When Religion Becomes Lethal

In his second book, bestselling author Charles Kimball addresses the urgent global problem of the interplay between fundamentalist Abrahamic religions and politics and moves beyond warning signs (the subject of his first book) to the dangerous and lethal outcomes that their interaction can produce. Drawing on his extensive personal and professional knowledge of, experience with and access to all three traditions, Kimball's explanation of the multiple ways religion and politics interconnect within Judaism, Christianity, and Islam will illuminate the problems and give readers a hopeful vision for how to chart a safer course into a precarious future.

• Kimball is the author of When Religion Becomes Evil, one of the most acclaimed post 9/11 books on terrorism and religion
• Reveals why religion so often leads to deadly results
• The author has scholarly knowledge and expertise and extensive personal experience with the peoples, cultures, and leaders involved

Readable and engaging, this book gives a clear picture of today's complex political and religious reality and offers hope for the future.

Acknowledgments vii

1 Christmas with the Ayatollah: The Volatile Mix of Religion and Politics 1

2 God Gave Us This Land: The Roots of Religion and Politics in Judaism 15

3 Israel: Deadly Conflict in Zion 33

4 “Render unto Caesar”: Religion and Politics in Christianity 58

5 America: One Nation Under God? 75

6 There is No God But God: Religion and Politics in Islam 96

7 Muslim vs. Muslim: The Struggle for the Soul of Islam 120

8 Iran and Iraq: Axis of Evil or Harbinger of Hope? 137

9 A Road to Disaster: The Fallacy of Fundamentalism 157

10 Hope for the Perilous Journey Ahead 178

Notes 193

Selected Bibliography 229

The Author 233

Name Index 235

Subject index 241

THE AUTHOR

Charles Kimball, Th.D., is presidential professor and director of religious studies at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma. An ordained Baptist minister, he is a frequent lecturer in universities and church-related settings as well as an expert analyst on issues related to the Middle East, Islam, Jewish-Christian-Muslim relations, and the intersection of religion and politics. He is the author of five books, including the bestselling When Religion Becomes Evil. Whether it's terrorists in the Middle East who claim inspiration from Islam and express their hatred for the West, or the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, or the violence done by the religious extremists in the United States, it seems religion too often leads to lethal results.

Charles Kimball, the author of When Religion Becomes Evil, builds on his bestselling book to offer further insight on a difficult topic. When Religion Becomes Lethal answers key questions and provides a reliable framework for understanding why religious belief—especially in the Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—so often leads to violence and what constructive steps can be taken to chart a more hopeful future.

Kimball, an expert on comparative religion, has a profound understanding of the often-troubled history between the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim descendents of Abraham. He examines a litany of compelling questions that challenge us today including: Why are the turbulent religious forces now seemingly more threatening than ever before? How representative are violent extremists operating in the name of Islam? What do the large majority of Muslims really want? Is or should America be a Christian nation? What is a Christian nation? Is peace between Israel, the Palestinians, and neighboring Arab and Muslim states really possible? These questions perplex many of us as daily headlines remind us all how even small numbers of religious zealots can wreak havoc on a massive scale.

When Religion Becomes Lethal offers a reliable, insightful, and useful way of thinking about and engaging the critical issues of religion and politics.

WHEN RELIGION BECOMES LETHAL

Whether it's terrorists in the Middle East who claim inspiration from Islam and express their hatred for the West, or the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, or the violence done by the religious extremists in the United States, it seems religion too often leads to lethal results.

Charles Kimball, the author of When Religion Becomes Evil, builds on his bestselling book to offer further insight on a difficult topic. When Religion Becomes Lethal answers key questions and provides a reliable framework for understanding why religious belief—especially in the Abrahamic faiths of ???Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—so often leads to violence and what constructive steps can be taken to chart a more hopeful future.

Kimball, an expert on comparative religion, has a profound understanding of the often-troubled history between the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim descendents of Abraham. He examines a litany of compelling questions that challenge us today including: Why are the turbulent religious forces now seemingly more threatening than ever before? How representative are violent extremists operating in the name of Islam? What do the large majority of Muslims really want? Is or should America be a Christian nation? What is a Christian nation? Is peace between Israel, the Palestinians, and neighboring Arab and Muslim states really possible? These questions perplex many of us as daily headlines remind us all how even small numbers of religious zealots can wreak havoc on a massive scale.

When Religion Becomes Lethal offers a reliable, insightful, and useful way of thinking about and engaging the critical issues of religion and politics.