My point is not that religion itself is the motivation for wars, murders and terrorist attacks, but that religion is the principal label, and the most dangerous one, by which a they as opposed to a we can be identified at all.

Summary

This quote suggests that religion is not the direct cause of conflicts, violence, and acts of terrorism. Instead, it argues that religion serves as the primary means by which individuals or groups can be distinguished as "other" and become the target of animosity. It implies that while religion itself may not inherently promote violence, it often becomes the critical identifier that separates "us" from "them," thus increasing the potential for dangerous conflicts to arise.

Topics