Do Religions Promote Terrorism?

Here’s a thoughtful and interesting argument about the role of religion in terrorism by one of my World Religions students.

He argues that “religions do not promote terrorism, but that human beings do promote it.”

He suggested that terrorists who kill in the name of religion do not represent any religion that stresses love and compassion.  The religion of the Paris terrorists or the fundamental Buddhists in Myanmar or the Boko Haram in Nigeria  do not reflect the theology of Muhammad, or the Buddha, or Jesus.

Consequently, according to my student, it is not fair to refer to terrorists by religion — “Muslim terrorist” or “Buddhist terrorists.” By doing so, we offer legitimacy to the terrorist’s version of his religion.

A better way to refer to to terrorists, argued my student, is by nationality. It was not Muslim terrorists who attacked Paris but Belgium terrorists.