ABSTRACT
Religion was found in bed with terrorism. Whatever bucolic and tranquil notions we may have had were rudely replaced by those that were tough, political, and sometimes violent. On the one hand, religion-Islam in particular-is often assumed to be the problem. Despite the cautionary words of President George W. Bush imploring Americans not to blame Islam for September 11, a certain Islamiphobia has crept into public conversation. The implication is that the whole of Islam has supported acts of terrorism. The public life of contemporary America is no exception. It is one in which religion is very much involved with politics and politics with religion. The evangelical professions of faith of President Bush and advisors such as Attorney General John Ashcroft fuel the impression that US foreign policy has a triumphant agenda of global Christendom. Religion also provides the image of cosmic war, which adds further complications to a conflict that has become baptized with religious authority.
