The Justification of Religious Violence

How are justifications for religious violence developed and do they differ from secular justifications for violence? Can liberal societies tolerate potentially violent religious groups? Can those who accept religious justifications for violence be dissuaded from acting violently? Including six in-depth contemporary case studies, The Justification of Religious Violence is the first book to examine the logical structure of justifications of religious violence. The first book specifically devoted to examining the logical structure of justifications of religious violence Seeks to understand how justifications for religious violence are developed and how or if they differ from ordinary secular justifications of violence Examines 3 widely employed premises used in religious justifications of violence cosmic war , the importance of the afterlife, and sacred values Considers to what extent liberal democratic societies should tolerate who hold that their religion justifies violent acts Reflects on the possibility of effective policy measures to persuade those who believe that violent action is justified by religion, to refrain from acting violently Informed by recent work in psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience and evolutionary biology Part of the Blackwell Public Philosophy Series

How are justifications for religious violence developed and dothey differ from secular justifications for violence? Can liberalsocieties tolerate potentially violent religious groups? Can thosewho accept religious justifications for violence be dissuaded fromacting violently? Including six in-depth contemporary case studiesThe Justification of Religious Violence is the first book toexamine the logical structure of justifications of religiousviolence.* The first book specifically devoted to examining the logicalstructure of justifications of religious violence* Seeks to understand how justifications for religious violenceare developed and how or if they differ from ordinary secularjustifications of violence* Examines 3 widely employed premises used in religiousjustifications of violence - 'cosmic war', theimportance of the afterlife, and 'sacred values'* Considers to what extent liberal democratic societies shouldtolerate who hold that their religion justifies violent acts* Reflects on the possibility of effective policy measures topersuade those who believe that violent action is justified byreligion, to refrain from acting violently* Informed by recent work in psychology, cognitive scienceneuroscience and evolutionary biology* Part of the Blackwell Public Philosophy Series

Preface ix1 Justification, Religion, and Violence 12 Religion 273 Morality 584 Justifying Violence,War, and CosmicWar 895 The Afterlife 1146 The Sacred 1347 Recent Justifications of Religious Violence 1538 Tolerance 1839 Reducing Religious Violence 198References 215Name Index 243Subject Index 251