Is it fair to point the finger at religion as primary cause of war?

When people engage in violence it is not because of their faith but despite it, and in fact embracing religion can help overcome human nature's natural instinct to fight, argues Margaret Hickey

‘Deus Vult” which can be translated as “God wills it” or “God willing” was the phrase used by Pope Urban II to launch the First Crusade in 1095.

It was a response to a cry for help from Eastern Orthodox Christians who were suffering Muslim invasion and conquest. The bloodiness that came later in the Crusades and is used to this day as a whip to beat the Church often overlooks the cause which places Christendom as a defender of justice rather than aggressor.