Religion and Peace

Religion and Peace
I was living in Iran during eight-year war between Iran and Iraq in the 1980s, the war which Islamic government of Iran called it ‘Holy war’. I was always wondering how fighting and killing innocent people could be called ‘holy’. The Islamic party which seized the power in 1979 in Iran tried to construct a government based on religion. After one year, while Islamic party was still struggling with its internal opposite political rivals, they confronted a compulsory war with offensive Iraq military in Iran’s western borders. Islamic leaders inside Iran who were governing the country, called the Iraqi military the evil army that is trying to destroy the divine government of Iran.   Iranian Islamic leaders were encouraging people to go and fight with the invader enemy and God will protect them and help them to victory and success. However, Iraq was a country with majority of Muslims. They believed and practiced the same religion and ideology as Iranian did, and   Iraqi governors were also clamming to act on the will of God and fight to heretic government in Iran, but God cannot be for and against with something at the same time. In this situation, at least one of them or maybe both of them are wrong (Wooldridge 4).
By studying the religions and their books we can realize that religions are most likely to peace and kindness between humankind and peacemaking in the world. Religions have been with humankind almost from the beginning of its creation. The core teaching of almost every religion is trying to establish peace and unity among human beings (Afzal Mirza). As we can see in Bible which says: “I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove savage beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country” (Leviticus 26:6). Also in Koran, the Muslims holy book we read: “And make not Allah because of your swearing (by Him) an obstacle to your doing good and guarding (against evil) and...