Preview

Difference Between Religious And Secular Terrorism

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
182 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Difference Between Religious And Secular Terrorism
When speaking about religious and secular terrorism, the main difference is not between cultural aspects and political agendas. There are many religious extremists with the same goals as you describe secular terrorists as having in your post. Religious terrorists differ by using sacred texts and historic examples to validate the often-violent acts where as secular terrorism has more developed boundaries (Rapoport, 1990, p. 107).

In recent news, we see a Mormon group in Oregon that can be described as religious extremists in their act of an armed takeover of a government building and expressing they were prepared to die if provoked (Stone, 2016). The group’s demands are purely political, but the root of their demand is religiously based.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Blood Meridian Essay

    • 1873 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Whether it be wars in the name of religion, a prayer before entering battle, or targeting Native Americans with the supposed goal of trying to enlighten them to Christianity, violence is perpetually linked to religious faith (Stout 275). This is particularly notable in America, a county which establishes itself as a super power due to economic power and the ability to triumph in a majority of it’s ever present wars (Stout 278). This topic is closely addressed in Harry S. Stout’s article, “Religion, War, and the Meaning of America,” in which Stout writes about the history of both war and Christian religion in America to show how these two entities intertwine with one another. He writes,…

    • 1873 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Terrorism has changed dramatically over time and has only recently been so bloody and violent and on a large scale. The history of terrorism had been existent since the 1970s where the French Revolutionary Government instituted systematic state terror against the population of France by killing thousands. The way terrorism was taken out has changed over the years. Changes in the tactics and techniques of terrorists have been significant, but even more, the growth in the number of causes and social contexts where terrorism is used. Over the past 20 years, terrorists have committed violent acts for alleged political or religious reasons with these terrorist organisations been spilt up into groups according to their reasoning of attack. This may include Nationalism, Religious, Anarchist, State Sponsored, Left and Right Wing…

    • 2278 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    This essay will discuss Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple. The essay will explore the potential prevention of the massacre if Jim Jones had been profiled prior to Senator Leo Ryan and his members’ arrival. The essay will discuss the mass suicide in which occurred at the People’s Temple. Jim Jones will be discussed and how he could control the minds of hundreds of people. Constitutional ramifications of profiling Jim Jones will be addressed. Alongside, the media will be discussed in there participation of the events.…

    • 1066 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Religion Vs Secularism

    • 307 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Religion is affecting Schools, courts, politics, and communities. It is influencing the way people live their life in many ways. It spreads and is introduce in many forms. For centuries, many people have found comfort in Religion. However, I believe that in terms of comfort secularism and science has more to offer because religion is viral and harmful.…

    • 307 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    One example of a radical fundamentalist groups is al-Qaeda, a group who follows Salafi jihadism, which is just one of many variations of the Salafi Islamic ideology (Keller (http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/nuh/salafi.htm)). This misinformation and ignorance of differences breeds feelings of hostility toward the entire religion of Islam (Jameson). This huge misunderstanding and its resulting prejudices are the motivation behind the conflicts that caused the misunderstanding in the first place. Knight provides a prime example of the ignorance and…

    • 1489 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    This question is the central theme of the session six. Chapter five of Religion and Politics depicted the basic element of crime theory (motive, means and opportunity) to provide a useful framework to help understand the ways that religion interacts with politics. The same context for studying a crime also works for studying religious mobilization in the political arena. Although religious mobilization is not a crime as the authors observed, this analogy is useful for understanding religious interests of the liberals, moderates, and conservatives. Before establishing the crime analogy to explain how religious interests interact with politics, the authors examined two distinctive steps by which religious interests begin the policy process. They are:…

    • 818 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The Kkks And Al-Davida

    • 1265 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Religion is, “a most important source of constructing identity in the network society and a frequent part of collective identity building.” Religious extremist terrorist regimes can begin as political parties within their nations, rise to power and adopt authoritarian militancy practices to control their states. They can use their power to “repress religious competitors and political activism on the part of some groups guarantees the mobilization of all religious groups which further increases the odds that art least some will resort to violence.” While we have seen a reduction in state support and regulation for religion in the West, this is not the case for the rest of the world. In…

    • 1265 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Monotheism, the belief in one God consists of three major religions; Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. These religions that originated from what is known today as the Arab World share the central values of charity, family, and respect for others. Throughout history, the three religions have spread across the boundaries of ethnicity and race, with followers in almost every country in the world (Corrigan et al., 2016). Monotheistic faiths are Abrahamic religions of the Middle East that emphasize and trace their origins to Abraham.…

    • 655 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Put as simply as possible, however, terrorism is the “indiscriminate killing of innocent citizens for political goals” (Hislope and Mughan 262). Terrorism is a multifaceted, complicated concept with deep roots, which is what makes it so difficult to define. Terrorism is not an ideology, but it is a “method, a technique, a tactic” that a variety of groups use to achieve their political goals (Hislope and Mughan 239). Russian anarchist Peter Kropotkin described terrorism as “‘propaganda by the deed,’” suggesting that this kind of violence is simply a method of demonstrating a point that would not otherwise be heard (239). While terrorism definitely has gained prevalence in recent years, it “is anything but new,” with general origins dating back to the biblical Zealots (Rodenbeck 1). The term “‘terrorism’” first emerged during the French Revolution amid the Reign of Terror (Hislope and Mughan 248). However, the modern understanding of terrorism first emerged in the twentieth century, as non-governmental groups attempted to combat the increasing globalization occurring throughout the…

    • 1170 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    These goals motivate leaders of terrorist groups and the people recruited by terrorist groups to perform extreme acts of violence. The motives of terrorists frequently reflect political and religious objectives. An example of this is Al-Qaeda’s goal to reshape the Muslim world by replacing secular states with a single Islamic political leadership. Terrorists use unconventional violent tactics to achieve the goals they set. They also use tactics to inspire others to perform terrorist attacks.…

    • 518 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    …[Al]though religion can play a vital role in recruiting and motivating potential future suicide bombers, the driving force is not religion but a cocktail of motivations including politics, humiliation, revenge, retaliation and altruism.…

    • 611 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    What Is Al-Qaeda?

    • 135 Words
    • 1 Page

    The definition that is closes to my chosen terrorist organization is, “the use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political or religious aims” ( ). Al-Qaeda is a group that can be classify as religious terrorism.…

    • 135 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    According to the State Departments 1993 report, the Hizballah are a strong group with approximately 5,000-10,000 radical Muslim fighters. Today negotiations are underway between Lebanese parties and Israel government to seize terrorist acts and find a peaceful resolution between both parties. In this paper I intend explain the…

    • 1096 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Religion, not being universal, can create divides between people of the same state. In this situation, violence can easily arise. In addition, there is the problems of certain terrorist groups that use religion to justify their actions of terror. Currently, the most topical terror group is the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant: a Salafi jihadist unrecognized state and militant group that follows a fundamentalist doctrine of Sunni Islam (Islamic State). ISIS ties itself to the Islam religion; however, their practices do not reflect the values laid out in the Quran. ISIS is a current threat to all countries of the world and they are known for killing dozens of people at a time and carrying out public executions, crucifixions, and other acts of violence. They are also utilizing social media to promote reactionary politics and religious fundamentalism (ISIS Fast Facts). ISIS is ties itself to the Islam religion, which cause many people to view the Islam religion as a violent and radical religion. As more radical Islamic terror groups arise, state security, skepticism, and vulnerability has as…

    • 819 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Among the most popular religions used for this kind of terrorism are Christian, Jewish, Sikh, Hindu, Buddhist, and Islamic (Steven & Gunaratna 9). The deadliest group of politico-religious terrorist are the one motivated by radical Islamic ideology, or Islamist (Steven & Gunaratna 10). Islamist, say they are motivated by God and that everything they ever do is in His name (Steven & Gunaratna 10). Anyone who opposes the group is considered and “unbeliever” and should not be alive to oppose the group (Steven & Gunaratna 10). Groups like these are most known for using martyrs to complete the plan (Steven & Gunaratna 10). Martyrdom is when an individual gives their life for the cause they believe. This deadly practice is becoming more widespread every…

    • 2063 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays