Reddit reviews Terror in the Mind of God: The Global Rise of Religious Violence (Comparative Studies in Religion and Society)

Just wanted to restate my case based on all of the PM's I've been getting from people saying I hate America, love terrorists, etc. I am agnostic and did not grow up in a religious household. I just think that if you look at events leading up to most wars you will find that religion was not as responsible for violence as other factors. Most of what I wrote here was a very, very, very crudely summarized version of what much smarter people have said. Most of the facts I stated came from this book for those of you who are interested. Also, I don't hate America, I don't think suicide bombers are saints, and I don't hate atheists. I think that answers all of the questions raised by the PM's. Hope I didn't piss too many people off with this one.

It's been about 5-6 years since I last studied religious extremism and terrorism, so I'm not the most qualified to answer this question, but I can recommend Terror in the Mind of God by Mark Juergensmeyer. He does a good job of getting into some of the causes, as well as the mindset of those committing the acts of religious extremism and terrorism and their supporters.

On the topic of the correlation between religion and violence I would recommend http://www.amazon.com/Terror-Mind-God-Religious-Comparative/dp/0520240111 (this one is in many ways better, but in Norwegian: http://www.adlibris.com/no/product.aspx?isbn=8203293220&gclid=CP30lPjT2L0CFeEGcwoduDoAnw ).

On stoning and Islam:

>In the Kuwaiti Encyclopedia of Islamic Jurisprudence, we read the following:
>Ibn Qudamah wrote: “Muslim jurists are unanimous on the fact stoning to death is a specified punishment for married adulterer and adulteress. The punishment is recorded in number of traditions and the practice of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) stands as an authentic source supporting it. This is the view held by all Companions, Successors and other Muslim scholars with the exception of Kharijites.”

>Al-Bahuty said: “The authentic practice of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) supports stoning to death as a punishment specified for adultery. In addition, the verse commanding this punishment was revealed in the Qur’an. Later, it was verbally abrogated but its ruling is still binding. Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “Almighty Allah sent Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) with the truth and revealed unto Him the Qur’an. Among the revelation (brought by him) was the verse stipulating that married adulterer and adulteress should be stoned to death. We read, comprehended and understood it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) acted in accordance with that and so did all of us. I fear, by the passage of time, that some people will say: ‘We do not find this verse in the Qur’an’, and thus they go astray abandoning an obligation given to them by Allah. Stoning to death is a Divine obligation and punishment specified for any married adulterer or adulteress once there is four witnesses or the confession of the accused.”<br /> <br /> <br /> &amp;gt;In another narration,Umar added: “By the One in Whose hands is my soul, had it not been that people would say: ‘Umar added to the Book of Allah, I would have reinserted it. It (the verse) read: “A married man and woman, if they commit adultery, stone them to death. This is a punishment from Allah. Allah is Almighty and Wise.”<br /> <br /> &amp;gt;Finally, we would like to note that there are many incidents in the Sunnah and the life of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in which the Prophet stoned the married adulterer and adulteress to death. This happened in the case of Maiz and the Ghamidi woman. All this makes it clear that the punishment is proven and authentic and is not debatable.

(http://web.archive.org/web/20100616223242/http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503545902)

Furthermore:
>When asked about the death penalty for those who leave the Muslim religion, at least three-quarters of Muslims in Jordan (86%), Egypt (84%) and Pakistan (76%) say they would favor making it the law; in Nigeria, 51% of Muslims favor and 46% oppose it. In contrast, Muslims in Lebanon, Turkey and Indonesia largely reject the notion that harsh punishments should be the law in their countries.

http://web.archive.org/web/20120701175526/http://www.pewglobal.org/2010/12/02/muslims-around-the-world-divided-on-hamas-and-hezbollah

I think we can safely say that ignoring the ties between stoning and islam as a religion is rather unfounded.

I can, and did. I'm just as anti-Muslim as I am anti-Christian, anti-Hindu, and anti-every other religion. It's all a cancer on the human mind, and I have no tolerance for it at all.

But hey, you can't be assed to even think, so I'll honor your request.

Here's a book exclusively about religious violence of all kinds. http://www.amazon.com/Terror-Mind-God-Religious-Comparative/dp/0520240111 Check the body counts for the various attacks talked about.

Here's an article about how violence against women is accepted as commonplace in many islamic cultures. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00737-003-0170-x#page-1

Here's a book about the Taliban, "the world's most
extreme and radical Islamic organization." http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=dld2wJ2Z__4C&oi=fnd&pg=PP2&dq=taliban&ots=j-tsOwyWYM&sig=X94BOPMiFDfoQ3ppepr4MfTGRnU#v=onepage&q=taliban&f=false

Here's a journal article from 2+ years before 9/11 talking about how the Taliban is an example of Islamic terrorism that is spreading across the eastern hemisphere. http://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?collection=journals&handle=hein.journals/fora78&div=97&id=&page=

Please show me data how in the 21st century there are Christian terrorist organizations waging a global jihad against non-Christians.

Throw in Terror in the Mind of God which is a broader study of religious terrorism in general.

This does not come as a surprise one bit.
I recommend: Terror in the Mind of God
http://www.amazon.com/Terror-Mind-God-Religious-Comparative/dp/0520240111

You're welcome

It's all perception, I would suggest reading the book "Terror in the Mind of God" It details how all major religions from Christianity, Islam, Judaism and even Buddhism have had extremist elements.

It really is the people and not the religions that are becoming fanatic, the religion is only the vehicle.