CONTEMPORARY  FAITH

1. TERRORISM, GENOCIDES AND COLLECTIVE SUICIDES

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More than sixty percent of the world's population, of more than 7.75 billion people, resides in countries where the right to religious freedom is obstructed or denied. For example, an estimated 505 million Christians face persecution for following their faith, said a report by the Catholic NGO Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

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For the simple fact of belonging to the 'wrong' religion or not belonging to any religion, countless people have been killed, persecuted and tormented by governments, political groups and religions throughout history. Many people have disappeared and even more have been imprisoned indefinitely, as is currently the case in Middle Eastern countries, such as India, China or North Korea, for example.

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However, it must be considered that despite the undeniable existence of acts that could be classified as "State terrorism", the study of those cases in which religion, combined with other factors, such as: ethnic identity, socio-political ideologies and reaction to an occupation; it is seen as the main motivation for violence and radicalism. Based on certain cases in various cultural contexts and in the context of contemporary global socio-political changes, understanding why these acts have been associated with religious causes is one of the main objectives that must be clearly stated and described.

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There is multiple evidence that those who carry out terrorist actions or who belong to groups or communities that support them, cannot be classified as sociopaths or individuals with profound personality disorders, on the contrary, they are usually citizens who have shown a life of certain normality, but, “Who at one point are" overwhelmed "by an enormous sense of dedication to a religious vision shared by many members of the community of which they are a part and, convinced that this vision of the world is being deeply attacked, they are convinced that carry out a 'tragic and desperate' act ”. (Juergensmeyer, 2001). It also seems to be common that these religious activists do not perceive themselves as "terrorists" but as militants or soldiers of a religious cause.

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See: https://www.redalyc.org/pdf/543/54371411.pdf

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References:

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https://en.s4c.news/2018/11/25/new-report-shows-half-a-billion-christians-facing-global-persecution/

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https://repositorio.comillas.edu/xmlui/handle/11531/18228

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https://www.ucsc.cl/blogs-academicos/terrorismo-y-religion-ante-la-paz-y-los-conflictos/

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https://es.gizmodo.com/las-5-sectas-mas-terrorificas-de-la-historia-moderna-1789428912

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