It is completely mysterious to me that there are apparently sane people who think that a belief in Christianity might prevent war. Such people seem totally unable to learn anything from history. The Roman State became Christian at the time of Constantine, and was almost continually at war until it ceased to exist. The Christian States which succeeded to it continued to fight each other, though, it must be confessed, they also from time to time fought states which were not Christian. From the time of Constantine to the present day there has been no shred of evidence to show that Christian States are less war-like than others. Indeed, some of the most ferocious wars have been due to disputes between different kinds of Christianity.
Source: Bertrand Russell： Human Society in Ethics and Politics, 1954, part II: The Conflict of Passions, chapter 7: Religious Faith Cure Our Troubles ? n6
More info.： https://russell-j.com/cool/47T-2_0706.htm
* a brief comment:
Whether it was Christianity or Islam, many wars have occurred throughout history between different religions or between different sects of the same religion. Many people likely studied various historical events during their school years while preparing for entrance exams, but haven't most of them forgotten much of it by now? Unless one becomes a history teacher (especially a world history teacher) or a cram school instructor, even if one memorized such facts temporarily, one would have likely forgotten most of them after entering university.
However, since Russell extensively cited historical facts in his writings, he likely retained much of his knowledge until he passed away at the age of 97.
As for citing concrete examples, it would be difficult for ordinary people like us. Therefore, I asked ChatGPT to provide historical examples related to Russell’s statement: "Some of the most ferocious wars have been between different sects of Christianity." (How much of this do you all remember?)
*** ChatGPT’s Response ***
Historical examples supporting Russell's claim include the following wars:
The Thirty Years' War (1618 - 1648)
→ Protestants vs. Catholics
→ One of the most devastating wars in European history, particularly affecting the Holy Roman Empire (modern-day Germany). It began as a conflict between Protestant and Catholic factions in Bohemia but eventually escalated into a large-scale war that engulfed much of Europe. In some regions, nearly 30% of the population perished.
The French Wars of Religion (1562 - 1598)
→ Catholics vs. Protestants (Huguenots)
→ A series of brutal conflicts between Catholic factions and Huguenots (French Calvinist Protestants) within France. The most infamous event was the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre in 1572, in which thousands of Huguenots were killed by Catholic forces. The conflict ended in 1598 with the Edict of Nantes, which granted the Huguenots certain religious freedoms.
The English Civil War (1642 - 1651)
→ Royalists (Anglican/Catholic-leaning) vs. Parliamentarians (Puritan Protestants)
→ A war between King Charles I (who had Catholic sympathies) and the English Parliament (which had a Puritan Protestant majority). The conflict resulted in the execution of Charles I and the establishment of Oliver Cromwell's Puritan-led Commonwealth. The war was deeply intertwined with religious and political struggles, leading to significant bloodshed.
The Scottish Wars of Religion (1639 - 1651)
→ Scottish Kirk (Presbyterian Protestants) vs. English Monarchy (Anglican Church)
→ In Scotland, followers of Presbyterian Calvinism opposed attempts by King James I and Charles I of England to impose Anglican religious practices, leading to war.
The Dutch Revolt (1568 - 1648)
→ Catholic Spain vs. Protestant Dutch Republic
→ The Catholic Spanish Empire sought to suppress Protestant (Calvinist) influences in the Netherlands, leading to a rebellion and an 80-year-long war. Religious tensions played a significant role in this conflict, which ultimately resulted in the independence of the Dutch Republic.
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