Is religion a hindrance to a more united world?

I believe that religion is not a hindrance to a more united world. You try surfing on World Wars and religion has never been an issue.

Hello friend, Precisely,most religions started wars,let's see the unending war between Pakistan and India where the major reason is all about faith and beliefs. I don't see it is the religion itself that causes the clash in here.It is the way the person thinks.I know and i have few friends that doesn't agree with the war involving their religion.That only means,it is still an individual choice wether you want to support what you know is bad or wrong. As a christian,we can't say that all christian are all good people.There are lot's of christians caliming to have known GOD but defy in their doings.So,i don't think it is the religion that causes major problems in here. It is the leader ...the leader's thinking and mindsetting that dictates their followers to do wrong and bad things to others and yet proclaiming they are the true religion. We are given freewill,to think and to choose what to believe in and who to listen and follow. So,let's use our freewill to choose ...be a better and good person...or be bad and stays in our religion eventhu we know it is not teaching us good and Godly things.

No I feel that most cases, even the case of Israel and the middle east, wars are more about humanities greed and need for power than it is about religion. I think religion is used as a tool to enlist people to the rich and powerful groups causes but regardless they would find a way to further increase their wealth and power at the expense of the poor.

Religion, like nearly everything else in the world, is a double-edged sword. It can bring people together or it can rip them apart. You're right, countless conflicts have started because of "religion." But, countless conflicts have started because of scarcity of resources, power mongering, and just pure hatred. Hitler didn't want to kill the Jews because God told him to, he just wanted to exterminate them because he hated them. Many conflicts were religious in name only. The real cause was hidden in the guise of faith. I agree that if you believe in God, on some level, you have to recognize there is only one and we are all believing in the same entity. It is the trappings that change. But, I think that is necessary. For all of the similarities among people, we are different. And while a one-size-fits-all seems like it would solve all the problems, it would probably only create more. The more we try to fit everyone into little boxes, the more they try to break out of them. Teaching people tolerance, whether through religion or secularly, is the key. There will never be an end to conflict. As long as two people occupy the same piece of land, they will have conflict. All we can do is try to limit the scope. Religion is of more use to that end than it is a hindrance. Where else are we taught that there is more to this life than the next five minutes?

Check history. War has not been fought for religion or due to religious differences. War has been fought due to greed or over territory or over ambition.

Might makes right! Everybody wants to rule the world! Greedy, selfish, power hungry people need religion because if they are on a mission from God then they can justify anything. People really like being on a mission from God. It gives them a sense of power. The real truth is that God doesn't need any help. The hate and hurt coming from men has nothing to do with God!!!! If you choose to follow those who hate and hurt others, God will, in time, be sending you a few lessons. If you really Understand what the hate and hurt is doing, you could never do it!!

I don't think in this day, religion has that much of an influence on people's minds... It plays an important role though... at an individual level. And you are definitely not starting a conflict, definitely.Conflict exists in nature itself to give a sense of direction good or bad to life. Today or for that matter in good old days too, religion had a more political role of manipulating people though every religion started off as a relationship with God.