(This is an archived extract from the book Patterns of Power: Edition 2)
The codes of practice vary between religions and between the different sects within a religion. These variations are important to the groups concerned, as symbols of identity as well as having religious significance.
Although there are common factors which could provide a basis for mutual respect between religious groups, it is undeniable that religion has been seen as a divisive force. This is sometimes caused by the exploitation of religion to gain support for political causes, which is a subject for the Political Dimension (6.7.4.2), but it is also because religion is a convenient and sometimes very visible badge of group identity. As described later in this chapter, any form of social group contains the potential for opposition to other groups (4.4.5.1) and hostility is easily fomented (4.4.5.2).
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