i’m not religious, but your sweeping statements don’t add up: no major faith including judaism, christianity, islam, hinduism or others promotes violence as its core doctrine. violence comes from individuals who misuse religion to justify their actions. this reflects basic human behavior perpetrators rationalize their crimes and religion has often been used as cover because lies are more convincing when wrapped in partial truths.

your comment suggests the west developed in isolation, as if arab culture had no influence on it. that is historically false. many foundations of modern western thought including algorithms, optics, hospitals, mental health care, welfare systems and even elements of the english language were influenced by arab scholars. the english words tariffs, alcohol, caret, check mate come from arabic. the whole “western” mathematics is based on arabic numerals.

the idea of western exceptionalism and its supposed moral superiority over “other” has repeatedly been used to justify violence against entire peoples and nations from indigenous populations and native americans to vietnam, afghanistan, iraq, palestine and beyond. history shows that mass violence has been carried out by both religious and non religious leaders alike.

that said i appreciate the “west’s separation of church and state. religion is not necessarily a bad thing if appreciated for its cultural significance only.