Violence and Religion

1
Violence and Religion
2
Assessing the sources

• Are they reputable? (where published?)
• How do they engage Islamic teaching?
• Can you perceive whether the author has an
  agenda?
• Is his/her argument logical? Is it grounded?

3
Arguments

• How does original historical context affect
  interpreting the Quranic teachings today?
• What is the whole of Islamic teaching about the
  use of violence?
• What is the Islamic doctrine of jihad?
• Who is authorized to call for aggression?
• Is Islam different from other religions?

4
Islam

• 600-700s Arab societies have many wars
• Mohammad and companions fight for their survival
• Use violence themselves (against Jews)
• Islam a unifying force for Arabs
• Gain control of new regions
• Politics and religion intertwined
• But, come under European control until recently
  (colonization)

5
Judaism

• Early history tied to inheritance of a land by
  conquering (covenant promise)
• Big change Loss of political autonomy
  (Babylonian Exile)
• Big change II Rabbinic Judaism
• Today State of Israel
• Tied to horrific violence that Jews suffered in
  Holocaust (Fackenheim)

6
Christianity

• Big change becoming state religion (381 CE) of
  Roman Empire
• Crusades (1000s to 1400s)
• Spanish Inquisition
• Wars of Religion between Catholics and
  Protestants (1500s-1600s)
• Just War Tradition
• US Civil War?

7
Christian Just War Criteria

• Jus ad bellum (before going to war)
• Legitimate authority.
• Just cause self-defense, in defense of another
  nation, to protect innocents or to regain
  something wrongfully taken.
• Right intention to establish peace, not for
  gain.
• Last resort.
• Reasonable chance of success.
• Proportionality do not exceed the damage done by
  the aggression itself.
• Jus in bello (during war)
• Noncombatant immunity may never deliberately
  target civilians.
• Proportionate means restricts unnecessary use of
  force.

8
Buddhism

• Kicked Mongols out of China in 14th century
• Japan
• Samurais used Buddhist practices to enhance their
  technique
• Persecution, torture, and killing of Christians
  in late 1500s and1600s
• Today Civil war in Sri Lanka between Buddhists
  and Hindus