Is Secularism Less Violent than Religion

Is secularism less violent than religion? In my research on this topic I began with a typically academic answer of “yes and no.” But the more research and reading that I’ve done on the topic, the less accurate this answer has seemed, and finally I came to the conclusion that the answer must simply be “no.” The secular is not less violent than the religious; in fact, it is more so. It is a source of greater, more intense, and more intractable violence than are religious practices, communities, or worldviews and commitments. So, given that this conclusion is somewhat counterintuitive in today’s world, with its focus on the religious roots of terrorism, how did I get there?