Introduction Religion based terrorism is defined as a group whose motivations have a predominant religious influence or goal. In the last 30 years there has been an increase in terrorist activity motivated by religious beliefs. The different forms of religious terrorism are communal, genocidal, nihilistic, or revolutionary. Religious terrorism can be committed by a person, large movements, organizations, or governments. Former Secretary of State Warren Christopher was quoted in 1980 as saying “that terrorist acts in the name of religion and ethnicity have become one of the most important security challenges we face in the wake of the Cold War.”. Religious terrorism is considered one of the most dangerous forms because ever since early history people have used religion to motivate people to fight and die for their beliefs. The world’s religions all have both peaceful and violent messages from which believers can choose. Religious terrorists and extremists use their interpretation of religion to justify their violence. This can even be seen back hundreds of years ago, during Christian Crusades in the Middle Ages, where Pope Urban II promised martyrdom for anyone who fought and died for the cross. The purpose of the Crusades was to take “the holy land” back from the Muslims; the church used their believer’s loyalty to the Christian religion to help them accomplish their own set goal. Religious terrorist groups glorify any persons willingness to sacrifice themselves in the name of their religious belief will make them a martyr. This helps the terrorist group accomplish their goals by embedding in their followers head the belief that they are actually acting on behalf of their faith. Committing suicide and self-sacrifice for your religious beliefs have been a proven way of terrorist organizations to deliver maximum damage onto their enemy with little or no cost associated with it. The pure shock of a suicide bombing gives the terrorist group all the free
Topic: Religion and Terrorism: The Connection
Terrorism is an act of violence or threat that is unlawful and has an objective of exacting revenge, intimidating, or influencing an audience. Many terrorist attacks have been made all over the world. Religion is considered the key motivation to terrorism. Religion has been used to show terror to its followers and its non followers. Terror has been used in various religions to encourage fear among the followers or to set boundaries between religions….
The Global Dimensions of religious Terrorism.
Mark Juergensmeyer argues that: religious often provides participates in transnational terrorist movements with the violent certainty necessary to develop extraordinary motivation and to engage in violent actions that appear to violate ethical precepts.
Religious terrorism often involves holy war on a global scale. During the Cold War, America’s major enemy was the Soviet empire. Then years after, America’s most wanted enemy was a single person Osama….
Sociopathic Religious Leader and Terrorism
The Sociopathic Religious Leader and Terrorism
Naturally, when one is given the task to explore terrorism, the first thing one would think to do is look up the definition to establish a deeper understanding. Merriam-Webster defines terrorism as: “the use of violent acts to frighten the people in an area as a way of trying to achieve a political goal”. This definition can lead one to believe that the word terrorism is nothing….
When speaking about religious and secular terrorism, the main difference is not between cultural aspects and political agendas. There are many religious extremists with the same goals as you describe secular terrorists as having in your post. Religious terrorists differ by using sacred texts and historic examples to validate the often-violent acts where as secular terrorism has more developed boundaries (Rapoport, 1990, p. 107).
In recent news, we see a Mormon group in Oregon that can be described….
Terrorism: political, psychological and religious aspects.
Today terrorism is very much a concerning issue which has dominated our lives, most particularly, since the attack on the twin towers in the New York City in September 11th 2001. Thus, it has been the centre of much discussion and has gained unprecedented importance. Apart from this terrorists struck at targets around the world became a central front in the global war against terrorism and the locus of so many deadly attacks against civilians….
"Religious fundamentalism and terrorism are products of globalisation. Discuss."
Following evidence of a revitalisation in religious faith1 throughout the world, and a series of terrorist incidents purportedly motivated by religious fundamentalism, various commentators have argued globalisation has ushered in new forms of radical religious belief and expression and a unique form of contemporary terrorism. This essay contends that while various forms of religious belief and terrorism have been….
"Terrorism" comes from the French word terrorisme, and originally referred specifically to state terrorism as practiced by the French government during the Reign of terror. The Jacobins cited this precedent when imposing a Reign of Terror during the French Revolution. After the Jacobins lost power, the word "terrorist" became a term of abuse. Although "terrorism" originally referred to acts committed by a government, currently it usually refers to the killing of innocent….
Ryan M. Faught
Arkansas Tech University
Terrorism has been a major topic of research for many years. We’ve learned a lot about terrorism and terrorist groups, but there are still major questions to be answered. What exactly is a terrorist? What causes ordinary people to become terrorists? What attracts people to terrorism? How do terrorist groups in the Middle East recruit and radicalize people from all over the world? In this paper I will discuss these questions and more according….
“Terrorism is the weapon of the oppressed”
“Everyone’s worried about stopping terrorism. Well, there’s really an easy way: Stop participating in it.” ― Noam Chomsky
In any set up there are legitimate, legal and peaceful means of expressing displeasure and disapproval of certain policies in a country. Peaceful demonstrations were successfully employed….
it? What do we fear about Terrorism?
Definition of Terrorism
Terrorism actually comes from the Latin Word “Fear” x “The Unlawful Use of Force Against Persons or Property to Intimidate or Coerce a Government, the Civilian Population, or Segment Thereof, in the Furtherance of Political or Social Objectives.”(Source FBI)
Is an unlawful act of violence Intimidates governments or societies Goal is to achieve political, religious or ideological objectives….