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