Religion or lack therof..
The Improbability of God by Richard Dawkins from Free Inquiry , Volume 18, Number 3. Much of what people do is done in the name of God. Irishmen blow each other up in his name.
The Improbability of God
"In my humble person St. Peter may be recognized and honoured, in whom abides the care of all the shepherds, together with the charge of the sheep commended to him, and whose dignity is not abated even in so unworthy an heir." --Pope Leo the Great (d. 461 AD) {1} The preeminence of the bishop of Rome over the entire Catholic church, an institution known as "the papacy," took centuries to develop. In the first few hundred years of the church, the term "pope," which means “father,” was used for any important and respected bishop, and the bishop of Rome was one of several important bishops in Christendom. {2} Rome had always been honored for her association with Peter and Paul and her position as the church in the Empire's capital, {3} but especially after Christianity was legalized under Emperor Constantine, the special status of that office grew even more with each passing Roman bishop.
Development of the Papacy in Christian History
Kill a man, and you are an assassin. Kill millions of men, and you are a conqueror. Kill everyone, and you are a god. ~ Jean Rostand I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours. ~ Stephen Roberts