I read the following quote recently:

With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.

- Steven Weinberg

Without touching on any specific religions, I have to wonder if there isn’t some merit to this statement. When we look at some of history’s bloodiest wars, most infamous tragedies, and most violent behavior, religion seems to play a part… especially when members of one religion have a dispute with members of another. I’m not trying to imply that religion in itself is bad, or that there is anything at all wrong with being religious. I guess what I’m saying is that people seem to be willing to more strenuously defend their religious beliefs than, say, their favorite sports team. What do you think? Does religion make otherwise good people do “bad” things? Will people act out of character to defend their beliefs?