Comparison of Violent Extent of Religious Terrorism to Secular Terrorism - Essay Example

?Comparison of violent extent of religious terrorism to secular terrorism XXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX Date: XXXXXXXXXXX Terrorism can be defined as illegal acts of violence that inflict pain to an individual or a group of people. The people involved in terrorism carry out their action in a bid to manipulate a state or a certain group of people to respond to their demand. The terrorist intentions are either politically or socially triggered (Alien, 2007, 15). Religious and secular groups are known to motivate terrorist attacks. Nevertheless, religious terrorist attacks are known to be fatal and lethal compared to secular attacks. Religious terrorist motivated by religion, to commit terrorist attacks with a conviction that they are right; for instance, Muslims commit crimes with the claim that they are involved in a holy war (jihad). The secular terrorists are aware that they are committing a crime; therefore, they ensure their attacks are less lethal and fatal (Al-Khattar, 2011, 22). Terrorism is a kind of violence applied in peace, conflict and war. The groups use threats before carrying out unexpected attacks. The American Christians white supremacists threatened the government of America claiming that the people running the government were not Christians. As a result, they bombed Alfred P. Murrah federal office building in Oklahoma City in April 1995 to make their point clear (Hoffman, 2006, 107). Terrorist attacks have specific goals and motives the attacks do not happen randomly. For instance, the al Qaeda group led by Osama bin laden carried out the 9/11 attack to ensure the American government withdraw its military base from Saudi Arabia. Their goal was to ensure the Americans were not in control of any Arabic country (Dyson, 2010, 5). Religion known to be the centre of human beings, people controlled and guided by religious beliefs. Therefore, when terror groups created based on religion the group is likely to have many committed followers (Fine, 2008, 59). In addition, when undertaking terror attacks the group ensures the attacks are fatal because they believe the people attacked are wrong and should be punished for their wrong doings. Secular terrorist attacks; on the other hand, undertaken to manipulate a government or a group of people to adhere to their demands (Hoffman, 2006, 7). Islamic religion well known for conducting a number of terrorist attacks, the well-known al Qaeda group religiously controlled. Its followers commit crimes with a view that they are fighting for their Islamic rights. For instance, the 9/11 terrorist attack in New York was fatal, many people lost their lives and others left injured (Jonathan, 2010, 369). In addition, property of invaluable value also destroyed. The attack was fatal because it was religiously controlled. Religious terrorism are known to be fatal, because of the reasoning behind the attack. Religious terrorist believe that the attack is holy and religiously protected (Juergen, 2010, 34). In addition, religious terrorist believe that violence is a sacred act undertaken in direct, to fulfill religious needs or better still they believe the attack justified by the scripture. Religion functions as a legal force, which triggers a massive criminal activity against people who are not strong believers of religion (Sugirharah, 2011, 75). Religious terrorist attacks believe their work is a vocational calling, and they normally take responsibility of their actions publicly. They use terrorism to fulfill their political and social demands (Okoro, 2010, 554). In addition, religious terrorist also act anonymously, and they act to fulfill their own needs. Their attacks escalate violence and harm to the public. Islamic religion known to accommodate a number of terror groups, nonetheless, religious terrorist involve other religions too. For instance, the 1995 nerve gas attack in Tokyo subway system led by apocalyptic Japanese religious cult that took the lives of many people. After the attack, the group also promised to carry out more attacks that are similar in the future (Lesser, 2009, 15). A number of other attacks have also taken place around the world by other religious and cult groups other than Muslims. For instance, in 1995, a cult group in Tokyo released deadly nerve gas in order to ensure their demands are met (Hoffman, 2006, 119). The Hindus and Muslims in India also known to be in conflict, a terrorist group led by the Hindus attacked the mosque of Muslim believers causing deaths and injuries. Secular terrorism involves groups that believe they are fighting for freedom and liberation. The well known secular terrorist groups include the nationalist movement and left wing terror group (Ziser, 2010, 334). An example of nationalist terror group is one that exists in Irish. The group advocates acquiring freedom from its government in addition, to acquiring liberty. The group targets government people and are not involved in killing innocent citizens (Smith, 2008, 63). Left-wing terrorist group is also not involved in violent attacks. Their intention is to enhance the economic status of a country like capitalism. The group carries out its action by kidnapping capitalist leaders and destroys monuments without causing any form of harm or violence. An example of a left-wing group called red brigade found in Italy. The group has caused a number of killings to capitalist leaders and responsible for the attacks in Rome, Milan (Tamsin, 2011, 273). The religious terrorist groups cause more harm than secular terrorist. Secular terrorist carry out their actions in secrecy, and they do not own their actions in public. Their actions are less violent, and their attacks socially motivated. They do their attacks to gain more money so that they can have a decent life. For instance, the Indians fight for independence was considered as acts of terrorism, nevertheless after they attained their independence from the British the terror actions diminished (Hoffman, 2006, 121). Most of religious terrorist politically influenced so that they can achieve a certain political mission. For instance, the al Qaeda groups carry out their attacks against the US government so that the US power in Arabic nations can be reduced. Bruce Huffman a terrorist and political analyst condemned the Aum gas attack in Tokyo. The attack was fatal and religiously motivated. Application of technology in enhancing attacks is becoming dangerous around the globe. The current trend of terrorism religiously motivated, and the attacks are mainly fatal and lethal. In addition, the FBI has also noted that the current norm of terrorism governed by religion is increasing tendency of violence around the globe (Hoffman, 2006, 11). Therefore, terrorism motivated in whole or in part by religious imperatives has led to more intense acts of violence and higher levels of fatalities than violence perpetrated by secular terrorist organizations. This is because vocational calling and scriptures guide religious terrorist groups (Whittaker, 2009, 23). Religious terrorist groups surround the world because religion known to be a main influence of human life. In addition, it is easier for religious people to commit violence attacks without feeling the guilt because they believe a higher power is protecting them (William, 2011, 685). Diverse religion and cult groups recognized to commit religious crimes with an aim to fulfill a certain need. Global measures are been taken to reduce the extent of religious crimes because technological advancement may result to fatal crimes. Nuclear weapons are being developed because of technological advancement and fatal results can take place if nuclear terror attacks are undertaken. For instance, the Hiroshima nuclear attack in Japan was massive, and its effects can be felt to present. Nonetheless, both terrorist groups are influence by a certain goal in which they hope to achieve. The reasoning may be political, economical or social, whichever the reason terror attacks should be curbed so that innocent citizens can live without fear of fatal attacks. Referencing Alien, D. 2007. Comparative Philosophy and Religion in Times of Terror. London: Oxford University Press. Al-Khattar, A. 2011. Terrorism and Religion: An Interfaith Perspective. Massachusetts: Taylor & Francis. Dyson, W. 2010. Terrorosm: An Investigative Handbook. New York: McGraw Hill Publishers. Fine, J. 2008. Contrasting Secular and Religious Terrorism. Middle East Quarterly, 15 (1),59-69. Hoffman, B. (2006). Inside terrorism. New York, Columbia University Press. Jonathan, L. 2010. Religion and State Violence. Contemporary Politics, 4(19), 361-375. Juergen, M. 2010. Terror in the Mind of God: Global Rise of Religious Violence. New York: Cengage Learning Lesser, I. 2009. Countering the new terrorism. New York: Santa Monica. Okoro, K. 2010. Religion and Terrorism: A Social Historical Reconsideration, Journal of Alternative Perspectives in the Social Sciences, 2(2), 550-576. Smith, P. 2008. The Terrorism Ahead: Confronting Transnational Violence in the 21st Century. New Brunswick, Rutgers University Press. Sugirharah, R. 2011. Texts and Terrorism: Communal Strife, Sacred Scriptures and Secular Stories. Studies in World Christianity & Interreligious Relations, 47, 75-90. Tamsin, B. 2011. Religion as a Bridge between Theory and Practice in Relation to Violence. 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