A genocide is a defined as the deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular ethnic group or nation. Throughout history, mass murders have been brutal, yet effective ways to kill off a large group of people; disparities between race and religion tend to be the common basis for these gruesome murders. The Armenian Genocide proves this to be true due to the fact that the genocide transpired because they stuck to their Christian faith while living in an Islamic oriented territory. The Armenian Genocide was one, of many mass murders that was caused by a difference in religion, that ended in extermination of the majority of the Armenian population.
Evidence proves that the Armenian Genocide was in fact a religious conflict; throughout the duration of the Armenian Genocide, the Armenians only desire was to gain religious tolerance within their empire (Shelton 70), yet a leader of the Turks stated, “[he] would rather die than yield to unjust Armenian pressures and allow the introduction of large-scale Autonomy Reforms” (Lepsius et al., 1927, Document no. 2184). According to Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity, “645 churches and monasteries were destroyed, and 328 churches converted into…show more content… However, considering the reality that religion is often times the most important component of an individual's life, the Armenians maintained their commitment to their religion. For the Armenians, the church evolved into the most important institution in their life creating their devotion to their religion despite the Turk’s disapproval (Shelton 68). Even when denied right to bear arms, Armenians fought and died to protect and preserve their Christian faith (Shelton 69). Regardless of the Turk’s efforts to remove the multireligious aspect of the Ottoman Empire, the Armenians persistently revolted against them with the desire to conserve
