Violence is a human phenomenon that can manifest in both religious and secular contexts from "summary" of The Myth of Religious Violence by William T Cavanaugh
William T Cavanaugh challenges the notion that violence is uniquely tied to religion. He argues that violence is a human phenomenon that can manifest in both religious and secular contexts. By examining the historical and theoretical foundations of the idea of religious violence, Cavanaugh demonstrates how this myth has been perpetuated and used for political purposes. Cavanaugh explores how the concept of religious violence emerged in the West as a way to distinguish between "good" religious violence (such as Crusades) and "bad" secular violence (such as state-sponsored wars). He argues that this distinction is not only misleading but also dangerous, as it can be used to justify violence in the name of secular ideologies while demonizing religious traditions. Through a detailed analysis of historical events, Cavanaug...
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