Understanding the religious nature of terrorism in India: four cases with an analysis for proposals and resolution

[摘要] India has faced the challenge of religious terrorism for almost three decades. This phenomenon – in-spite of the Indian government’s comprehensive effort to contain it – has been spreading its vicious influence and expanding its support base among the conflicting religious communities inmany parts of the country. The existing views, in regard to the rise of religious terrorism, suggest that economic, socio-political or geo-political issues (that cropped up during the post-partition period) are responsible for the birth of the problem. However, so far no study is done collectively on the four (Sikh, Kashmiri Muslim, Hindu and Naga Christian) religious communities to explain the cause of the problem. Therefore, this thesis studies these four religious traditions together to further investigate the main cause of this problem. In this regard the first six chapters examine: the historical background of religious antagonism and religious ideological basis (religious texts and symbols); the significance of religion in the Indian society and the relationship between the sacred and secular; the effects of the partition of India and socio-political developments (following the partition till the late 1970s) on the aggravation of the communal problem; and the impact of the worldwide religious resurgence on galvanization ofreligious and ethno-religious nationalism, communalism and religious violence. In doing so the thesis argues that, in contrast to the existing explanations, religion (religious ideologies) and historical and socio-political factors are intensely interconnected for the rise of the problem. Finally, the thesis proposes that rebuilding of the communal harmony, by utilising theinterconnecting social threads of the coexisting sections of the Indian society, is essential for the deconstruction of the religious terror in India.

[发布机构] University:University of Birmingham;Department:School of Philosophy, Theology and Religion, Department of Theology and Religion

[关键词] B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion;BL Religion