War and Tolerance: Utopian Ideals in the Bible

    A glance at world history demonstrates that there are three primary causes for wars: limited natural resources, two men wanting the same woman, and, most frequently, conflicting religions. From the Protestant and Catholic conflicts of the Middle Ages to the Christian and Muslim conflicts of today, religion has ruined or ended the lives of millions of people. However, in spite of the actions of religious extremists, many of the fundamental ideals for modern concepts of utopia can be found in religious texts, particularly in the Bible. Both the teachings of Jesus and the history of the early church teach the importance of certain utopian values.