Publication

This paper focuses on the reappearance of religious beliefs at the heart of contemporary conflict. The author stresses that religious belief is not only exploited in war but genuinely drives war and that religious belief must be analyzed as conviction politics and not simply as political ploy. According to the author, understanding armed religious movements and their approach to violence requires a general appreciation of religious mentality and a particular understanding of the distinct religious vision and intent of the group in question. The author concludes that it is important to understand that religious movements do believe in their ideology and to examine why they do, where such belief might lead and how best it may be challenged.