Religion and Violence

When most people think of religion they only think of the good aspects that go along with it, and never the violence that goes along with it. All religions have some form of violence in one form or another. There are three basic varieties of religious violence: acts of violence, which are inherently religious; those intended as punishment for people believed to be evil; and violent clashes between religious communities. Christians killed a large quantity of witches during the sixteenth century throughout North America and Europe, this continues in some parts of the world to this day. In some cultures killing a person was one of the most important religious ritual acts. “Religion is capable of bringing out the noblest trait of our shared humanity. It can also, unfortunately, motivate or justify the most depraved.” (Lewis M. Hopfe, Mark R. Woodward, 2009, p.10).

Sacrifice, which is one of the most common practices in all of the religions of the world, is another form of religious violence. All throughout history sacrifices have been made to the gods and the spirit world, usually the sacrifices was food, drinks, or animals, but occasionally there would be a human sacrifice. Human sacrifices rarely occurred in Native American religions in the United States and Canada, but they were a very important part of religion to the Aztec and other native people of South and Central America. Native Americans living in the Great Plains have a “Sun Dance” which involves self-torment or self-sacrifice. It is viewed as a way of obtaining spiritual power that is necessary for survival.

Native Americans have always used peyote in their ceremonies, but it wasn’t until the United States government humiliated and defeated them that they felt that they needed more visions and started using peyote more often than before. The Native American Church still uses peyote to this day. “Ancient Spiritual tenets are to heal the body and spirit. Further, to teach impeccability, correct 'seeing', and power of Beingness. Peyote is not used to obtain 'visions' but to open portals to Reality. Always seeking centeredness within this existence. Peyote is the road back to the true Self. This should suffice in order to allow personal compre(s)hension of this Sacrament.” (Néishté, http://www.nativeamericanchurch.com/peyote.html).

Human Sacrifice has only rarely been apart of African religions. When African religious groups did sacrifice a human, it was to their gods and they only happened for the most serious occasions. The most common form of human sacrifice in African religions was when a king would die; they believed he would need servants in the next life. At those times, some people were sacrificed to join their king to the next life and serve him.

Some African cultures twins are considered to be dangerous or evil. They think that the wife has been unfaithful and that the babies have different fathers. Sometimes, one or both of the twins will be killed. Other times, the mother and twins are forced out of their community. However, in other African cultures, twins are thought of as luck.

It is common in African people to call upon a spiritual healer to cleanse a house of evil and witchcraft before inhabiting it. If someone is suspected of witchcraft or sorcery they are commonly killed. Some African people are outraged that the government will not prosecute those suspected of witchcraft. Human sacrifice still occurs in some African religions. In Chambishi, Zambia a mob killed people that they believed were practicing Satanism; three people burnt to death. Some of the people say that they will continue to pursue people practicing Satanism.

Sometimes when there are political issues and religious revivals, some of the leaders will proclaim the words of the gods to their people. In the nineteenth century, a few prophets guided African people to resist slave trade and colonialism.

In Africa when a ruler becomes physically or mentally weak they must be dealt with as quickly as possible. In some places, the ruler must kill themselves when bad health or old age begins to weaken them. In South Africa, the queen carries poison with her to prevent her from dying any other way. In other areas of Africa, there are stories that say that the people thought it was necessary to kill an old or ill king. Sometimes, a substitute king would be chosen to take over for a few days and is ritually killed for the sake of the real king. When a monarch dies, the death is often kept secret until a new one is chosen. It is believed that a former king or queen becomes a god as they enter the land of their ancestors. In many African societies a new king or queen is belittled and physically abused for hours and sometimes even days, to teach them lessons on humbleness before they are allowed to take on their position of monarch.

Most conflicts in Africa are rival ethnic groups against each other. Sometimes, countries with a large number of Christian and Muslim populations, there have been conflicts between the two communities, such as Sudan and Nigeria. During the twenty-five-year war in Sudan, the Muslim’s in the north and the Christians in the south, there were more than two million people who died and many more that were forced out of their homes. The Lord’s Resistance Army that operates out of the southern part of Sudan and northern part of Uganda has driven more than a half a million people out of their homes. The army says that it wants to organize a government that is based on the Ten Commandments. The army’s founder and leader claims that he speaks with a great deal of spirits. The army had kidnapped thousands of kids and have tortured them and made them to become soldiers in their army or sex slaves. The army also rapes, kills, and permanently injures people for no reason at all.

Work Cited

Hopfe, Lewis M., and Mark R. Woodward. Religions of the World. New York: Vango, 2009. Print.

Ngosa, Stanslous. "AllAfrica." AllAfrica.com: Zambia: Mob Burns Three to Death in Chambishi. N.p., 1 Sept. 2012. Web. 15 Feb. 2013.

Néishté. "WE ARE ALL CHILDREN OF THE CREATOR." PEYOTE. Native American Church, n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2013.