Religion—The Most Effective Weapon Ever Devised to Kill in the Name of God

Throughout human history, religion has been a double-edged sword: a source of hope, unity, and moral compass for many—but also a devastating tool of division, conquest, and mass murder. No other ideology or institution has been more successful in convincing humans to kill each other "righteously" than religion. From ancient holy wars to modern jihadist terrorism, the story of blood spilled in the name of divine belief is not a side note in history—it is one of its dominant chapters.