Patterns Legitimizing Political Violence in Transcultural Perspectives: Islamic and Christian Traditions and Legacies

Bettina Koch

Published by De Gruyter 2015

Patterns Legitimizing Political Violence in Transcultural Perspectives

Islamic and Christian Traditions and Legacies

Bettina Koch

Volume 1 in the series Judaism, Christianity, and Islam – Tension, Transmission, Transformation

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781614513940

Overview
Contents

About this book

This volume explores theoretical discourses in which religion is used to legitimize political violence. It examines the ways in which Christianity and Islam are utilized for political ends, in particular how violence is used (or abused) as an expedient to justify political action. This research focuses on premodern as well as contemporary discourses in the Middle East and Latin America, identifying patterns frequently used to justify the deployment of violence in both hegemonic and anti-hegemonic discourses. In addition, it explores how premodern arguments and authorities are utilized and transformed in order to legitimize contemporary violence as well as the ways in which the use of religion as a means to justify violence alters the nature of conflicts that are not otherwise explicitly religious. It argues that most past and present conflicts, even if the discourses about them are conducted in religious terms, have origins other than religion and/or blend religion with other causes, namely socio-economic and political injustice and inequality. Understanding the use and abuse of religion to justify violence is a prerequisite to discerning the nature of a conflict and might thus contribute to conflict resolution.

Author / Editor information

Bettina Koch, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	I
Acknowledgments Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	V
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	VII
1. Introduction: Legitimacy, Religion, and Violence Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
2. Medieval Foundations Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	23
3. Religion and Violence in Twentieth Century Islam and Christianity Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	114
4. Insights and Implications: Duties, Rights, and Legitimizing Violence Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	206
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	225
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	248

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: De Gruyter
Audience: Academics, Libraries, Institutes
Pages
- Front matter: 8
- Main content: 253
Keywords: Conflict; violence; legitimacy; religion

eBook

Published: May 19, 2015
ISBN: 9781614513940

Hardcover

Published: May 19, 2015
ISBN: 9781614515661

Paperback

Published: June 20, 2016
ISBN: 9781614515777