Language:
English
Year of publication:
1990
Titel der Quelle:
Terrorism and Political Violence
Angaben zur Quelle:
2,3 (1990) 351-379
Keywords:
Islam Theology
;
Islam Relations
;
Judaism
;
Christianity and other religions Judaism
;
Israel Social conditions
Abstract:
Analyzes the religious element in genocide, its legitimation in the sacred texts of the major monotheistic religions, and the significance of those texts in modern-day religious fundamentalism. Regarding Judaism, discusses the biblical injunction to destroy the seven nations inhabiting the Land of Israel. In modern-day Israel, sacred texts are sometimes used to justify violence against Palestinians on the part of Jewish fundamentalists. Regarding Islam, discusses the threat of "jihad" (holy war) against non-Islamic groups. Modern Islamic antisemitism dates from the 19th century, and is a result of the teachings of the Christian Arab minorities. Antisemitism is now an essential part of Islamic fundamentalism. Although Christian doctrine does not justify genocide, anti-Judaic teachings and negative stereotypes of the Jews inculcated hatred, which became a warrant for centuries of persecution, culminating in the Holocaust. Concludes, however, that the role of sacred texts in genocidal conflict is variable and indeterminate, due to the complexity of the societal context.
Note:
Appeared also in "Confronting Genocide" (2009) 3-33.
URL:
Locate this publication in Israeli libraries
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