Religion and the racist right

Terrorism is explained as the adoption of actions which prompt violence and hatred among the social, cultural, and ethnic and religious divisions, the social bifurcations are usually exploited through terrorist means which hare aimed for securing political goals. In this entire explanation the word religion had secondary association with the motivations and forces that ignite terrorism (Walter, 2001). The terrorist activities are attributed with political objectives. Religion has never supported the adoption of violent course of action; it has always supported the use of peaceful means for the resolution of the dispute. The terrorist networks have unfortunately affiliated their practices with the religious teachings, and have justified their actions in the light of religious books. The religion has been exploited, and it is wrong to suggest that religion motivates and nourishes practices of terrorists (Colin, 2002).

Use of religious ideals to fuel terrorist action

In many of the cases it has been observed that vigilant and aggressive youth has adopted the course of terrorism, and have played major role in such activities. The attack on the World Trade Center in 2001 was actually fabricated by Muslim youth who entered USA for academic purposes. In Pakistan and Afghanistan, the series of deadly terrorist attacks are conducted by the young militants, it was reported that the association of the youth with terrorist organizations has improved the performance and operations of the terrorist organizations, and has further expanded their network. The question then rises that what makes the youth fall the victim of such sick mentality, which his based on acts of barbarism, massacre of innocents, and social disequilibrium (Leon, 2005). Ideal is the simple explanation of it, the research has concluded that at the age of 20-30 the individuals are likely to choose such role and profession, which was previously followed by their favorite personality, and the youth is extremely motivated to adopt such course through which can they can imitate their role models or inspiration. The extremist forces have been able to successfully mould the mentality and influence the approach and psyche of the youth so as to develop for themselves their inspirational models. In Muslim developing countries including Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia the youth still have strong affiliation and likeness towards Osama Bin Laden, and other leaders of Al Qaeda network, the affiliation is based because the religious clerics have been able to interpret their actions and justify their actions and conduct in accordance with the teachings of Quran i.e. Holy Book of Islam (Bernard, 2003). Such terrorists have emerged as religious role models, success stories for the youth, which can completely, devoted their services towards misguided interpretation of Islam (Jessia, 2003). According to the local newspapers of these countries, the mentality of the youth has been vandalized, and their approach and understanding has been restricted to what the religious books have mentioned. In some of the cases the religious clerics have tried to capture the focus and attention of the youth by promising them heavy rewards after their death, so called martyrdom, the youth is encouraged to sacrifice their lives which will bring blessing for their families. The religious clerics have adopted strong measures which are linked which a form hypnotism so as to take over the mentality of the youth. The services of the youth are then used purely for the political gains, which is against conformity of Quran and other Holy books.

Terrorism has emerged as a complex issue, and it has been researched that people in particular youth victim of psychopathology are more likely to participate in such violent actions, without giving it a second thought. Normal people have emerged as staunch supporters of the terrorist practice which is purely because of their ignorance about the social, political and economic situations, the terrorist networks have been able to capture the support of mainly those who are ignorant about the international development, and are regarded illiterate. The geographical affiliations have also emerged as another reason for supporting the terrorist networks, and all such practices have been carried by the religious clerics, who try to relate this with service to god and mankind, an utter nuisance.

The psychologists have concluded that the religious clerics have played fundamental role to influence and invoke aggression, emotional values onto the public, and then try to instrument these aspects in their favor.

Power of prejudice

Lately it has been realized that the understanding of intra-individual, familial, and socio-cultural processes is important to ensure coherence and hegemony of ideas and opinions. The element of prejudice has severe impact on the terrorist organizations, the prejudice approach has arise much because of the political turmoil, and differences of opinions and conduct on several issues of regional and international interests (Susan, 2003). The conflicts and the complementarily contending forces have developed strong differences, and each attempt to impose their ways so as to nullify and complement the policies and practices of others. Several events have taken place in the history where prejudice has dominantly nurtured the mentality and the approach of the individual and group towards the state. The arousal of prejudice is related with the poverty, illiteracy and denial of access to the basic social amenities by the state to its population (Chris, 2004). Such events in the past have created negative impact on the individuals, and it was observed that population practiced stubborn approach towards the government, and violated laws and government regulations without any fear or guilt. The prejudice among the local population against their respective government, and the repeated failure of the government on its behalf to justify and rectify its actions and policies left no hope for the poor individuals, the local population then became the focus of fanatic elements within the society, and the fanatic group has been able to win the support of the masses much because of its blatant opposition and condemnation of the government policies, and its consistent support towards for the rights of public. The public therefore resorted to the adoption of the stern course of action against the government on the basis of prejudice, without knowing the ground realities (Borradori, 2003).

The individual therefore fall in the trapped of the tussle between the fanatic and the government, the act of prejudice by the individual is therefore condemnable, but the individual has no other option as the state adopted an ignorant approach towards the local population, and the individual itself adopted the same approach towards the government. The bridge between the individuals and the state further engulfed, and therefore the terrorist activities gained more momentum, much because the prejudice of the local population against the government this time came for the rescue of the fanatic forces. 'The alien, the stranger who has been branded by categorical thinking becomes the carrier of all that is suppressed as evil, dirty, or otherwise threatening in the self' (Brain, 2004). The individual was therefore involved in evil activities, which immensely affected the cause of the local population. The prejudice created 'traumatic power of resentment' (Brain, 2004), and the individual was forced to conduct such terrorist attacks because of the ongoing 'concretization, objectification, and dehumanization of the other' (Leon, 2005). In the current world, 'the stranger becomes the blood sacrifice to assuage the inner judge by placating the judging divinity'(Joseph, 2003).