My question is, just why? What makes us believe in a mystical being in the sky, and sometimes more than one? What drives us to kill ourselves in the name of our lord, or sacrifice ourselves and plead this being for forgiveness? Why can't we eat pork unless blessed or under certain circumstances? Why can't we marry people of the same sex? Why can't we disrespect cows? Why can't we disrespect our government? Why do we fight other countries battles in a war far too long that our country isn't even concerned about? Why invade another country to try to change their government, when we still complain about our own? Why do we have different beliefs, laws, loves, wants, needs, borders, and governments? Why can't we all live together in a big world as Atheists, Islams, Christian, or why gods at all?

Because that's not what Jesus would do.

Differences are what make the world turn. Can you imagine if we were all the same ? The world would be sad and boring...

Differences are cool, the important thing is tolerance.

That is a very good point, why do we go as far as to kill ourselves and others in the name of our lord, if we have one?

I read somewhere that in the dna of humans, it is encoded for us to believe in a higher power. Trippy.
Also, the reason why we all look different is the result of a couple million years of hominid species and subspecies interbreeding (6 million years if you count great ape divergence from the australopithecines).
So yeah, there is no such thing as a "pure" human anymore, we're basically the same as dog mutts, that's why we all look so different individually (which is also why cats and dogs look different, since we bred each breed for a unique role in most cases).
　
Also, fun fact for all you racists out there/idiots who think black people "evolved" into white people:
　
Pure africans and aborigines (not african americans or "negros" or what have you) have no neanderthal dna. It is theorized that neanderthal spread to europe and asia from africa a million or so years ago, while cro-magnon man stayed in africa. Some time later, some cro-magnon families migrated to eurasia and mixed with the neanderthal population, while other cro-magnon families stayed in africa and/or possibly traveled to areas like australia. This explains why pure blacks don't have neandethal dna, and is also funny, because it implies that pure blacks are the purest strain of "human" still existing today.

And to answer the OP question, human greed is what started the crusades under the false banner of "holy warfare". Same thing can be said for just about any western religion, it is used by the greedy to control the weak and dumb, and t is used by visionaries to inspire all the plebeians.

You should totally read The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins.
No, really. Do it. Now.

I didn't know that, but that's weirdly not surprising me. I mean, the universe and living things follow the laws of physics, chemistry, biology etc... These are not a "supernatural conscious", but they're still some kind of "higher power" that we can only accept and follow. That's what I'd call my "god", the "primal fact" that Life just keep on living; the unlikely order of Life popping out of chaos and adapting itself constantly. No need for magic bearded dudes ;o

I might check that book ! Not the first time I come accross this title

God Delusion is a good book, but there's not much point in reading it if you are an atheist already. It'll just be 450 pages of confirmation, which you will accept due to bias. The opening chapters will make you hate religion even more when he outlines all the fucked things religions do...

It's a good lecture when you want to learn new points to use against theists, if you are into that kinda thing.

Differing in opinion is what drives human nature, it's what allows us to innovate and move forward. Asking why is what separates us from animals. A sense of wonder and curiosity that no other entity that we know of cares about what's happening around them (to a degree). Ofcourse, a difference in opinion also bring bad things like you said. But think how bland, how simple and unporductive our world would be without differences. No art, music, books, internet, games, etc... anything that may offend one person would be gone.

I encourage you to read Ray Bradbury's book Fahrenheit 451. It satirically predicts a future without books. Essentially, it is a world without opinion and everything is regulated by government. If you live in the U.S you will read it by your Junior year (or should).
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This is the question I've asked myself, it's what drove me to become atheist. I was born Catholic but slowly separated myself from God because I asked "why?". Why is it okay for God to kill innocent children but still consider murder as the "ultimate act against his image". Too many hypocrites and too many diverted answers.