leaders into an anachronism. They will become politicians of the secular state, like other states. Many Muslims prefer a secular state over a religious state, as Turkey citizens recently showed by marching and protesting against an Islamic state. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/30/world/europe/30turkey.html?hp

When India was partitioned and Pakistan created in August 1947, there were hundreds of thousands of Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs slaughtered. All because of power, politics and beliefs.

The First Council of Nicaea, held in Turkey in 325 by Roman Emperor Constantine, was to attain a consensus on some Christian doctrines and practices. Constantine avoided a fissure in Christendom at that time, and probably avoided much bloodshed. It's too bad for all religions they do not have a modern Constantine today.

Charles Tolleson