Religion and Violence - Essay Example

Religion and Theology 20 Sep. Religion and Violence Religion is an that has facilitated the evolution of humans from the status of primitive barbarians to civilized individuals. Tracing its origins to crude practices of nature worship, religion has, over the ages, transformed into an integral part of human society. It primarily aims to discipline people and encourage them to cohabit harmoniously within the framework of certain codes of social conduct. Besides, throughout human history, it has remained a major influence in determining the social and political structure of nations across the world. Religions, in general, seek the well being of humans and spread the messages of universal brotherhood and love, peace and harmony. Prophets in every cult have emphasized the need of spirituality and implored their followers to have sympathy for fellow beings. However, throughout human history, one comes across wars among different sects of people in the name of religion. In the modern world, in which humans have become a sophisticated species, bloodshed in the name of religion still prevails obviously due to misconceptions about religion. The instances of violence, in the name of religion, that characterize everyday life in the modern society, rather tend to substantiate the hypothesis that religion does cause violence. The Jihad, which the Muslim radicals consider as a Holy War against nonbelievers, has become an excuse for some members of that community to indulge in terrorist activities against the US and other non-Muslim nations. According to them, their war is for justice that they have to wage against the nonbelievers to adhere to Allah’s wish. They consider it as the “cosmic battle between the good and the bad,” as purported by Juergensmeyer Mark. The author further claims that in religious traditions a divine mandate for violence is “carried out for an ultimately moral purpose: to uphold the social order” (Mark 8). On the other hand, Hector Avalos argues that religion is “inherently violent,” and it brings about the conditions for violence by creating scarcity that would not otherwise be there. (Hector 22). Thus, it appears that the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, that claimed thousands of innocent lives, has been carried out in the name of religion. The reason, according to Osama Bin Laden, was to warn America of the support it extends to the Jewish community which has resulted in the oppression of their Muslim brethren in Israel. He has further threatened that the war would continue until justice is restored to the Muslim community, which is being “tortured and assaulted” by the Jews. (Motives for 9/11 Terrorist Attacks). The bombings in London on July 7, 2005, which claimed “52 lives and injured 700 people” is yet another instance of violence perpetrated by the Al Qaeda, in the name of religion (London Bombers Staged ‘Dummy Run’). The motive behind this mission, according to Osama, has been to “take revenge against the British Zionist Crusader Government” for the atrocities committed by them in Iraq and Afghanistan (Quinn par. 5). The problem of violence in the name of religion does not confine to the West alone. In the Orient, the strained relationship between India and Pakistan, apart from border controversies, can also be attributed to the difference in the major religious faiths in both countries. There have been many instances of terrorist attacks in India and in most cases, the allegations indicate the involvement of Pakistani citizens or the radical Muslim outfits based in or operating out of Pakistan. The most significant of such episodes is the terrorist attack in Mumbai, which lasted for almost four days from November 26 to November 29, 2008. An Indian author, B. Raman, in his book titled “Mumbai 26/11: A Day of Infamy,” suggests that the Indian Mujahidin tout their attack on India as the “war of civilization between the Muslims and the infidels” (Raman 17). This statement itself reeks of religious fanaticism as it refers to nonbelievers in Islam as “infidels.” Apparently, it is the misconception about the Islamic principles that makes the Mujahidin to remark about citizens of other nations in this manner. In the Mumbai terrorist episode, a team of ten raiders belonging to the Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) “launched commando style attacks,” taking a toll of 166 people, including “Indian civilians, brave officers and foreign nationals” (Raman 17). This incident is a relevant example of religious fanaticism causing massive violence, entailing the death of innocent people besides straining the relationship between two nations. Thus, it becomes evident that no matter how noble the basic intention of religion is, its misinterpretation by communal leaders can make it a tool for violence. Again, if one considers the bloodshed and violence that the citizens of Israel and Palestine are experiencing today, it transpires that the segregation of people based on their religion is one root cause for the prevalence of violence in these countries. The horror of the Nazi Holocaust that wiped out the Jewish community is yet another example where blind religious notions have entailed violence. However, here it becomes relevant that the teachings of no religion contain an assertion that believers of other cults need to be exterminated. Thus, one cannot lay the whole blame on religion because there are people from the same community that condemn such violence. Thus, it comes to fore that rather than religion, the misinterpretation of certain aspects of religion by people with vested interest deserves the blame for violence. In this context, Quran 9:5 exhorts its followers to “Fight and kill the disbelievers wherever you find them, take them captive, harass them, lie in wait and ambush them using every stratagem of war.” Here, the concept of “believer” can be interpreted in two ways: an atheist without any affiliation to socially-accepted theological beliefs or a person who does not embrace the Islamic religion. However, it becomes relevant that at the time when Quran was written, the intention was not refer to other religions but to instill in people the faith in God Almighty so as to imbibe in them a sense of discipline. Unfortunately, a section of the believers in Islam has misinterpreted the meaning of the word “disbeliever” to refer to a non-Islamic person. Thus, they have begun to harbor hatred for people from other religious faiths and embarked on missions like “Jihad” or the so called “Holy War” on the blind belief that by indulging in violent activities against the disbelievers they are cleansing the world of the dirt that Allah wants to be removed from the face of the Earth. They further entertain such notions that those who participate in a holy war will receive the blessings of God and many luxuries will await them in heaven. This is the obvious reason why terrorist groups are in a position to easily gain access to the services of willing suicide bombers. Religion has come into existence as a force to discipline humans who have been going wayward, with no sense of morals. As civilized behavior slowly began to emerge as a necessity for peaceful cohabitation of humans, the leaders have felt the need of spirituality for guiding people on the right path and honoring one another. This is the sole reason for the evolution of religion as a social norm. Another significant aspect to be considered in human history is that wars have been waged over reasons other than religion and, therefore, it transpires that a secular outlook will not ensure a world free of violence. Thus, religion cannot be blamed as the reason for violence. However, misconceived notions about religion by some believers of a certain cult can result in the killing of innocents in the name of religion, as has been seen in many instances across the world. Those who resort to violence for honoring their religious principles do not realize that they are making a false claim and defeating the very purpose for which religions have come into being. Many a times, people have been misled as a result of the misinterpretation of the holy texts. This appears to be the most plausible reason for the prevalence of conflicts and resultant violence that happen in the name of God or religion. Works Cited Hector, Avalos. Fighting Words: The Origins of Religious Violence. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books. 2005. Print. London Bombers Staged ‘Dummy Run’. BBC News. 2005. Web. 20 Sep. 2012. Mark, Juergensmeyer. Terror in the Mind of God: The Global Rise of Religious Violence. 3rd Edn. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. 2003. Print. Motives for 9/11 Terrorist Attacks. Representative Press. 2003. Web. 20 Sep. 2012. Quinn, Joe. London Bombings – The Facts Speak for Themselves. Sott.net. 2010. Web. 20 Sep. 2012. < http://www.sott.net/articles/show/124587-London-Bombings-The-Facts-Speak-For-Themselves > Raman, B. Mumbai 2611: A Day of Infamy. Frankfort, IL: The Lancer International Inc. 2009. Print. Read More