NCJ Number
190729
Journal
Studies in Conflict and Terrorism Volume: 24 Issue: 5 Dated: September/October 2001 Pages: 361-376
Date Published
2001
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the increase in the number of groups claiming religious beliefs as a source of legitimacy for their terrorist actions.
Abstract
One of the significant changes in the field of terrorism over the past 20 years has been the increase in terrorism in the name of religion. The fear about a potential threat by fringe religious groups became more acute with the prospect of the year 2000 and concerns that groups holding apocalyptic beliefs might stage spectacular actions. It is important to note that many cases of religious violence have nothing to do with terrorism per se. Few cults qualify as terrorist organizations according to the generally accepted definitions of that word, despite the fact that most approaches also include groups without political goals. When dealing with the issue of cults, it is necessary to show discernment and to differentiate carefully, especially by avoiding unfair generalizations. Radical religious groups of the far right are supportive and sympathetic to the fact that people might use violence. Religious groups unconnected to any mainline religious tradition are unlikely to get state sponsorship for launching terrorist activities. Staging a spectacular action allows a small group to attract the attention of the world and may to some extent be intended to reach that goal. While opposition from the outside can reinforce tendencies in a group toward violent reactions, internal dissent and protest (or other developments inside the group) seem in many cases to have triggered the turn toward violence. A conflict between a religious group and the surrounding society may also contribute to violence but it is the perception of the assault by the group that is important. Apocalyptic thinking creates an atmosphere conducive to the legitimatization of violence and, in some cases, terrorist actions. When religious beliefs are used for justifying violence, violent actions tend to become endowed with cosmic dimensions, and there is nothing left to restrain them. There is not a single factor that seems sufficient for identifying a tendency of a group toward violence. 54 notes