Terror
in the Mind of God: The Global Rise of Religious Violence
Mark
Juergensmeyer explores the fascinating question: "Why is religion so often
associated with violence?" He looks at specific examples, taking the reader
very close to the hearts and minds of those religious activists, who have recently
resorted to violence as a means of advancing their cause. As this book makes abundantly
clear, Osama bin Laden is only one small part of the problem.
From
the reviews ... "This dark, enthralling book not only documents the
global rise of religious terrorism but seeks to understand the 'odd attraction
of religion and violence.' Juergensmeyer is a powerful, skillful writer whose
deeply empathetic interviewing techniques allow readers to enter the minds of
some of the late 20th century's most feared religious terrorists."--Publishers
Weekly (starred review) "The brilliance of Terror in the Mind of God is
its dissection of patterns of thought shared by such seemingly disparate figures
as Bin Laden and Timothy McVeigh. Like a radiologist revealing the identical skeletal
structures in outwardly different creatures, [Juergensmeyer] builds a powerful
case for the common elements in five terrorist movements."--Baltimore Sun "An
unsettling book but also a courageous one. No one who truly cares about matters
of faith can afford to ignore the dangers that lurk within religious extremism,
and Juergensmeyer is ultimately serving the highest aspirations of organized religion
when he insists on shedding light on the darker corners of human belief and human
conduct." --Jonathan Kirsch, Los Angeles Times "Written well and
engagingly for a popular audience. . . thoughtful [and] detailed. . . [an] excellent
illustration of the beneficent side of the multiculturalism that has swept academia
in the last couple of decades."--Jonathan Groner, Washington Post Book World "An
impressive new book."--San Francisco Chronicle "Takes an academic
approach to its subject, but readers outside the academy will find it quite accessible."--Ft.
Worth Star-Telegram "A sensitive, comparative study of terrorist movements
and the religious beliefs that motivate them."--Washington Post Book World "A
timely, persuasive and cogent book. Juergensmeyer is especially astute when constructing
the psychological portrait of the men and women who employ terrorist tactics in
what they consider to be a cosmic war with evil."--Arkansas Democrat-Gazette "By
studying different 'cultures of violence' Mark Juergensmeyer has provided a plausible
and imaginative interpretation of this phenomenon. He presents a lucid and compelling
argument that does not belittle or demonize its subjects. This is an important
contribution to our knowledge of the relationship between religion and violence."--Martha
Crenshaw, editor of Terrorism in Context "In this important book Juergensmeyer
argues that the violence associated with religion is not an aberration but comes
from the fundamental structures of the belief system of all major religions. Juergensmeyer
has achieved what very few scholars can do with much success, providing an insightful
analysis of the function of religion in national and international life while
moving in broad sweeps from culture to culture and continent to continent."--Ainslie
T. Embree, former cultural attaché, United States Embassy, New Delhi "Half
of the world's thirty most dangerous terrorist groups claim religion as their
motivation. How can the word of God sanction acts of terror against human beings
? How can violence become a sacred duty ? These are the questions at the heart
of Mark Juergensmeyer's calm, lucid, insightful and compassionate book. What sets
it apart is Juergensmeyer's dedicated attempt to talk to former terrorists and
work his way into their state of mind. His book shines light on the dark places
from which terror springs." -- Michael Ignatieff, author of The Warrior's
Honour: Ethnic War and the Modern Conscience |