Quote Originally Posted by gwahir View Post
Syme, I think your claim that religion is not a fundamental part of the violence is dubious and naive. In certain parts of the world, Islam has become weaponised -- it is used, mostly by political leaders, to motivate its constituents to terrorism and hatred. Not because of the more bloodthirsty verses in the Koran (though they certainly make things easier) but because of its power as a religion, and one which is very much a fundamental part of people's lives (in the way that, for isntance, the Church of England isn't).
I'm going to echo Syme's statement that religion is a vehicle for violence through which oppressed people pour their anger, frustration and confusion at their surroundings into, and if it wasn't religion to do it, another vehicle would be found. It's like a drainpipe in an eavestrough - even if it was clogged up, the water would still get out through one means or another, but that's not exactly the purpose of this post.

You were talking about how using Islam to incite violence is possible in Arabic societies because of how integrated the religion is in their lives, and how this isn't the same in the Western world, with the Church of England as an example. Aside from pointing out a history of racist bigotry that used religious beliefs and quotations to justify and absolve bigots from their crimes in the southern United States several decades ago, there is still the issue of Protestant vs. Catholic Christians in Ireland, and the violence that's done to them. Hell, I remember reading a newspaper story about a Catholic school being built in a Protestant neighbourhood, and kids were getting rocks thrown at them on their way to school. How is this any different than supposedly sanctioned religious violence in Arabic communities? Fundamentally, the issue is still the same thing - people feel the urge to lash out, and religion seems to provide an outlet, regardless of what's contained in their holy books.