Religious fundamentalism and terrorism journal of global peace. While i differentiate fundamentalism as an individual difference variable from the violent fundamentalist movements, fundamentalist beliefs may be one factor that. Religious fundamentalism synonyms, religious fundamentalism pronunciation, religious fundamentalism translation, english dictionary definition of religious fundamentalism. The long road to extinguish religious fundamentalism and, concretely, the islamic, begins with dialogue within the religion itself, which is undoubtedly the most difficult. The term, fundamentalism, today names a broad religiopolitical perspective found in most, if not all, major religions. Pdf religious fundamentalism and political extremism. By historically defining terrorism and fundamentalism and then placing them within the context of current religiopolitical and sociopolitical discourse, one can observe the shift from nationalism into terrorism and therefore understanding the innate interconnectedness of fundamentalism and terrorism as a whole. In fact, its not always a religious thing, and we see fundamentalism in various guises. Religious fundamentalism and terrorism springerlink. Jul 17, 2005 on religious fundamentalism and terrorism interview with professor joanandreu rocha. However, religious extremism has become a central issue for the global community. The role of religious fundamentalism in terrorist violence. Let us analyze this allegation of fundamentalism and terrorism.
Why, though, have religiouslyaffiliated acts of terrorism become. Doc religious fundamentalism, terrorism, and the new. Religious fundamentalism, a belief in an absolute religious ideology with no tolerance for differing interpretations, is a contributing factor to the development of radical opinions. While there have been many studies undertaken on socalled islamic fundamentalism, the fact remains that it and, indeed, religious fundamentalism, in general are much misunderstood. Fundamentalism broadly names a religiopolitical perspective found in most, if not all, major religions. Introduction at first glance, the link between religious extremism and terrorism seems obvious. The burke chair at csis has assembled a wide range of indicators that help quantify and explain these patterns, and that look beyond the crises of the moment to examine longer term trends.
Virtually any type of fundamentalism can be defined as a strict adherence to the basic principle or belief system. Most disturbingly, it is associated with variant forms of religious. Todays dilemma is to comprehend how fundamentalism got linked to extremism and terrorism. The analysis will focus on differential treatment of the followers of the selected faiths in the literature on violent extremism and terrorism and programs on cve. The fundamentalist ideology everywhere appears as collectivist and communalist. Religious terrorist groups functioning in the absence of this pretext, create junk terrorism 18. This is the opposite of what people commonly call islamic fundamentalism. Yet the more popular islamic fundamentalism became in the media, the more scholars of islam recoiled from it. This article aims to develop and explore diagnostic frameworks to enhance ones understanding of the religiously. Neither have governments been slow to brand violent opponents with this title, nor to produce ever more proscriptive legal definitions of terrorism, most of which encompass behaviour that would constitute offences under ordinary criminal law townsend, 2002. Islamic fundamentalism islamic fundamentalism 4 let us first of all find out what is commonly meant by fundamentalism. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Fundamentalism and terrorism karnataka pcs free notes.
This has resulted in pakistan being more concerned with internal security challenges rather than external, as extremism and terrorism take the monstrous shape of religious and. Media coverage is not expected to give rise to the desire of the people who watch or read using social media on news related terrorism to emulate, as well as the mass media are also expected to not only be an extension of the spread of the. Pdf the role of religious fundamentalism in terrorist. By examining how religious fundamentalism has accelerated and intensified terrorism within the modern world, scholars can focus on.
Religious extremists are willing to murder because they embrace theologies that sanction violence in the service of god. Numerous scholars have investigated religiously motivated violence, particularly in the wake of september 11, including discussions on the role of modernity in triggering religious violence, the increasing presence of religion in politics, the violenceprone nature of certain religions, and religion s correlation with ethnicity and other conflictintensifying variables. The causes, forms and manifestations of terrorism are varied and include religious fundamentalism and ideological radicalisation. Surveying work over the past two decades, we find both substantial progress in sociological. Why is contemporary religious terrorism predominantly. Prospects for a predictive paradigm article pdf available january 2006 with 1,565 reads how we measure reads. Prospects for a predictive paradigm 1 douglas pratt associate professor, philosophy and religious studies, university of waikato, new zealand visiting research fellow, ripon college cuddesdon, oxford england the term fundamentalism. Religious fundamentalism and terrorism are products of globalization. Religious fundamentalism names an ideological perspective found in most, if not all, major religions and is currently associated with variant forms of extremism and religiouslymotivated acts of violence, including terrorism. To achieve it we will consider both the quantitative aspects of terrorism research, with reference to all the. Religious fundamentalism and violent extremism springerlink. Most disturbingly, it is now associated with variant forms of religious extremism and thus religiouslyoriented terrorism. What is the connection between religion and terrorism. According to charles kimball, religious terrorism functions on the basis of.
In islamic fundamentalism, it is the case both among sunnis as well as shiites, but it takes on particular characteristics in each group. In my view it is imperative to attempt to understand critically any potential let alone real relationship between fundamentalism and terrorism. This paper was originally published as a chapter in my book, contemporary feminist theory and activism, broadview, 2010. It focuses on the differences in humankind, rather than what unites them. Motivational parameters in islamic terrorism michael taarnby.
This chapter aims to understand how fundamentalism and violent extremism are defined in relation to the prominent religions, such as christianity, islam, hinduism, and buddhism. Islamic fundamentalism, jihad, and terrorism byungock chang prof. Religious fundamentalism names an ideological perspective found in most, if not all, major religions and is currently associated with variant forms. Militant religious fundamentalism, whether islamic, christian, jewish, hindu, sikh. Thoughts on the 91101 bombings stanford university. The religious model does not stand up to comparison with empirical evidence. On religious fundamentalism and terrorism featured today. The general idea is that by scrutinizing the inner workings and ambiguities of a major religion, the motivation for violent actions and thought patterns will be obvious. Religious fundamentalism and terrorism elijah onyango standslause odhiambo1 abstract the study of terrorism is multidisciplinary, which includes fields like religion, sociology, criminology, political science amongst others. The history and identity of fundamentalism is complex.
Why, though, have religiouslyaffiliated acts of terrorism. I survey three major religions judaism, islam, christianity and one sect zionism and a case study of crusades. They include a range of tables, graphs, and maps that help. There are diverse reasons and motivations for terrorist activities. And it is islamic modalities of terrorism that, rightly or wrongly, have come to take centrestage in current world. The term religious fundamentalism has come to be applied to regional, national, and even global developments holding both religious and political dimensions. Fundamentalism and terrorism west bengal pcs exam notes. Terrorism in the name of religion magnus ranstorp introduction on 25 february 1994, the day of the second muslim sabbath during islams holy month of ramadan, a zionist settler from the orthodox settlement of qiryat arba entered the crowded. Islam and the patterns in terrorism and violent extremism.
Christian fundamentalism and extremism article in terrorism and political violence 223 june 2010 with 381 reads how we measure reads. Religious fundamentalism and radicalisation european parliament. Preventing religious radicalisation and violent extremism. Categorized under ideology,miscellaneous difference between fundamentalist and extremist fundamentalist vs extremist when it comes to beliefs, most people like to play it safe and stay in the middle such as staying in the grey area instead of openly choosing black or white. Fundamentalism and terrorism 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. Within true islamic fundamentalism one would never see crimes against humanity, heinous acts of hatred, political killing, terrorism, oppression, religious extremism or zealotry, or the forcing of ones religion on others. Islamic fundamentalism has been defined as a movement of muslims who regard earlier times favorably and seek to return to the fundamentals of the islamic religion and live similarly to how the islamic prophet muhammad and his companions lived. Let me say at the outset that the gravest threat to the united states today is neither islamic groups nor islamic fundamentalism as. But in light of the resurgence of terrorism via the islamic state, the syrian refugee crisis, and the impacts of refugeeism. T hroughout the beginning of the 21 st century, it is no surprise that terrorism has come to be a major concern worldwide. Religious fundamentalism and nationalism differences religion may or may not be a defining feature of an ethnic culture religious fundamentalism is a moral crusade that often transcends ethnicnational divisions and national boundaries nationalism aims at national independence or ethnic domination similarities. Religious terrorism is a type of religious violence where terrorism is used as a tactic to achieve. Pdf although fundamentalism is neither new nor limited to one culture, globalized communications and recent political events have.
Fundamentalism is a belief that the world is not complex, but really simple if you follow the simplistic ideas of the group at hand. It is often partly motivated by a form of xenophobia against either strangers of another country or of another religion and a loss of. Fundamentalism and terrorism directory of open access. Nov 18, 2014 religious extremism has become the main driver of terrorism in recent years, according to this years global terrorism index the report recorded 18,000 deaths in 20, a rise of 60% on the. Religious fundamentalism has risen to worldwide prominence since the 1970s. Citizens worldwide are becoming all too familiar with the accelerated frequency of terrorist attacks in the 21 st century, particularly with those involving a religious underpinning. On religious fundamentalism and terrorism zenit english. Linkages to terrorism pakistans perspective huma baqai associate professor, chairperson department of social sciences, iba karachi, pakistan email. 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. By examining how religious fundamentalism has accelerated and intensified terrorism. Download the report it is far too easy to focus on individual acts of terrorism and extremism, and ignore the global patterns in such violence. Due to the frequency and magnitude of violence, many scholars have and are.
Nov 03, 2005 between terrorism and religious extremism shibley telhami. Mar 18, 2015 religious fundamentalism and radicalisation. Religious extremism main cause of terrorism, according to. So to sum up the significant connection between religion and terrorism would be the role of religion for extremist groups which legitimises specific violent actions in order to reach a goal. Following evidence of a revitalization in religious faith throughout the world, and a series of terrorist incidents purportedly motivated by religious fundamentalism, various commentators have argued globalization has ushered in new forms of radical religious belief and expression and a unique form of contemporary. Religious terrorism occurs when the use of terrorism is systematized by an ideological and fanatical interpretation of a religious text. The registered office of informa plc informa is mortimer house, 3741 mortimer street, london, w1t 3jh. But the period of zias military regime proved to be a vital phase for spreading, infusing and injecting religious extremism, radicalization, fundamentalism, sectarianism and intolerance into the pakistani society. Our epoch is characterized by startling advances on the one hand and conditions of. The definition of fundamentalism in reference to religion is religious beliefs based on a literal interpretation of a religious text. Broadly speaking, fundamentalism denotes a religiopolitical perspective found. Religious fundamentalism not concerned with any specific religion a style of political thought, rather than a collection of ideas and values some scholars argue that religious fundamentalism is merely a subfundamentalism is merely a subspecies species. A socio historical re consideration 552 besides wars, military and civil dictations that violet human rights and life, the most threatening social acerbic is the contemporary terrorism in its diverse forms and manifestations.
This work is licensed under a creative commons attribution 3. Islamic terrorism is the common term for violence,1 rooted on islamic fundamentalism, and aimed at defending, or even promoting, islamic culture, society, and values in opposition to the political, allegedly imperialistic, and cultural influences of nonmuslims, and the western world in particular. The fact is that all terrorists may not be fundamentalist, but given the need and opportunity, fundamentalists and extremists will opt for terrorism, if they think it. This is not to suggest that it is the only model because nationalism and ideology remain as potent catalysts for extremist behavior. Paper presented at the new zealand association for the study of religions biennial conference, queenstown, 68 june 2007. Religious fundamentalism names an ideological perspective found in most, if not all, major religions and is cur rently associated with variant forms of extremism. Second religious terrorism that doesnt have such a worldly goal and that. Terrorism, radicalisation, extremism, authoritarianism and. Religious fundamentalism and terrorism free essays. It seeks to examine the relationship between the culture and conditions from which terrorists are recruited, as well as the psychological impact of fundamentalist religious teachings upon the minds of susceptible people. I would personally prefer to call this phenomenon islamic extremism, rather than islamic fundamentalism, although those engaged in extremist activities would, like the.
For a person to be a good doctor, he should know, follow, and practise the fundamentals of medicine. Islamic fundamentalists favor a literal and originalist interpretation of the primary sources of islam the quran and sunnah, seek to eliminate what. Fundamentalism comes from the root word fundare, which means a base or foundation. Communalism is all about political or economic interests of a particular community, while fundamentalism. Religious fundamentalism defines people by what divides them. But literalism and centralisation led to fundamentalism and intolerance of diverse beliefs, as religious purists can use the texts to justify and expound very narrow definitions of what is acceptable.
Islamic fundamentalism in nigeria and the churchs response. Terrorism and political violence religion and terrorism. The trend towards textualism continued to spread with monotheism, almost becoming a defining feature. When speaking of causes and movements considered fundamentalist, the conventional wisdom assumes that these are inherently opposed to modern, scientific, and secular values. Why, though, have religiouslyaffiliated acts of terrorism become such a common occurrence. Some thought that the term fundamentalism failed to capture the methodology and. Definition of the word fundamentalist a fundamentalist is a person who follows and adheres to the fundamentals of the doctrine or theory he is following.
Religious fundamentalism in india and beyond krishna kumar w e live in turbulent times. Extremism and fundamentalism fundamentalism is not a new phenomenon and is common to many religions. Religious fundamentalism, a belief in an absolute religious ideology with no. However extreme fundamentalism occurs when groups who consciously manipulate beliefs in order to suit their agenda.
360 1566 1489 1116 1427 1484 1155 1266 643 471 620 648 1620 170 482 272 568 1142 288 425 105 1020 684 628 966 1408 398 84 474 698 653 965 260 459 493