In India, after the lives of British Raj citizens were threatened, millions died because rather than being recognized as human they were simply reduced to their religious identities. The prejudice Muslims face within India, even after 70 years, is a result of legislators refusing to make a compromise on religion. A major party of theirs, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), uses Hinduism as a campaign tool and way to perpetuate Islamophobia. The United States is meant to be a land of the people, a haven for anyone and everyone. However, many individuals, particularly Republicans, are trying to force their Christian values on the nation. A nation that wasn’t theirs to begin with.

Almost three-fourths of the U.S. population believes religion and government should stay separated, yet the discussion keeps occurring. Wasn't democracy built to represent its people? So why does the small fraction of people who connect the two seem to dictate the conversation?

A majority should not drown out the minorities. Almost 80% of the population in India is Hindu but that’s still 172 million Muslims. Additionally, 63% of the United States is Christian, leaving 120 million to be unaffiliated or practice another religion. These numbers emphasize that minorities are still strong in number, they cannot simply be ignored or taken advantage of just so a certain demographic can fulfill their desires. Nevertheless, the weaponization of religion is not limited to just these two countries; religion globally has been a source of stripped rights, government-sanctioned violence, and deep societal division. In countries like Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan, Sharia law is integrated into government policies, where interpretations of Islamic law, grounded in texts like the Koran and Sunnah, dictate harsh realities. But it is not exactly the religion that creates these issues—it is the interpretations. Religious texts like the Koran and Bible were written thousands of years ago, in a vastly different world. Their values cannot simply be applied to modern societies. How can a book that includes support for stoning disobedient children, slavery, or the death penalty for certain crimes be followed unquestioningly? It cannot. Ancient metaphysical teachings should not be blindly applied to contemporary morality. Using such sacred texts in a way to control populations and fuel certain agendas exposes the exact dangers of the intertwining of religion and government. Take Afghanistan for example, where an Islam extremist group, the Taliban, has banned 1.4 million girls from attending school, their human right to education has been stripped and they have had to succumb to so much under Taliban rule including child marriage.

Religion presents a paradox: while it has been linked to increased happiness and life satisfaction, it has also been a source of significant violence throughout history. Religion can be used to justify the killing and harming of others because people can claim they did so under God’s name. Religion is a way people can understand life and make sense of it. It helps people form their values and their purpose. By convincing followers that their actions are aligned with divine will, religious institutions or leaders may wield immense authority. Historically, the Church's resistance to questioning solidified its dominance, potentially shaping the power dynamics of religious authority today. Karl Marx has said, that although religion provides support and coping for humans, it may simply be an illusion that is used by the oppressor to hold the status quo. There was a study that found religious individuals tended to have lower IQ scores, potentially indicating their reliance on intuitive solutions rather than deductive reasoning. Suggesting religious people may generally use instinctive or emotional knowledge. However, the same psychological power that provides solace can also be manipulated, promoting messages of division under the guise of virtue and salvation. Religion continues to be exploited as a means to division.

As we near the end of 2024, both elections have concluded and it seems oppression has prevailed in both cases. Narendra Modi will continue his legacy as Prime Minister of India, further alienating the Muslim population and creating division. Now, with the second term of Donald J. Trump looming over the United States, Christianity is undoubtedly going to shape the next few years, potentially beginning with the reinstatement of a ban on transgender individuals being allowed to serve in the military. Considering both of their political rhetorics, obviously, push for religious based governance in each country, their victories symbolize the triumph of hate and the alarming fragility of democracy. Although Narendra Modi’s victory hinged on coalition support and fell short of past margins and expectations, the U.S.A.’s 2024 Electoral College questions whether society and its values are sliding backward.

Time and time again we see violence simply based on religion. From the Christian genocide killing thousands in Nigeria to anti-Muslim campaigns by Buddhist monks in Myanmar, the interlope of state and religion seems to inherently result in discrimination. Exploring the depths of just a few historical events shaped by religion compels the question: does religion divide more than it unites?