He is distinguished professor of sociology and global studies at the university of california santa barbara. This articles approaches religious terrorism as violence or the threat of. This is an important contribution to our knowledge of the relationship between religion and violence. It was also recently translated into norwegian, after which it has attracted some criticism in the norwegian blog circuit. As in prior acts of terrorism on this same popular mall, the news images of the bloodied victims.
Core, misapplications and misunderstandings religion is a bad thing that necessarily fosters violent actions it is grave mistake to condemn any religion because of its misapplications by misguided adhetents it is important to separate religious traditionsreligions from. He rightfully includes in this category groups such as the u. Thoroughly revised and expanded, the book analyzes in detail terrorism related to almost all the worlds major religious traditions. A response to mark juergensmeyer religious violence amid love, compassion, and hate. This form of terrorism could have its roots in the misinterpretation of theological epithets, or it could be the result of extreme forms of delusion that may alter reality, and thus subject the individual to distorted versions of religious facts. Could these violent acts be the fault of religion the result of a dark strain of religious thinking that leads to absolutism and violence. Religious terrorism as performance violence oxford handbooks. Martha crenshaw, editor of terrorism in context in this important book juergensmeyer argues that the violence associated with religion is not an aberration but comes from the fundamental structures of the belief system of all major religions. These acts present a dramatic scene into which observers are unwittingly drawn. The escalation of global violence terrorismassociated with religion and her institutions is an everpresent reality with us. Juergensmeyer received a ba in philosophy from the university of illinois. The overall impression left with the reader is that severely disturbed individuals, acting essentially as lone wolves, are somehow representative of, or motivated by. In this wideranging and erudite book, mark juergensmeyer asks one of the most important and perplexing questions of our age. However, religious extremism has become a central issue for the global community.
In this widely cited work, mark juergensmeyer explores the emergence of religious terror ism, the acts of violence, occurring throughout the world, that are. Pdf the terrorist attacks of 911in which alqaeda operatives. Or has the innocence of religion been abused by wily political activists who twist religions essential message of peace for their own devious purposes. Second religious terrorism that doesnt have such a worldly goal and that strives for a higher abstract sacred goal that is impossible to reach wilkinson, 1992.
Terror in the mind of god by mark juergensmeyer overdrive. In his chapter on this topic, mark juergensmeyer describes religious terrorism as performance violenceacts that are performed for the purpose of creating a public event. According to mark juergensmeyer, religious terrorism consists of acts that terrify. The framework of religious terrorism, as used currently within terrorism studies and ir, does not help us to understand the complex relationship between religion and political violence. Juergensmeyers analysis, which was published in the huffington post and in an extended version at religion dispatches, has received much attention online, in official media channels and on blogs. Juergensmeyer extends the same argument to the role religion and theology. Many muslims complain that the current news media focus on the proliferation of islamic terrorist groups in the middle east and other parts of the world unfairly portrays islam as a religion that condones the use of terrorism. In the wake of any terrorist attack, the immediate questions are. Religious terrorism is a type of religious violence where terrorism is used as a tactic to achieve. Request an exam or desk copy recommend to your library pdf rightslink. Drawing from extensive personal interviews, mark juergensmeyer takes readers into the mindset of those who perpetrate and support violence in the name of religion. Mark juergensmeyer juergensmeyer, a professor of sociology and director of global and international studies at the university of california, santa barbara, is an expert in religious violence, conflict resolution, and the author of 22 books.
Since september 11, 2001, we all need tools to help us understand what motivates religious terrorism. Though it was welcome news when the new prime minister, iyad allawi, announced that the militias of nine major political parties would disband and join the governments security forces by january 2005, this is only one of the monumental tasks and formidable obstacles that the new government faces. Methodology this study utilized library research where secondary data on the subject drawn from books, journals, conference proceedings and internet was critically analyzed. Pdf violent terrorism in the name of religion pdf charles. Identifying patterns within these cultures of violence, he explains why and how religion and violence are linked and how acts of religious terrorism are undertaken not only for. He is the winner of the prestigious grawemeyer award for 2003 in the religion category and the author of the new cold war. Muslims in the middle east associated with the rise of isis, al qaeda, and hamas. Terror in the mind of god, fourth edition ebook by mark. Juergensmeyer s analysis, which was published in the huffington post and in an extended version at religion dispatches, has received much attention online, in official media channels and on blogs. The scenario that underlies the performance of religious terrorism is often one of cosmic war. The old ideologies of class conflict, anticolonial liberation, and. Similarly, juergensmeyer 2003 emphasizes that religious groups succeed in framing their local political struggles as cosmic.
Abstract citizens worldwide are becoming all too familiar with the accelerated frequency of terrorist attacks in the 21st century, particularly with those involving a religious underpinning. Oct 25, 2017 put simply, does religion cause terrorism. Fundamentalism and terrorism by cassandra rausch this work is licensed under a creative commons attribution 3. Jul 23, 2010 religious studies remains, in large part, what it has always beenthe study of religious literature, ritual, organizations, and the likebut at the heart of it, there is the very difficult conceptual question of how to think about religion in a globalized world. A socio historical re consideration 554 saighal 2003. Mark juergensmeyer, for instance, seeking a middle path between the view that religion does cause terrorism and the.
Mark juergensmeyer argues that because religious terrorists believe they are waging a war between good and evil, they deem themselves exempt from the bonds of rule of law and other societal norms. In the modern era, religious terrorism has increased in its frequency, scale of violence, and global reach. Why has the rediscovery of religions power in recent years manifested in such a bloody way. Mark juergensmeyer born 1940 in carlinville, illinois is an american scholar in sociology, global studies and religious studies and a writer best known for his studies of religious violence and global religion. Religious terrorism which is executed by those whose motivations and aims. Article pdf available in american journal of sociology 1071. This chapter describes religious terrorism as performance violence, illustrating that performance violence is planned in order to obtain tangible goals, and also to theatrically enact and communicate an imagined reality. Reviews this dark, enthralling book not only documents the global rise of religious terrorism but seeks to understand the odd attraction of religion and violence. Why would anybody believe that god could sanction terrorism. Aug 07, 2011 mark juergensmeyer, expert on religious violence, and former president of the american academy of religion. The first i call political religious terrorism, the second milleniaristic terrorism. Seeing as juergensmeyer is an influential and wellregarded scholar, an. There clearly is a phenomenon, as mark juergensmeyer terms it, that can be accurately labelled as religious terrorism. Understanding religious terrorism depends on developing a clear picture of what religion says about violence.
According to juergensmeyer, religion and violence have had a symbiotic relationship. Religious terrorism is a type of religious violence where terrorism is used as a tactic to achieve religious goals or which are influenced by religious identity in the modern age, after the decline of ideas such as the divine right of kings and with the rise of nationalism, terrorism has more often been based on anarchism, and revolutionary politics. At the same time, a relative decline has occurred in secular terrorism. Although sporadic acts of terrorism do not lead to the establishment of new religious states, they make the political potency of religious ideology impossible to ignore. Mark juergensmeyer is professor of sociology and director of global and international studies at the university of california, santa barbara. Mark juergensmeyer fields questions from the audience. Juergensmeyer analyzes recent incidents of global religious terrorism in order to illumine overarching patterns that heighten the risk of religious violence. Why do religious people commit violent acts in the name of their god, taking the lives of innocent victims and terrorizing entire populations. Religious terrorism in particular has become an important national security issue. Juergensmeyer 2003 examined the elements of religion that can lead to extreme.
Juergensmeyer is a powerful, skillful writer whose deeply empathetic interviewing techniques allow readers to enter the minds of some of the late 20th centurys most feared religious. Mark juergensmeyer has undertaken a fascinating project. Terrorism, war and the problem of religious violence abc. No one who truly cares about matters of faith can afford to ignore the dangers that lurk within religious extremism, and juergensmeyer ultimately serves the highest aspirations of organized religion when he insists on shedding light on the darker corners of human belief and human conduct. American christians who support abortion clinic bombings and militia actions. Terror in the mind of god, fourth edition by mark juergensmeyer. This dark, enthralling book not only documents the global rise of religious terrorism but seeks to understand the odd attraction of religion and violence. Splitting his book into two parts, juergensmeyer, first, highlights examples of religious terrorism within the christian, jewish, muslim, sikh, and buddhist traditions.
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