The role of religion in history is complex. On the one hand we
find religious conviction motivating Mother Theresa to work in
the slums of Calcutta, Father Damien to serve the lepers on
Molokai, Corrie ten Boom to hide Jews from the Nazis, and Martin
Luther to launch the Reformation. On the other hand, we also
have the Taliban in Afghanistan, the warfare in Northern
Ireland, Muslims and Hindus slaughtering each other during the
partition of India, and innumerable crusades, jihads,
inquisitions, and persecutions. You can focus on one side or the
other and come to diametrically opposite conclusions. Either
religion is the basis for the noblest events in human history,
or a negative force responsible for the worst atrocities in
history. Or both. What role did religion play in: At one extreme
we find people whose religious belief permeates their entire
existence, who pattern their conduct closely on their religious
beliefs, and who are quite literally prepared to die rather than
betray them. On the other end of t