How has religion has changed the world?

AnswerOne of the long-term effects of religion is the maintenance of ethnic differences among human societies. People tend to marry other people of the same religious backgrounds, regardless of what that religion is. While ethnic diversity is not a problem in itself, the combination of religious differences and ethnic differences has led to communal strife and warfare. We need only look at recent events in Northern Ireland, the former Yugoslavia, Israel and Palestine, Pakistan and India, to see that when people become divided along religious lines, then all too often war soon follows.

Most religions have sought to better the lot of the poor. But, once again, most religions have created the very poverty they seek to alleviate, as they divert wealth to the adornment of temples and churches or to the enrichment of the clergy.