| It is indeed a shame to associate conflicts | | | | commands justice and doing good and giving to |
| with religion. Does Christianity summon | | | | relatives. And He forbids indecency and doing |
| Christian extremists to bomb abortion clinics | | | | wrong and tyranny. He warns you so that |
| in the West? Does Islam summon Muslims in | | | | hopefully you will pay heed" (Qur'an, 16:90). |
| Palestine to kill Israelis and themselves in | | | | Even though religions are essentially about |
| suicidal attacks? Does Hinduism preach kidnap | | | | building peace, they are unfortunately |
| and kill those who are against Hinduism? To | | | | sosmetimes misinterpreted and misused. When |
| most Indians and I am sure Pakistanis as well | | | | this happens it is a result of constructions |
| as also to most people of other religion will | | | | of the mind about religion and about "the |
| more than agree that such practices are wrong | | | | other". In the current global conflict |
| and must be condemned. Religions do not | | | | between religious fundamentalists and |
| contain inherent "conflict-genes", making | | | | secularists, for instance, each party |
| unsolvable conflicts an inevitable outcome of | | | | perceives and talks about the other as posing |
| their co-existence. Conflicts involving | | | | threats to their societal orders and ways of |
| religion are always the result of | | | | living. When secularists preach secular |
| misperceptions in our minds. In mid-nineties | | | | state, pluralism, and abolishment of |
| Samuel P. Huntington became widely known for | | | | Sharia-laws, fundamentalists perceive it as |
| his fright-provoking prediction of a future | | | | attacks on Islam. Secularists on the other |
| worldwide clash of civilizations. This new | | | | hand perceive religious fundamentalism as an |
| dilemma would amount to nothing less than a | | | | existential threat to their societies and |
| "re-making of the world order". The Cold War | | | | ways of life. They almost regard the secular |
| logic of states uniting with either of two | | | | society as something holy. What were once |
| ideologically opposed superpowers would be | | | | open societies have become xenophobic |
| replaced by a pattern of unity determined by | | | | entities. Many religious leaders have |
| the dominating religions. A possible outcome | | | | expressed the need for harmony and unity in |
| of this separation of the world society would | | | | the fight against terror. Ironically, the |
| be a world order derived from and determined | | | | biggest obstacle seems to be the political |
| by religious differences. Looking at the | | | | leaders who are fully occupied with |
| current international scene one could be | | | | demonizing "axis's of evil" and "opponents of |
| tempted to conclude that actual happenings | | | | freedom". There is need for clarification of |
| are giving real life to Huntington's | | | | religion and its relationship to conflict. |
| scenario. Western political elites | | | | Firstly, it must be appreciated that it is |
| especially are applying an approach, | | | | not religion as such but specific |
| portraying Islam as the root cause of terror. | | | | fundamentalist constructions of religion that |
| This is dangerous. It threatens to demonize | | | | produces conflict like India Pakistan. |
| followers of a specific religion thereby | | | | Secondly, religious fundamentalism itself |
| running the risk of producing endless | | | | tends to transform religion into ideology. |
| counter-demonizations adding to a security | | | | This is an assault on religion that can only |
| dilemma of Cold War type where every step | | | | be done well through re-mystification. |
| taken by one part is perceived as a threat by | | | | Religious conflicts are a product of |
| the other who then has to retaliate… | | | | misperception in our minds. Let us not create |
| Essentially, the approach is also an assault | | | | another cold war conflict based on them. No |
| on the religion Islam itself. It implies that | | | | religion legitimizes conflict! His |
| all Muslims are extremists, which is as | | | | Excellency, Mohamed Khatami, Presedent of |
| inaccurate as saying that the ultra rightwing | | | | Iran, once complained in an inter-religious |
| moral majority in USA fairly represents | | | | forum: "Dialogue amongst civilizations, |
| Christianity. One of many shortcomings in the | | | | particularly dialogue between Islam and |
| world of today is judging Islam by the | | | | Christianity is vital, essential and |
| conduct of a minority of its people. If a | | | | inevitable. Today, people speak of the global |
| religion is to be judged on its role in | | | | village. However, the problem is that |
| conflict this should logically be done on the | | | | residents of this global village are unable |
| basis of its sources, not on the basis of | | | | to understand each other. Isn't it |
| extreme acts of a tiny minority of its | | | | catastrophic that people of this village are |
| self-proclaimed followers. In the case of | | | | deaf and dumb and worse than that, they have |
| Islam the sources are the Qur'an and Sunna | | | | hostile thoughts toward each other". |
| (teachings of prophet Muhammad), e.g.: "Allah | | | | |