I wonder whether those who blame religion for causing all wars have ever heard of politics.
Yet the cliche is endlessly regurgitated.
Now the nonsense is being challenged in a hugely constructive way.
Many of the world's religious leaders have joined in a call to raise to consciousness the core ethical principle which all of them share, and act on it.
That principle is compassion, as expressed in the Golden Rule.
To Westerners it will be most familiar in Jesus's words: "Do to others what you would have them do to you."
But it is much older than Christianity.
Similar injunctions are attributed to every major religious teacher and philosopher, from Confucius and Socrates to Moses and Muhammad.
Three months ago it surfaced anew in a Charter for Compassion, the brainchild of Karen Armstrong, a highly respected scholar and former English nun whose work straddles the worlds of Christianity, Judaism and Islam.
In 2008 Dr Armstrong received the TED Prize (TED for Technology, Entertainment and Design), which is awarded annually by an American foundation devoted to fostering ideas worth spreading.
The $US100,000 prize gives winners the opportunity to unveil to TED's annual conference their "one wish to change the world".
Dr Armstrong proposed a multi-faith charter as a way of raising compassion to pride of place in the lives of individuals and communities all round the world.
She made clear that compassion is "not the feeling of goodwill or pity, but the principled determination to put ourselves into the place of the other".
The idea caught on.
People of many nationalities, faiths and backgrounds helped draft a statement, and 18 prominent religious leaders honed it.
Those promoting the charter, including the Alliance of Civilisations at the United Nations, hope it will be given prominence in houses of worship, schools, community centres, offices and homes around the world.
Some New Zealand denominations are already working on this.
Though inspired by religious reflection, the charter transcends belief and non-belief.
It is remarkable not only for calling on people of faith to reject any interpretation of their scriptures that denigrates other people, but also for not invoking a deity.
The centrality of compassion is spelt out in neutral language.
There is nothing to stop the non-religious from endorsing it.
Secular and religious folk should both be wary, however.
The charter goes way beyond the fuzzy warmth of "Wouldn't it be nice if . . ."
It is a call to tough-minded commitment.
It has practical implications for individuals, communities, ethnicities, nations, politics, economics, business practices, the lot.
It reads:"The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves.
Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect.
"It is also necessary in both public and private life to refrain consistently and empathically from inflicting pain.
To act or speak violently out of spite, chauvinism, or self-interest, to impoverish, exploit or deny basic rights to anybody, and to incite hatred by denigrating others - even our enemies - is a denial of our common humanity.
We acknowledge that we have failed to live compassionately and that some have even increased the sum of human misery in the name of religion.
"We therefore call upon all men and womenTo restore compassion to the centre of morality and religion.
To return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate.
To ensure that youth are given accurate and respectful information about other traditions, religions and cultures.
To encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity.
To cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings - even those regarded as enemies.
"We urgently need to make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarised world.
Rooted in a principled determination to transcend selfishness, compassion can break down political, dogmatic, ideological and religious boundaries.
Born of our deep interdependence, compassion is essential to human relationships and to a fulfilled humanity.
It is the path to enlightenment, and indispensable to the creation of a just economy and a peaceful global community."
Religion, a powerhouse for peace? Why on earth not?
Ian Harris is a journalist and commentator.
