Face the religious roots of terror, says Christian think tank
-11/07/05
As part of its response to the 7 July London bombings, called ëBeyond the politics of fearí, the UK Christian think tank Ekklesia is calling for ìa more honest, open and rigorous conversation about the religious roots of war and terror.î
Ekklesia, recently ranked by the Independent newspaper among the top 20 UK think tanks, says that in all faith communities ìthere are texts, traditions and historical realities which point to a deep and uncomfortable connection between conventional religious faith and the unacceptable use of violence.î
The document declares that while those who plant bombs to kill civilians are indeed a tiny and unrepresentative minority, the question about how religious communities interpret those parts of their own tradition that justify violence ìis a primary theological issue.î
Comments new Ekklesia co-Director, Simon Barrow: ìNaturally religious communities are keen to point to the peaceful dimensions of their faith, and to sacred texts which outlaw indiscriminate violence against innocents. But that is only part of the picture. There are also texts that appear to legitimate mass violence and even genocide in the name of God. These things are not just made up by extremists. They have to be faced.î
Ekklesia also says that politicians and pundits need to acknowledge the religious character of the post 9/11 conflict, and to recognise that some elements of Western policy are seen by the majority of Muslims, whether we like it or not, as ìan assault on the Islamic worldî.
The think-tank calls on Western representatives to stop using the language of ìa war on terrorî, which reinforces a cycle of revenge, and it criticises ìthe dubious concept of a ëclash of civilisationsí.î
ìWe need to be clear that the solution to terrorism is not more violence, it is moral and political action,î says Simon Barrow. ìGovernments should deny to those who maim and kill the further oxygen of militarism.î
The Ekklesia document also affirms the priority of inter-faith cooperation and the importance of British churches continuing to stand up for their Muslim neighbours. It says that UK Christians should give priority to the World Council of Churchesí Decade to Overcome Violence (2001-2010).
Turning to policy issues post-7 July, the Christian think tank says that dialogue with those who back and reinforce those who commit acts of terror is ìvitalî, and should not be seen as consent or betrayal.
Ekklesia declares that ìthe role of individuals, civil society and religious mediators is of crucial importance in facing insurgency and terrorî, citing the example of an ex-MI6 operative who earlier this year established conversation between American security operatives and banned organisations in the Arab world.
ëBeyond the politics of fearí also proclaims that:
* Without a major change in Western attitude and policy the global insurgency cannot be isolated and tackled.
* The rigorous pursuit of a bipartisan solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, dialogue rather than diatribe with Iran and Syria, equanimity in standards of human treatment, a return to international law in matters of military intervention, and more inclusive instruments of global governance are not concessions to terrorists but essential components of a workable world system.
* More direct investment is needed in independent agencies with proven capacities in mediation and non-violent conflict resolution.
* A panel of civic and political representatives, including human rights organisations, is needed to ensure that security legislation following 7/7 is fair, proportionate and as transparent as possible.
* It is important to remain vigilant against the further denial of rights in the name of emergency powers ñ especially as far as vulnerable groups like asylum seekers and refugees are concerned.
* It is up to people of faith to persuade governments and civic communities to develop policies which move away from reliance on force as a means of conflict resolution, and towards frameworks for building a just peace.
The think tank and news service Ekklesia was established in 2002. It works across the ecumenical, evangelical and Catholic traditions. It is part of a UK network associated with the ëhistoric peace churchesí, including Mennonites and Quakers, who take the rejection of violence to be a central component of the Christian faith.
Face the religious roots of terror, says Christian think tank
-11/07/05
As part of its response to the 7 July London bombings, called ëBeyond the politics of fear’, the UK Christian think tank Ekklesia is calling for ‘a more honest, open and rigorous conversation about the religious roots of war and terror.’
Ekklesia, recently ranked by the Independent newspaper among the top 20 UK think tanks, says that in all faith communities ‘there are texts, traditions and historical realities which point to a deep and uncomfortable connection between conventional religious faith and the unacceptable use of violence.’
The document declares that while those who plant bombs to kill civilians are indeed a tiny and unrepresentative minority, the question about how religious communities interpret those parts of their own tradition that justify violence ‘is a primary theological issue.’
Comments new Ekklesia co-Director, Simon Barrow: ‘Naturally religious communities are keen to point to the peaceful dimensions of their faith, and to sacred texts which outlaw indiscriminate violence against innocents. But that is only part of the picture. There are also texts that appear to legitimate mass violence and even genocide in the name of God. These things are not just made up by extremists. They have to be faced.’
Ekklesia also says that politicians and pundits need to acknowledge the religious character of the post 9/11 conflict, and to recognise that some elements of Western policy are seen by the majority of Muslims, whether we like it or not, as ‘an assault on the Islamic world’.
The think-tank calls on Western representatives to stop using the language of ‘a war on terror’, which reinforces a cycle of revenge, and it criticises ‘the dubious concept of a ëclash of civilisations’.’
‘We need to be clear that the solution to terrorism is not more violence, it is moral and political action,’ says Simon Barrow. ‘Governments should deny to those who maim and kill the further oxygen of militarism.’
The Ekklesia document also affirms the priority of inter-faith cooperation and the importance of British churches continuing to stand up for their Muslim neighbours. It says that UK Christians should give priority to the World Council of Churches’ Decade to Overcome Violence (2001-2010).
Turning to policy issues post-7 July, the Christian think tank says that dialogue with those who back and reinforce those who commit acts of terror is ‘vital’, and should not be seen as consent or betrayal.
Ekklesia declares that ‘the role of individuals, civil society and religious mediators is of crucial importance in facing insurgency and terror’, citing the example of an ex-MI6 operative who earlier this year established conversation between American security operatives and banned organisations in the Arab world.
ëBeyond the politics of fear’ also proclaims that:
* Without a major change in Western attitude and policy the global insurgency cannot be isolated and tackled.
* The rigorous pursuit of a bipartisan solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, dialogue rather than diatribe with Iran and Syria, equanimity in standards of human treatment, a return to international law in matters of military intervention, and more inclusive instruments of global governance are not concessions to terrorists but essential components of a workable world system.
* More direct investment is needed in independent agencies with proven capacities in mediation and non-violent conflict resolution.
* A panel of civic and political representatives, including human rights organisations, is needed to ensure that security legislation following 7/7 is fair, proportionate and as transparent as possible.
* It is important to remain vigilant against the further denial of rights in the name of emergency powers – especially as far as vulnerable groups like asylum seekers and refugees are concerned.
* It is up to people of faith to persuade governments and civic communities to develop policies which move away from reliance on force as a means of conflict resolution, and towards frameworks for building a just peace.
The think tank and news service Ekklesia was established in 2002. It works across the ecumenical, evangelical and Catholic traditions. It is part of a UK network associated with the ëhistoric peace churches’, including Mennonites and Quakers, who take the rejection of violence to be a central component of the Christian faith.