Fighting Words: The Origins of Religious ViolencePrometheus Books, 2005 - 444 من الصفحات Is religion inherently violent? If not, what provokes violence in the name of religion? Do we mischaracterize religion by focusing too much on its violent side? In this intriguing, original study of religious violence, Prof. Hector Avalos offers a new theory for the role of religion in violent conflicts. Starting with the premise that most violence is the result of real or perceived scarce resources, Avalos persuasively argues that religion creates new scarcities on the basis of unverifiable or illusory criteria. Through a careful analysis of the fundamental texts of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, Dr. Avalos explains how four "scarce" resources have figured repeatedly in creating religious violence: sacred space (churches, temples, holy cities); the creation of holy scriptures (exclusive revelations); group privilege (chosen people, the predestined select few); and salvation (only some are saved). Thus, Avalos shows, religious violence is often the most unnecessary violence of all since the scarce resources over which religious conflicts ensue are not actually scarce or need not be scarce. Comparing violence in religious and nonreligious contexts, Avalos makes the compelling argument that if we condemn violence caused by scarce resources as morally objectionable, then we must consider even more objectionable violence provoked by alleged scarcities that cannot be proven to exist. Moreover, he shows how many modern academic biblical scholars and scholars of religion maintain the value of sacred texts despite their violence. This serious philosophical examination of the roots of religious violence adds much to our understanding of a perennial source of widespread human suffering. |
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الصفحة 48
... peace studies was emerging . Such studies , exemplified by , among others , Louis Bara's The Science of Peace ( La science de la paix , 1872 ) , sought to place peace on a scientific footing.50 The renowned anarchist philosopher Pierre ...
... peace studies was emerging . Such studies , exemplified by , among others , Louis Bara's The Science of Peace ( La science de la paix , 1872 ) , sought to place peace on a scientific footing.50 The renowned anarchist philosopher Pierre ...
الصفحة 169
... peace is not in itself the opposite of war . " 46 Pedersen could be echoing Clausewitz's putative view that " peace is continuation of struggle only by other means . " 47 In fact , it can be shown that both the etymology and the use of ...
... peace is not in itself the opposite of war . " 46 Pedersen could be echoing Clausewitz's putative view that " peace is continuation of struggle only by other means . " 47 In fact , it can be shown that both the etymology and the use of ...
الصفحة 170
... peace . If it accepts your terms of peace and surrenders to you , then all the people in it shall serve you at forced labor . ( Deut . 20 : 10–11 ) The terms of " peace " are clearly Israel's terms for peace , and the narrative makes ...
... peace . If it accepts your terms of peace and surrenders to you , then all the people in it shall serve you at forced labor . ( Deut . 20 : 10–11 ) The terms of " peace " are clearly Israel's terms for peace , and the narrative makes ...
المحتوى
Abbreviations | 11 |
PAST EXPLANATIONS OF VIOLENCE | 37 |
Modern Theories of Violence | 53 |
حقوق النشر | |
19 من الأقسام الأخرى غير ظاهرة
طبعات أخرى - عرض جميع المقتطفات
عبارات ومصطلحات مألوفة
actually ancient anti-Judaism argue argument becomes believe biblical called Cambridge cause century Christian Church claim clear course created critical Crusades Culture David death discussion early especially essential example exist explain fact fight force Hebrew Bible Hitler Holy human Ibid idea important interpretation Islam Israel Jerusalem Jesus Jewish Jews jihad John Judaism killing king land least live LORD means Mein Kampf moral Muhammad Muslim nature Nazi notes original peace person political privileging problem provides Qur'an reason recent refers regard religion religious religious violence René Girard represents response result sacred space salvation says scarce resource scholars scriptures secular seems seen simply social society sources speak specific temple Testament theory thought tion traditions trans translation University Press verifiable violence Yahweh York