Does Religious Terrorism Exist?
We do not believe Religious Terrorism exists.
40% of Americans blame religion for all terrorism, but they are wrong! Ignorance feeds prejudice, and we believe the best way to challenge prejudice is with knowledge. VIPIS professors believe there is no such a thing as "religious terrorism." Even in Northern Ireland, the labels "Catholic" and "Protestant" are a misleading shorthand that hides the real causes of violence which are economic deprivation and political exclusion.
Al-Qaeda may use terrorism, but we do not believe it is "Islamic Terrorism." The second article below shows that Osama bin Laden has entirely secular objectives: he wants to become President of Arabia. A few Muslims may use terror tactics but that does not mean they implicate their Faith in terror, any more than members of the Klu Klux Klan should be called "Christian Terrorists." Labels are simplistic.
We need to understand much more about the 1.4 billion people in the world who are Muslim. True Muslims consider the Taliban of Afghanistan to be "non-Muslims" because of their outrageous behavior. The Taliban are tribal bullies! True Muslims do not commit suicide, they do not kill women and children, and they do not kill other Muslims.