I think pg's topic was more inspired by observing online discussions rather than actual religious wars.
That said, your observations are not contradictory. If clashes and intolerance arise naturally because of self-identification with religious positions, how much more convenient for a aggressive ruler to exploit that as a pretext for war. The same has been done for nationalism, for at least a few centuries.
That said, your observations are not contradictory. If clashes and intolerance arise naturally because of self-identification with religious positions, how much more convenient for a aggressive ruler to exploit that as a pretext for war. The same has been done for nationalism, for at least a few centuries.