Contribution to Book
Girard and the Myth of Religious Violence
Does Religion Cause Violence?: Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Violence and Religion in the Modern World
(2017)
Abstract
One of the most pressing issues of our time is the outbreak of extremist violence and terrorism, done in the name of religion. This volume critically analyses the link made between religion and violence in contemporary theory and proposes that 'religion' does not have a special relation to violence in opposition to culture, ideology or nationalism. Rather, religion and violence must be understood with relation to fundamental anthropological and philosophical categories such as culture, desire, disaster and rivalry.
Does Religion Cause Violence? explores contemporary instances of religious violence, such as Islamist terrorism and radicalization in its various political, economic, religious, military and technological dimensions, as well as the legitimacy and efficacy of modern cultural mechanisms to contain violence, such as nuclear deterrence. Including perspectives from experts in theology, philosophy, terrorism studies, and Islamic studies, this volume brings together the insights of René Girard, the premier theorist of violence in the 20th century, with the latest scholarship on religion and violence, particularly exploring the nature of extremist violence.
Disciplines
Publication Date
December 28, 2017
Editor
Scott Cowdell, Chris Fleming, Joel Hodge, Carly Osborn
Publisher
Bloomsbury Academic
Series
Violence, Desire, and the Sacred
ISBN
9781501333859
Citation Information
William T. Cavanaugh. "Girard and the Myth of Religious Violence" 1stNew YorkDoes Religion Cause Violence?: Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Violence and Religion in the Modern World (2017) p. 7 - 24 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/william_cavanaugh/237/