I have to agree with the above postings. Religious identity is no different from cultural identity (for some). When people do not agree on ideas they tend to disregard the beliefs of others. I think Enoteschris states it wonderfully: "Mine's right and yours is wrong."

Religion is a form of identity that depends quite heavily on the "insider/outsider" distinction. It privileges insiders in many ways. On that basis alone it can divide people, regardless of its tenants. Beyond that, religious tenants are subject to to interpretation. In fact, scriptures and dogmas require interpretation. Folks will always be able to interpret their religion in such a way that it justifies violence to "outsiders."

Some religious texts lend themselves to interpretations that might be construed as advocating violence. Certainly the Old Testament is not a work of pacifism, even if the New Testament could be construed that way. Ultimately, though, religious conflicts stem from absolute beliefs, as others have said, but also from the fact that many political leaders have exploited religious ideology to support their less than spiritual goals.

I agree that the utter conviction that one's own religion is the correct religion, as well as an intolerance of other beliefs, is the cause of the kind of conflict you mention. The irony is that many religions profess to honor a God associated with peace and love.  I really enjoyed the poem above, by the way.

A major cause of conflict is the feeling that your way is the only correct way.  We get that in religion, but we also get that in things like communism and Nazism and nationalism in general.  So it's not just religion that causes problems due to intolerance and narrow-mindedness.

People do feel strongly about their religions. In fact, they feel so strongly about them that they often think anything that they do in the name of religion is acceptable. People also take any insult to their religion very seriously, and consider anything that seems offensive to their beliefs as an insult to their religion.

Religion is one of those things that people ae extremely passionate about. Some religions want to press others to follow them. Some religions believe that others are wrong for believing differently. Anytime people are passionate and set in any course, it can easily lead to problems. Passion can quickly switch to anger and hatred. Unfortunately, this tend to happen a lot when the topic of religion is brought round. I think we have to blame ourselves and not religion for the problems. Religion teaches peace and it is man's failing, not religion's, that leads to disasters like wars.

Mine's right and yours is wrong pretty much sums it up.  The conflicts between different religions are caused by the different philisophical arguments that each establishes for its own purposes.  Religion is based on deductive reasoning, in which "facts" or axioms are stated, and all else derives -- God made the world in 7 days, and therefore.....etc.  Questioning the validity of the axioms is akin to discrediting someone's fundamental beliefs, so there is conflict.

A poem written in the 1800's on the topic:

Odium Theologicum
by Sam Walter Foss (1858-1911)

Verse I
They met and they talked where the crossroads meet, 
Four men from the four winds come, 
And they talked of the horse, for they loved the theme, 
And never a man was dumb. 
The man from the North loved the strength of the horse, 
And the man from the East his pace, 
And the man from the South loved the speed of the horse, 
And the man from the West his grace. 
So these four men from the four winds come, 
Each paused a space in his course 
And smiled in the face of his fellow man 
And lovingly talked of the horse. 
Then each man parted and went his way 
As their different courses ran; 
And each man journeyed with peace in his heart 
And loving his fellow man.

Verse II
They met the next year where the crossroads meet, 
Four men from the four winds come; 
And it chanced as they met that they talked of God, 
And never a man was dumb. 
One imagined God in the shape of a man. 
A spirit did one insist. 
One said that nature itself was God. 
One said that he didn't exist. 
They lashed each other with tongues that stung, 
That smote as with a rod; 
Each glared in the face of his fellow man, 
And wrathfully talked of God. 
Then each man parted and went his way, 
As their different courses ran; 
And each man journeyed with wrath in his heart, 
And hating his fellow man.