Publisher's Synopsis
Is it an affliction of the modern age or a problem as old as time? In truth, it is both...it is an eternal war! Religious belief, in all its forms, is one of the most powerful forces in human society and, because of its potency, it can add explosive to a stressed situation or be the catalyst from which tension grows. Whilst it may weave through so many wars and disputes, religious belief is also the distinguishing factor in many more; it affects the ethics of war, the conduct of tactics, the attempts at conflict resolution and exerts influence over political and military leadership. Understanding the role of religion in war and terrorism is imperative for all of us and a considered, logical debate, such as the authot presents here, can only benefit military, political, religious and academic personnel who must study the matter; all of us who desire a well-reasoned and unbiased account of the history of the topic will be well served by this volume. Contents range from ancient conflicts, Moslem conquests, the crusades and other wars of religion through religious and ethnic identity, Ireland and the Balkans, to the revival of militant Islam and the war on terrorism
