nationalism and political extremism=religion?

[danyboy27]

anyone here see the relation between nationalism, extremism and religion?

i think nationalism is just a religion, i mean, it implies that your countries is better than other, how this reasonement is more logical than the whole christianity vs islam thing.

[bcbm]

i don't think there is any more similarity between those things than religion and any other ideology.

[OrganisedRandomness]

I see a relation, though I wouldn't say nationalism itself is a religion just because it causes divisions (capitalism causes divisions in class, are we to say capitalism is a religion?). I think comparing things to religion is an empty argument, there are better ways of criticisng nationalism and capitalism than just simply dismissing it with the label of "religion".

Though you are right in saying that nationalism can be supported by religion, but generally its for turning that nation into a religious theocracy.