[FlamesAddiction]

I would argue that most religious wars have underlying causes and motives that are more secular based. Even the Crusades were more about controlling resources and land than religion (even if religion was the motivation for people joining). The people actually initiating the Crusades were more about the loot than anything else.

It's no different than today how nations choose altruistic reasons for war, but they almost always come back to human nature. Religion is a great way to motivate people to obey and not expect something materialistic in return, but I rarely see it as the primary motivator at the top of the pyramid.... although with ISIS, it very well could be.