Terrorism and Religion

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With all religions preaching peace, it seems like a contradiction that terrorist often claim to act in the name of their Gods. Yet these mavericks, whose worldview is frequently shaped by feelings of dislocation and alienation caused by globalization, often baptize their social or political agenda by wrapping it in religious absolutism. We address listeners' questions about the relationship between religion and terrorism with a sociologist who has studied the common threads between religion and violence, and an expert on terrorism who says that religion is just one of the motivating factors.
With all religions preaching peace, it seems like a contradiction that terrorist often claim to act in the name of their Gods. Yet these mavericks, whose worldview is frequently shaped by feelings of dislocation and alienation caused by globalization, often baptize their social or political agenda by wrapping it in religious absolutism. We address listeners' questions about the relationship between religion and terrorism with a sociologist who has studied the common threads between religion and violence, and an expert on terrorism who says that religion is just one of the motivating factors.

The Rand Corporation

Terror in the Mind of God: The Global Rise of Religious Violence

Credits

Host:

Warren Olney

Producer:

Frances Anderton