Fields of Blood: Religion and the History of Violence

Wars, terrorism, aggressive intolerance, social violence have accompanied humanity throughout history. Is religion to blame, which is increasingly accused in this regard? The history from the Stone Age to the present reveals a complex picture. Embedded in the state apparatus, religion in early agricultural societies becomes a tool of social oppression.
In the name of religion, numerous crimes have been committed; it has justified colonization and slavery, pogroms and terrorist attacks. At the same time, from century to century, faith softens morals and teaches people to see their neighbor not only in blood relatives. Humanity owes its progress to religions that prevented it from remaining at the level of barbarism, where each tribe exists surrounded by hostile tribes.
This fascinating study of the history of religious wars and the role of religion in power and politics, written by the world-renowned scholar of religion Karen Armstrong, offers a deep and unbiased account of the experiences of various religions: paganism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam.