Stacyhs
Penultimate Amazing
Religious differences have certainly been the stated justification for lots of bloodshed, but I think the true reason behind most of them was actually competition for resources. It was just easier to sell as "we're doing God's will" than "we want their territory and its lucrative trade routes, rich mines, and fertile fields".
Similarly I suspect the abortion controversy has less to do with the holy sanctity of infant life and more to do with a sexual counter-revolution to undo the 60s.
I agree 100%. While religion was definitely one cause of bloodshed, the greatest cause of violence, war, etc has been the desire to control resources like those you suggested. The Crusades are an excellent example of the use of religion as the pretext when the true goal was economic. Henry VIII's confiscation of the monasteries is another example of religion used as a pretext to gain monetarily.