Volume 6, Issue 10, October – 2021 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology

ISSN No:-2456-2165

Religious Terrorism
Floralyn L. Doquilla
University of the Cordilleras
Legarda Road, Baguio City

Abstract:-The main purpose of this study is to know the Religion can be a strong tool for mobilizing and
religious-political motivational ideologies that link to uniting people, and it has been exploited and abused in this
terrorism. This further describes how religious capacity throughout history. Religious combativeness, on
ideologies influence the believer to do terroristic acts. the other hand, does not rise in a vacuum. Extremist
religious practices have arisen in response to historical
This study made use of a Descriptive Analysis in circumstances, especially when people have felt threatened.
determining the different religious-political ideologies (Coady, 2019)
concerning terrorism. Descriptive Analysis provides
detailed information since the data gathered is both When a segment of a community rejects the presence
qualitative and quantitative and therefore gives a holistic or influence of a challenge to its sense of self, religious
understanding of research. extremism emerges. Extremists regard a violent or
threatening response as religiously mandated, whether the
Based on the findings, there are three (3) identified encounter is cultural, political, economic, or a combination
major religious motivational ideologies that link to of these. (Juergensmeyer, 2018)
terrorism: To practice freely their religion, Conflicting
Ideologies, and Akin Groups – Differing Ideologies. Not only between different religions, but even inside
one, religious conflicts can arise. Religious extremists may
I. INTRODUCTION criticize a government's policies in a variety of ways,
claiming that a purer, tighter form of religion would address
Religion according to religious crusaders can save you many issues.
from the abyss. It can direct a person to the right path that
life might bring. However, what if a religion (ideology) Other political disputes have erupted as a result of
brings terror to the world? religious divisions. Lebanon is a case in point, where groups
compete for political influence along religious lines, owing
Although religion is rarely a single, simple cause of to French colonial control.
terrorist action, religious underpinnings are frequently
prominent in belief systems linked to terrorism. Since before Religion can be an efficient means to channel dissent
the time of the Crusades, and even before the Bible, religion to an external threat or a repressive state, and it can even be
and violence have had a symbiotic relationship. Terrorism the only political outlet if other opposition groups have been
with a religious motivation, rationale, organization, or suppressed. A religiously structured opposition movement
worldview is referred to as religious terrorism. The gains several advantages right away: a familiar language in
relationship between terrorism and terrorist organizations' which to articulate arguments, as well as religious
and actors' religious beliefs has been the topic of immense institutions such as mosques, churches, synagogues, or
scholarly research. ([Link]) religious schools, which provide a handy network for
organizing and recruiting. (Robespierre, 2018)
Religious motives have been the reason for a variety of
terrorist actions throughout history, yet it is crucial to note Behind the terror acts of some religious crusaders are
that religions do not generate terrorism. Religious terrorists mostly hidden religious-political motivations. They tend to
may employ terrorism to chastise "ungodly" behavior in take sympathy from other members by showing the
society or to retaliate for perceived attacks on their beliefs. constructive way to let them believe that their acts are legal
([Link] and it conforms to the ideology and teachings of their
religion.
The centrality of religion has been a terrorist motivator
throughout history, according to David C. Rapoport. There are a lot of religious-political motivations that
Furthermore, he claims that until the onset of modern will lead to terrorism.
terrorism, religion was the only viable intellectual support
for terrorist attacks. II. OBJECTIVE

It is not always the case that one religion attacks This research study aims to know the various religious
another in religious terrorism. Terrorist attacks have been political motives and ideologies that will lead a religious
perpetrated throughout history as a result of religious group tend to terroristic acts.
divisions, such as between Protestants and Catholics or Shia
and Sunni Muslims. (Coady, 2019)

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Volume 6, Issue 10, October – 2021 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
Terrorism. It is the act that might bring fear and terror
III. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM brought about by some negative religious ideologies.
Political motive. synagogues This is the desire for an act of
This study aims to describe religious terrorism, violence to be carried out in the interests of a specific
specifically is sought to identify the following problem: government or political party if it is politically motivated.
1. What are the religious motivational ideologies that link Religious terrorism. It is an act in which the crusaders
to terrorism? believe to be the answer of their ideologies.

IV. DEFINITION OF TERMS V. SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS

Religion. The important aspects of life that some of its This study is delimited on the different religious
members have different interpretation towards the beliefs political motivational ideologies that link to terrorism.
and teachings that might influence a group to do act of
terrorism.

 Research Paradigm group's alleged terroristic attack sparked more open revolt
The research paradigm shows the various religious and insurgency, but the hoped-for apocalypse did not occur,
sects or faith with different beliefs based on their religious and the Romans were able to hold out in the end.
teachings where some of which used it for their own
purposes, ambitions and hidden agenda to gain power  Conflicting Ideologies
through political motives and use violence through terrorism Religious terrorists frequently assume that they are the
to pursue their selfish goals. "righteous remnant" among their fellow believers. Anyone
who claims to be a fellow believer but refuses to take up
VI. METHODOLOGY arms in favor of the organization is deemed an apostate-
outside of God's will, because they are the only ones willing
This study made use of a Descriptive Analysis in to actually sacrifice for what their version of God has
determining the different religious political ideologies in ordered them to do.
relation to terrorism. Descriptive Analysis provides detailed
information since that data gathered is both qualitative and Theological justification of terrorism, according to
quantitative and therefore gives holistic understanding of Bruce Hoffman, makes God the primary, if not only,
research. element of the religious terrorist, making all of the terrorist's
actions legitimate and commanded by God. The religious
VII. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION terrorist sees his or her violent acts as an attempt to restore
humanity's sinful relationship with God. This means that
This section presents the analysis of the data gathered religious terrorism is more than a random attack on innocent
about the various religious motivational ideologies that link people; it is an endeavor to sacramentally respond to God's
to terrorism. ultimate demand. It is part of a metaphorical fight against
evil, as are all acts of terrorism, but the in-group justification
Upon analysis of the data gathered, these are the is unquestionable: God has authorized the group's use of
identified religious motivational ideologies that link to violence.
terrorism:
For example, when Al-Qa'ida attacked the United
 To practice freely their religion States on September 11, 2001, killing nearly 3,000 people
Consider the conflict that erupted between the Jewish (some of whom were fellow Muslims), Bin Laden and other
Zealots and the Romans in Palestine. For the right to freely Al-Qa'ida leaders justified the attack as a way of steering the
practice their religion and the hope of the Messiah's US away from actions and policies they considered immoral
Armageddon, Jewish Zealots fought the Romans. The and contrary to God's law. Theologically, Al-interpretive

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Volume 6, Issue 10, October – 2021 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
Qa'ida's divinity supplied them with a justification for cause-of-terrorism_b_10063938.html accessed on
attacking and killing Americans. Al-Qa'ida, far from being January 27, 2017.
"crazy" or "irrational," chose a tried-and-true way to spread [5]. The Root Causes of Terrorism and Solutions.
their cosmic message. Because they were not a part of God's [Link]
cause, the people killed in the process were considered terrorismsolutions/#.WItpIrGZP1w Accessed on
guilty in AlQaeda's eyes. Even though those outside the January 27, 2017.
organization couldn't understand the basis for their acts, [6]. The economics and education of suicide bombers.
their hermeneutic commanded that they act. At this stage, [Link]
the theological framework serves as more than just cause-terrorism, Accessed on January 28, 2017.
motivation: it also serves as "evidence" that the assailants [7]. What the Real Root Cause of Terrorism: Poverty or
are "righteous," as well as a framework for comprehending Anger, Feb 19, 2025. [Link]
the past, present, and future. It allows an inconsequential the-real-root-cause-of-terrorism-poverty-or-
individual or a small group of people to play a considerably angerd9d3f53324c5#. dxm5t2vc5, accessed on January
greater, and often crucial, role in a historical turning point. 28, 2017.
(Brannan, 2019) [8]. Inequality Caused the Rise of ISIS.
[Link]
 Akin Groups – Differing Ideologies sismoney-thomas-piketty/,Accessed on January 27,
Religious Terrorists believe their attacks were 2017.
commanded and ordained by God. Some religions such as [9]. What’s The Real Cause of Terrorism: Poverty or
the Taliban, Al-Qa'ida, Hezbollah are all in Islamic Anger, [Link]
organizations, have the same religious traditions, but have cause-of-terrorism-poverty-or-anger-
different use of religion and beliefs systems. The Taliban d9d3f53324c5#.dxm5t2vc5, Accessed on January
that ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, the country was 28,2017.
being managed and controlled in accordance to the Talibans' [10]. The Causes of Terrorism: September 30, 2016)
interpretation of Islamic principles and implemented their [Link]
attributes through violence and coercion. Some analysts m, accessed on September 27, 2017.
define both Taliban and Al-Qa'ida as fundamentalist Islamic [11]. Kerry links Wave of Terrorism tin Israel to settlement
groups. However, the Taliban concentrated only on activity” Oct 14, 2015:[Link]
Afghanistan, unlike Al-Qa'ida's global vision. This example News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Kerry-to-visit-Israel-
is a true illustration that though either two or three groups amid-crisis-423892, accessed on January 27, 2017.
can be in a very similar way, they vary in terms of their
beliefs, ideology, methods, and supreme goals.

VIII. CONCLUSION

Religious terrorism is one of the most serious types of

political violence in use today, but few people understand
what it is and how it varies from other motivations for sub-
national political violence, such as extremism on the right or
left, or single-issue motivations. Some religious sects tend to
use their beliefs and different interpretations to bring
coercion and in the end, the innocents or the community
itself is in chaos. Moreover, some of them use their supreme
religious power to control the most vulnerable group that
will lead to rising opposition. In so doing, nothing will
happen but destructions, war, and terrorism.

REFERENCES

 Websites
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on the streets of the holy city.
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m-syndrome-the-madness-that-gripsforeigners-on-the-
stre/ accessed March 26, 2016.
[3]. Religiously-based civil unrest and warfare.
[Link]
accessed, May 21, 2017.
[4]. A Root Cause of Terrorism is Not Religion.
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