The clash of civilizations narrative further perpetuates the myth of religious violence from "summary" of The Myth of Religious Violence by William T Cavanaugh
The idea that religious differences inevitably lead to violence is a powerful and pervasive myth in contemporary discourse. This myth is often perpetuated through the "clash of civilizations" narrative, which posits that the world is divided into discrete and inherently antagonistic cultural and religious blocs. According to this narrative, conflicts between civilizations are primarily driven by deep-seated religious differences and irreconcilable cultural values. However, this narrative overlooks the complex and multifaceted nature of religious identity and the ways in which it intersects with politics, economics, and social structures. It also ignores the fact that violence is not inherently religious but is often politically motivated and justified through religious language and symbols. By reducing conflict to a simple clash of civilizations, this narrative obscures the underlying political, economic, ...
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