I argue the “constant conflict” can be much more straightforwardly explained as the rational game theory outcome of societies existing near the malthusian limit than the scheming of popes besides maybe like the crusades.

also not going to bat for the british empire here but if your techno optimism works out and AI solves all of humanity’s problems will that not be directly downstream of the creation of america?

religious societies going to war =\= religion causing war.
Religious societies have also engaged in agriculture throughout history, did religion cause that?

an, admittedly cursory, investigation on my end has not turned up a single ancient society which was functionally irreligious.

I never suggested that. I already acknowledged that modern western society has to some extent abandoned religion and is doing O.K. I’m suggesting that religion was not the main thing holding back historical societies.

but like, could you link a wikipedia page to a single one?

who is endangered by the suggestion?

modern western society sure but western societies from Rome through the British monarchy derived their authority through religion. The founders of america flew flags that named their revolutionary cause as “an appeal to heaven”

can you name an example of a pacifistic society extant prior to 1700?

our society may be less reliant on religion to drill in “don’t murder” “don’t steal” “give to the poor” than previous societies but to argue that there were available better alternatives throughout history is far fetched.

well enough to evolve past low level local warmongering. There are also arguments to be made that massive gains in quality of life we have seen in the last 200 years and rising literacy rates were jumpstarted by unselfish focus on “good works” and bible study spurred by the rise of protestantism.

Even if you outright disregard the possibility of a religion being true religion was an essential social tool to establish social cohesion.
That you are able to cite large scale wars due to abrahamic religions is downstream of the abrahamic societies being the only ones which could coordinate

oh, ok, i disagree with this pretty strongly but appreciate the good faith explanation

idgi what is ironic?

is this bait or what this app is actually like