Do Religions Cause Violence?

As violence erupts around the world, many are feeling more unsettled now than ever. And one conflict at the forefront of many's attention is the war in Gaza. For some, it's just one more example of religions causing divisions and violence that would otherwise not exist. It joins a long list that includes the medieval Crusades, Witch Hunts, and the Wars on Terror.

But how true is this? Are religions inherently violent, and would the world be more peaceful without them? To quote John Lennon's famous song, if there were no religions, would we all just live for today? Helping us dissect this myth is Dr. William Cavanaugh, one of the world's leading theologians and experts on the history of religion and warfare.