The history of many nations shows us that religion has played an important role in the development of civilizations and their boundaries. It has been used to develop a majority between two warring factions; the one who is the successor is the one who gets the final say. History has shown many religious ideologies cause war and terrorism, including the IRA, Nazi Germany and Jews and Jews and Christians.

It is no wonder that religion has then been a strong force driving those extremists who take the context of their religious beliefs to the extreme.

With the backing of a holy book that some believe as the absolute truth, religion becomes an important part in terrorism to justify actions and to enrage and attract more to their cause. But religion is not entirely the driving reason behind terrorist groups and their actions, although it does appear that terrorism in the 21st Century is religious based.

Following is a look at the links between terrorism and religion.

PERVERSING RELIGION

All that is required to perverse religious texts is someone who can often quote verses from a holy book and twist them to suit his personal needs. For example, the majority of Muslim people reject Osama Bin Laden and what he preaches. It is only those extremists that have interpreted the Koran in entirely different way than originally intended.

Many Muslims refer to a "greater jihad" that refers to the "true struggle each Muslim wages to be a true believer and follower." Bin Laden and the terrorist group al Qaeda interpret this message in the Quran to mean "traditional holy war launched in the name of God against the enemies of God and Islam."

They have managed to pervert the original meaning to suit their needs and have set upon ridding the earth of non-believers of what they preach.

RELIGION AS JUSTIFICATION

"But it says right here that I can do that." Says the suicide bomber reading from his holy book. Religion is being used as a means of justifying the actions of extremists and the carnage in which they cause.

Misinterpreted texts are often used in terrorist acts to justify and legitimize actions. They are promised eternal afterlife and paradise if they do what this book says. Suicide bombers are hailed as heroes, their death celebrated for causing as many deaths as possible. To be revered for an action that causes destruction and to wave a book around that justifies the action is an important part of terrorism today.

RELIGION

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