Listen / Read
Ever wondered why nationalism and other conflict-prone ideologies like religion so much? Could it perhaps be that religious people are a bit mental already, so all they need is a little push for them to go totally berserk?
The reason nationalism and religion have been so besotted with one another throughout history is because they both sing more or less the same tune. It goes ‘I’m right and you’re wrong because… erm… JUST COS, OKAY!’
Okay, so there’s usually there’s some waffle about a higher cause and something bigger than yourself (religion and nationalism are both keen on that sort of thing) and it all sounds very important and then some people die. The end.
Or it would be. Though any given brand of nationalism isn’t so very persistent, religion insists on passing itself down to the next generation. And the one after that. And the one after that. And always via the children, of course, what with their squishy little brains and all.
And that’s why religion is an ultimately divisive force. Though nationalism might help start the fight, religion never lets it end.