Originally posted by TheGoodEarth:
Looking around us and thru history, the most corrupted countries are actually more 'religious' than the secular countries! Take Thailand (predominantly Buddhist), Indonesia (predominantly Muslim), Philippines (predominantly Catholic). Japan (Buddhist) waged a war of expansion (not provoked) against China and SEA. Many innocent people were massacred or tortured or raped!
Similarly, Christian Europe waged holy wars and crusades. And Muslims are waging wars against 'infidels' now thru terrorism.
You must understand that Japan's plan of expansion is strictly political, unlike Muslim's Terrorism and the Crusades which is linked with religion. Also, not all Japanese are Buddhists. There are also Shintoism and other religions.
Buddhism is the most peaceful religion that does not have any religious war in history.