Religion And Violence Flashcards
Episode #1: Religion and Violence overview
Dr. Jason C. Bruins PhD.
North Carolina State University
Puritans and the Pequot Indians “If their soul could not be saved, then hell was their proper destination.“
Puritans saw themselves as agents of God, and this was their moral compass.
Early Christians believe they should be happy to give up their life for Christianity and become a martyr.
Until the Iranian situation (hostages) of the 70s, out of all the terrorist organizations, only two had a religious basis.
By the 1990’s this changed rapidly to nearly 1/2 (50%) of all global terror groups were religious!
Religious Terror groups have a highly volatile fuel the other forms of violence lack: belief in Gods and an afterlife held so intensely that the believers are willing to sacrifice their own lives and even our planet itself to realize their religious vision. (MN: Think 9/11.)
Today we have situations where religious identity fills the void left by a regime change. (MN: And failed governments).
Episode #2: Defining Religion and Violence
Religions of the world are always mixed up with BIOLOGY, POLITICS, CLASS, CULTURE and GEOGRAPHY.
There is no clear cut definition of religion. Especially when looking at all religions of the world. Religion is an identity as much as a practice.
Religion is:
- A tool of legitimation used by a ruling class.
- Mass Neurosis
- Collective wish fulfillment
- Organized Ignorance (MN)
Religion: “A Mode of organizing social life around particular symbols, narratives and behaviors.”
“When human ideas seem like objective reality, it is easier to internalize these values and ideas as the truth; it is much easier to keep a community of like-minded people together.”
When religious ideas clash, then violence is the first reaction.
Violence occurs when religious people feel that their world is being threatened.
If you are raised in a reality that witches and demons exist and later in life suffer a devastation that cannot be explained, then you are going to blame witches and demons to fill in the gap. This is called “Othering”.
When a person feels his identity is at risk, he will naturally turn to violence. MN: This is why you cannot discuss religion in public. It is considered rude.
Episode #3: Violence in Sacred texts
JEDI Era. 4th largest religion in England at one time. Hundreds of thousands of believers!
Some religions accept sacred texts as literal. Others accept scared texts as allegory.
Wrathful Gods
Holy wars—warfare that is divinely sanctioned.
Holy suffering—self-denial or a willingness to endure persecution.
Trinity-Hindu gods have a trinity.
Vishnu-Protector
Brahma-The Creator
Shiva-The destroyer
The Old Testament is filled with stories of battles and wars.
Episode #4: Martyrdom, Sacrifice and self Harm.
Sacrifice: Voluntary Behavioral change.
Sigmund Freud saw sacrifice as a way of identity.
Copy and paste job: Abraham’s son sacrifice similar to Ciruttontar sacrificed his son and cooks meal for Shiva. Shiva is Hindu god.
Sacrifices were wildly popular in all major civilizations. My note I think the Bible copied other countries sacrifices and wrote their version into the Bible then came to Savior Jesus.
Martyrdom to bear witness to one’s belief.
(911) muslim martyrs killed in Battle action enter paradise instantly!
911 LOOK! A shahid -one who dies or suffers because of his beliefs.
Qur’an 9.111 “ Allah hath purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of paradise: ) they fight in his cause, and slay and are slain … then rejoice in the bargain which ye have concluded: that is the achievement supreme.” (MN: Talking about dying for the cause of Allah means instant passage to paradise. Note the chapter and verse number is 911.) 20:50 marker
Heavens gate - 1995 Hale Bopp comet mass suicides. Applewhite was the leader.
They thought the Christ rode in the tail of the comet.
Episode #5: Scapegoating and Demonology
Morality tales often rely on threats and warnings. They are most effective when delivered using the vehicle of a bogeyman.
(MN: Dualism, heaven or hell ultimatums)
Othering-the cultural construction of a malevolent enemy figure.
(MN: Christians many times have demonize the Jews for killing Christ, and now they are the enemy. This explains why all the pogroms against Jews. Hitler against Jews.)
Episode #6: Understanding Witch Trials
Witch hunts were headed by Witch finders. MN: What a con job!
MALLEVS (a book on finding witches)
We are looking at the use of laws for witch hunting and witch trials. These events happened more in modern history than in ancient history. Sorcerers, then later witches, were thought to possess magic powers.
Witchcraft belief was widespread worldwide. By the 14th century people were fearful of massive Witch conjuring
and rituals that could destroy the church ergo all people will be lost and go to hell so witchcraft was heavily demonized. Conspiracy was rampant. Massive amounts of imagined plots.
The United States is obsessed with conspiracy theories. They used to think freemasons ran the country. In the early 1900s there were over 100,000 members.
England and America were in a panic that the freemasons would destroy America and rule the land. This made congress pass the “alien and sedition acts.”
In the 50s, Senator McCarthy led the witchhunt looking for communist in America.
Episode #7: The Apocalyptic outlook
Apocalyptic writing is a type/style of writing. Old Jewish writings have over 70 apocalyptic writings. (MN: Especially the Bible and Revelations!)
History is full of apocalyptic writings to the extent scholars say “is there ever a time when the world is not coming to an end?”
Apocalyptic cults:
MILLERITES-Great disappointment
WACO TEXAS-70+ Killed in ATF attack on compound.
JIM JONES-900+ People mass suicide.
SHINRIKO-Saran gas-Armageddon is here now.
