Religious Religious ExtremismExtremismBy Alex HarrisBy Alex Harris

Period 4Period 4

Historical BackgroundHistorical Background

For as long as religion has existed, For as long as religion has existed, there have been those who have there have been those who have misinterpreted the normally pacifistic misinterpreted the normally pacifistic ideals, and used them as either ideals, and used them as either motivation or justification of heinous motivation or justification of heinous acts of violence. From the earliest acts of violence. From the earliest crusades, to the Spanish Inquisition, crusades, to the Spanish Inquisition, to 9-11, all have been the result of to 9-11, all have been the result of individuals distorting the ideology that individuals distorting the ideology that billions follow without any such billions follow without any such

incidents.incidents. However, the first real radical However, the first real radical

movement associated with religion movement associated with religion was the crusades. This was fully was the crusades. This was fully supported by the Roman Catholic supported by the Roman Catholic Church and lasted from the 11th Church and lasted from the 11th

century to the 13th centurycentury to the 13th century

Current StatusCurrent Status

In October of 2005 protests began, In October of 2005 protests began, mainly amongst gangs consisting of mainly amongst gangs consisting of young Muslims, due to the young Muslims, due to the controversy over whether or not the controversy over whether or not the police were unfairly targeting Muslims. police were unfairly targeting Muslims. The violence continued for over two The violence continued for over two weeks with rampant destruction of weeks with rampant destruction of property.property.

More recently an eruption of sorts More recently an eruption of sorts transpired when the Muslims got a transpired when the Muslims got a hold of some inflammatory cartoons hold of some inflammatory cartoons drawn for a Danish newspaper drawn for a Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten. The cartoons Jyllands-Posten. The cartoons sparked massive riots in Islamic sparked massive riots in Islamic centers all over the globe. As of centers all over the globe. As of March 2, 2006, at least 139 people March 2, 2006, at least 139 people have been killed in the protests. have been killed in the protests. Deaths have been mainly in Nigeria, Deaths have been mainly in Nigeria,

Libya, Pakistan and AfghanistanLibya, Pakistan and Afghanistan..

Reasons for the ProblemReasons for the Problem

The crux of the matter is the battle The crux of the matter is the battle over the definition of the term “jihad”. over the definition of the term “jihad”. Some political camps define jihad as Some political camps define jihad as meaning “holy war”, whilst other meaning “holy war”, whilst other believe the term means “inner believe the term means “inner struggle”. Those who see jihad as struggle”. Those who see jihad as meaning holy war are the aggressors meaning holy war are the aggressors and attempt to stamp out any and attempt to stamp out any opposition to Islam.opposition to Islam.

America is often portrayed as the bully America is often portrayed as the bully in relations between countries, and in relations between countries, and the fact that Christianity is the most the fact that Christianity is the most popular religion only servers to further popular religion only servers to further the negative view that many Muslims the negative view that many Muslims already hold towards Christianity. already hold towards Christianity. One might say that the Muslims are One might say that the Muslims are paranoid of America and the Western paranoid of America and the Western world because they fear the possibility world because they fear the possibility of a second crusade.of a second crusade.

Previous Attempts to Solve Religious Previous Attempts to Solve Religious

ExtremismExtremism Much violence has stemmed from the Much violence has stemmed from the

conflict between the Israelis and the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians over supposed holy Palestinians over supposed holy ground in Jerusalem. For over 40 ground in Jerusalem. For over 40 years there has been a constant years there has been a constant

struggle over propertiesstruggle over properties. . There have been innumerable There have been innumerable

conferences on the issue, such conferences on the issue, such as the Oslo Accords and the as the Oslo Accords and the Madrid Conference of 1991 Madrid Conference of 1991

Israel did make an important step Israel did make an important step in securing its neighborhood in securing its neighborhood security in 1994 with the Israel-security in 1994 with the Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace Jordan Treaty of Peace

Realistic/ logical prediction of the Realistic/ logical prediction of the

ultimate outcomeultimate outcome

Religious extremism as it plays out today will eventually Religious extremism as it plays out today will eventually result in a full-scale war between Islamic countries and result in a full-scale war between Islamic countries and the rest of the world. the rest of the world.

The Muslim world has been suffering from an inferiority The Muslim world has been suffering from an inferiority complex for too long and those who have been complex for too long and those who have been suppressed, (or at least feel suppressed); often strike suppressed, (or at least feel suppressed); often strike back with a ferocity that catches the defendant off-back with a ferocity that catches the defendant off-guard. guard.

This attack would surely surpass all the attacks that This attack would surely surpass all the attacks that have preceded it. have preceded it.

Realistic Solution of the prob/ Realistic Solution of the prob/

Implementation planImplementation plan Muslims resent two things about Muslims resent two things about

America, our culture and our America, our culture and our religion. Whilst cultural issues religion. Whilst cultural issues may never be resolved, I believe may never be resolved, I believe the religious ones can. Both the religious ones can. Both Islam and Christianity are Islam and Christianity are religions that stress the religions that stress the importance of peace and the importance of peace and the belief in one god. belief in one god.

Muslims who either live in the Muslims who either live in the United States or are appalled at United States or are appalled at the acts of violence being the acts of violence being committed by the radicals must committed by the radicals must stand up and take back control of stand up and take back control of their religion. They can be the their religion. They can be the ones who demonstrate all the ones who demonstrate all the positives of a western society positives of a western society and attempt to make peace. and attempt to make peace.