Can Religion Justify International Terrorism

CAN RELIGION JUSTIFY INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM?

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Common stereotypes on the relationship between international terrorism and religion

purport an inherent link connecting the two. These beliefs seek to establish the fact that most

modern terrorist acts get committed by individuals and organizations seeking to advance

religious agenda and ideologies. This standpoint raises the question as to whether justifications

for international terrorism can be based on religious perspectives. Mostly, Islam, Hinduism,

Buddhism, Judaism, and Christianity get associated with religion-based terror acts.

While some

of these acts attack and destroy individuals, private, and public property, others can be

considered retaliatory. In both cases, individuals within different sects take personal initiatives to

execute terror. In cases where groups are involved, the ideologies they profess do not get

justified by their religious societies. Instead, it is the involved groups that advance the ideologies.

Because all known religions condemn terror and related acts, no justifications for international

terrorism can be based on religious perspectives.

A review of Islamic and Christian standpoints on terrorism presents an express

contradiction of beliefs that would associate them with terror. Islam holds the fundamental belief

that life is one of the most precious gifts. Because of this, every human being is charged with the

responsibility of protecting life. To this extent, murder is considered a horrendous crime that

must not be permitted. If one commits murder, they get considered as persons with the potential

of eliminating the whole society. This perspective is also applied to the good act of sparing life.

Further, the religion adopts the belief that all humans are created in the image of Allah. This

creates the necessity for brotherhood and love among all nations and tribes. Other than these

fundamental beliefs, the Islamic Quran condemns aggression because it is not liked by Allah. It

. Hashmi, Sohail. Just Wars, Holy Wars, and Jihads: Christian, Jewish, and Muslim Encounters and

Exchanges (New York: Oxford University Press, 2012), 19.

. Juergensmeyer, Mark. Terror in the Mind of God: The Global Rise of Religious Violence (Berkeley:

University of California Press, 2013), 28.

does not permit killing and censures all individuals who commit any form of sin and proceed to

associate it with the works of Allah.

Similarly, Christian points of view do not tolerate any form of terrorism. Many terrorists

seek to convince the world that they fight religious wars. The first denunciation of this approach

stems from the fact that the Christian God is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent.

Additionally, he bears the qualities of love, graciousness, and mercy. It is not possible to fight for

an able God. Thus, Christianity expresses the belief that God can fight for himself; this

eliminates the need for religious aggression. Additionally, the Christian element of love

commands Christians to love one another and do good unto neighbors and enemies. This does

not allow Christians to engage in Terror. Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism are also founded on

the fundamental principles of love for deities, neighbors, and the essence of good against evil.

When an individual or groups within a religion institute beliefs of terror, this should not

be considered as the standpoint of that religion. For example, ill-intentioned sects subscribing to

Islamism may attack Christians in one place. Such an attack cannot be considered to have been

executed by Islam. Rather, it remains an ideology of an isolated sect. Conversely, if some of the

attacked Christians organize a revenge mission, this act cannot be claimed to have been effected

by Christianity. This is because Christianity does not even permit revenge. In its beliefs,

vengeance should be left for God.

In conclusion, all religions are founded on the fundamental principles of love for deities

and fellow humans. These express the necessity for love and mutual coexistence of societies.

Individuals and organizations from within various religions may advance terrorist acts. However,

. Saul, Ben. Research Handbook on International Law and Terrorism (London: Edward Elgar Publishing,

2014), 177.

. Primoratz, Igor. Terrorism: The Philosophical Issues (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan Publishing,

2014), 86.

these cases cannot be viewed as the standpoints of the religions in question. Since all known

religions condemn terror and related acts, no justifications for international terrorism can be

founded on religious perspectives.

Bibliography

Hashmi, Sohail. Just Wars, Holy Wars, and Jihads: Christian, Jewish, and Muslim Encounters

and Exchanges. New York: Oxford University Press, 2012.

Juergensmeyer, Mark. Terror in the Mind of God: The Global Rise of Religious Violence.

Berkeley: University of California Press, 2013.

Primoratz, Igor. Terrorism: The Philosophical Issues. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan

Publishing, 2014.

Saul, Ben. Research Handbook on International Law and Terrorism. London: Edward Elgar

Publishing, 2014.

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