ABSTRACT
The recent rise of religiously inspired terrorism has revived interest in religion’s darker capacities. Although the events of September 11 occurred only a few years ago, religion and political violence have been intertwined for centuries. Holy wars, forced conversions, witch hunts, and heresy executions led early social theorists to question why and how the religious imagination fosters and is fueled by cultures of violence. Although these are critical questions to revisit in light of contemporary political concerns, it is also important to recognize that religion has historically played a significant role in curbing violence, constraining aggression, and promoting reconciliation and understanding between disputing groups. Church history, for
example, demonstrates that Christianity was responsible for the brutal Crusades but has also tried to place limits on fighting through Ambrose and Augustine’s Just War criteria. Furthermore, it has inspired nonviolent groups that denounce militarism and have heroically intervened in war.
