Ideology has two definitions on Google as follows:(1) A system of ideas and ideals, especially one which forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy. (2) The science of ideas; the study of their origin and nature. A quick search will produce for you a slew of definitions. I just want to take it that they are all correct in their diverse ways of presenting ideology. When we juxtapose the definitions on the human way of life, we see the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Long story short...,
Two brothers grew up loving each other, eating from the same bowls, using their teeth to share the meat in the food with each other, and fight a common enemy. One brother went to church and came back. Instantly, the other brother became an enemy because he did not go to church, or he did not go to the same church with his brother. Ideology.
Two friends did everything together; I mean, everything..., EVERYTHING. One of them became a politician. Instantly, the other friend dissociated himself from the politician because politicians are this, that, and the other (in the opinion of the nonpolitician friend). Ideology.
Father took his wife and children to church from the time they were all (even being) born. Each child that entered college came home on holidays and refused to go to the father's favorite church. Each one has his or her own reason for not wanting to go. Before you knew it, only the father and mother were left to attend that church. The children have all gone to different churches of their choices. Ideology.
Two men loved soccer so much that they watched soccer games together during every soccer championship season. They had no affiliations. They were no fans of any club sides. One day, a championship took place in the city where they lived, and the soccer teams were from out of town. It turned out that the two soccer teams were respectively from the home towns of these mature men. They had gone to the stadium together to watch the game. At the stadium, they learned that one soccer club was from Person A's hometown and the other soccer club was from Person B's hometown. They were now cheering opposing clubs. Of course, one team will definitely win and the other will lose. It happed just that way. These two friends returned from the stadium at different points that evening. They would not even want to see each other anymore. Ideology.
Two neighbors who were very fond of each other played in the same as they were growing up. They lived in a vibrant community that had high patronage of entertainment. These two boys agreed that they were going to become musicians when they grew up. They grew up, went from primary school to secondary school, crashed out of secondary school, went into music. The friendship died because..., guess..., one joined a pop group and the other joined a highlight band. The highlight band boys made money and were proud of their money. The pop music boys were fashion-crazy, and commanded all the girls in town but had little or no money. Each one had no regard for the kind of music the other is playing. That friendship died. Ideology.
Two university students, coursemates, both brilliant, and hardworking agreed that they would go into politics after graduation. They both graduated with good results. They began to make their in-road into politics through community activism in the same neighborhood where they grew up. The political season came up, the two young men found themselves in opposing parties. They forgot that politics was just a game. They took it personally and detested each other just because they were in two different (opposing) parties. Behind these decisions to part ways, someone is THINKING something. Someone is having an IDEA about the situation on the ground. Someone or both of them became IDEA-logical about whatever he was THINKING. Think.
Ideology. Ideology. Ideology.
One person believes that there is God. The other believes that there is no God. Both of them read from a book or a mere paper and believed what they read. On the basis of what they read (that someone else wrote), they became fanatics to the point of wanting to kill 'unbelievers' (or even actually killing 'unbelievers'). Friendships have been ruined. Families have been destroyed. Organizations have been sunk. Lives have been lost. Is an ideology worth a person's life? Think. Yes, feel free to believe in something, say, the air, a leaf, a stick, a tree, a river, etc. However, do not let your belief in that think lead you to extremes. As for me, I too believe in something. I believe in Jesus Christ. I will not kill you because you believe in mushrooms. Think.