I agree with Geoff Bryan's sentiment, that without religion, humankind would have fewer wars and less killing ('Religion's dangerous lies,' Letters 20/12). But I believe that historically, and given humanity's nature, most wars would have been conducted without religion.
Certainly, religion has backed wars. War-mongering leaders have enlisted religion in support of their military campaigns. The Christian god was invoked by both sides during WW1, when unprecedented industrial-scale killing and destruction was conducted. Many soldiers have fought and died, believing that their cause was just. If they died, they would be rewarded in heaven. Many even believed that their god would reward them for killing innocent civilians.
