Generally speaking, is religion the prime culprit behind today's terrorism, or are bad politics to be blamed

Answer 1

International politics are the catalyst but religion is the reason people are willing to martyr themselves - actually believing they'll be rewarded with paradise for murdering innocent people. To give you an idea of the type of mentality we're talking about - one of the failed bombers arrested in the UK recently (their bombs failed to detonate) turned his backpack towards a pregnant woman before attempting to set it off.

I was just thinking though, religion might be a reason why its ok to send people off to war - if you're born again you can say don't worry about them dying - they'll go to heaven. It makes me feel kind of sick.

Answer 2

Even though I am a non-believer, I think it's simplistic to blame religion in general for violence. That's not to say it can't be used that way, but that we should be a little more discerning as to what causes what - if only because you should start with a theory that corresponds to reality if you want to deal WITH reality.

We all know religious people that wouldn't hurt a fly - some of them literally would NOT hurt a fly. We also know about people who share my non-religious world-view but have no qualms massacring their "enemies." And obviously you can turn all this around - I abhor violence and the minister down the road believes in carpet bombing.

The culprits are sets of beliefs that make it possible to motivate people into seeing others as not-quite human, or "evil," or as a mortal danger to something we hold so dear we must defend it by lethal force. And these dogmas may be religious or not.

That being said, there is no question that certain ideologies are better fitted to hostilities than others. I think the chances of an a Quaker terrorist campaign are slim. And even though some Buddhists have participated in a questionable manner in Sri Lanka, I'm not placing large wagers on an international bombing campaign in the name of the Buddha. But the "White Christian Army of God," and the "Allah Brigade for the World Caliphate" sound a lot less pacifist. And of course we all remember the atheists in the "Red Brigades" blowing up things and otherwise imitating the Catholic Mafia in Italy.

Summary: Yes, it is politics, opportunistically feeding off of gross ignorance, and often enough invoking some ever-loving god. (Irony: Stalin asked the Russian church to get behind the war effort against the Nazis.)

Answer 3

Politicians are using extreme religionists for their purposes. Its always been that way. Rulers and clergy together in war against the people. Basis for war: Deception. Why deceive? Nobody in their right mind would go along with their hideous plans otherwise.

Where do the extreme religionists come from? They come from a relatively lukewarm crowd who get whipped into a frenzy by the media. So they aren't really extreme religionists until they get a good working over by the media. Before that they are only potential.

Its the same crowd manipulating both sides all the time.

Answer 4

I would have to say that the root cause is two fold; money and power; all of the players involved want it. Politicians from all countries want it badly and the Muslim theocracy are twisting Islam into something that they used to control their ignorant followers. It's complicated but I think that if all of the people of the world got together and hanged everybody that was a religious leader, a business leader or held an office above dog catcher (yes, cops included) we could start over with a healthier world.

OK, back to our money grubbing reality.

Answer 5

I would say an extremely dangerous religion called Islam is to blame for about 90% of the wars and terrorism going on. If a muslim takes his/her Quran seriously, then they have no choice but to murder us infidels. That is why we need to wake up and vote the spineless- weak on defense Democrats right back out of office. Otherwise, we will be seeing another 9/11 in no time.

Answer 6

They have called us the great satan, etc.
I read one of their Newspapers YEARS ago, from those guys with the Suits standing on the corners handing them out. One Article said that if their Leader Told the ones who were Americans(supposedly) living here legally to Attack us, they Would.
Moslems I think they were.
How they got into this Country I will never figure out myself.
To become an American just to wait around for the word to Attack.
I am not that Stupid either, those People in the Government has Gotta to know whats going on.
Ditto..................

Answer 7

The problem is not religion or politics. The problem is people and their selfish behavior. People do not want to take responsibility for their own actions or for the way their society has turned out, even though they are directly responsible for the way they are living. Let us take your handle, for instance---"Loathe Thy Neighbor". What an ungodly and unchristian attitude to display to the world. It says everything about you, that you hate people and really have no concern for yourself. If you cannot love your neighbor, then you cannot love yourself. Start with yourself before worrying about the rest of the world.

Answer 8

It's unfortunatley a Lethal combination of both.

a dangerous form of Islam combined with other political social factors,

it's interesting to note that Many terrorists become so in the WESTERN world, the second generation of Arab Muslims.

Many terrorists are British nationals, French Nationals, German Nationals, etc .

It would seem that for many, Fundamentalist Islam doesn't always mesh well with Western Culture.

Answer 9

the international replaced into a similar after 9-11, terrorist have been attacking American in the previous that. basically the US politics replaced, and distant places rules. u.s. is now being your with us or against us mentality which is going to get them in very lots hassle which it already has. All 3 bypass hand in hand and terrorism/faith/government is all in a similar. faith replaced into created to regulate the individuals for a central authority, terrorism replaced into created to strike concern into warring factions to lead them to positioned up. as long as you have a central authority you have the two faith and terrorism. on each and every occasion the international supplies up and evolves out of a governmental society to a utopia the place human beings seem after them selves than you will continuously have what comes alongside with governments it incredibly is faith/terrorism.

Answer 10

Yes!

Historically, religion has played huge parts in World War II, Iraq War, The Crusades, the list goes on.

Religion causes havoc, destruction, sexism, anti-semitism, homophobia, hatred, murder, rape, and bigotry throughout the world.