Religion and Violence: A History of Entanglement

Abstract

Today we live in a world that is perceived as increasingly violent. Within the maelstrom of violence in the modern era, religion also has its place. Indeed it is difficult to contradict this image of preponderant violence when it appears that so many societies are now characterised as places where the population is engaged in an atavistic and hateful embrace of the other. This hateful embrace often results in countless deaths.1 When violence becomes a way of life, or rather a means of maintaining an existence – whether as an individual, a community or as a nation – the process of politics along with the economy, culture and society is altered. Politics as a power struggle becomes infused with negativity and fear. There is trepidation at the prospect that violence can and probably even will disrupt the dialogue that takes place within the political arena and undermine its value. The promise of an end to conflict inherent in the meta-narrative of the New World Order has failed to materialise.