Suchergebnisse

"Civil Strife, Politics, and Religion in Algeria" published on by Oxford University Press.

George Mason was the principal draftsman of the Virginia Declaration of Rights, adopted in June 12, 1776. Its famous Article XVI stated that "all men are equally entitled to the free exercise of religion," which provoked a tumultuous legislative battle that lasted a decade. The article describes in detail this process & the role of Mason in defending religious freedom & redefining the commonwealth's postcolonial church-state policies. His role in defending religious freedom in Virginia has been unfortunately overlooked. D. Miller

"Experimentation in the Study of Religion and Politics" published on by Oxford University Press.

The relationship between religion & violence is traced to the Christian roots of the belief in just war to argue that the relationship of institutional religion to the state is at the heart of both factors. Explanation of the deified relationship addresses endowing of the state as sacred, & the reality of death on the battlefield. The role of religion in Asian conflicts is related to American justification of national expansion through Protestant conversion of the Philippines, & the use of Buddhism & State Shinto by the Japanese in the Asia-Pacific War & Guadalcanal. US Christian triumphalism in WWI, & the tepid support for an American "holy war" after Pearl Harbor exemplify the political use of religion in war. Discussion of the Chinese Civil War, Korea, & Vietnam concludes that American foreign policy toward these countries was based on assumptions of backwardness combined with arrogance that used Christianity as the handmaiden of the state for moral & ethical rationalization of US wars. J. Harwell

Examines the origins, motivations, & evolution of current & past Sikh fundamentalism, described as a reactive phenomenon driven by many factors, primarily fear of Others. The 1983 storming of the Golden Temple of Amritsar by Indian troops & death of Sikh fundamentalist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who occupied it, is used as a context for discussion. Bhindranwale's militant interpretation of the basic teachings of Sikh religious tradition, which denied its pacifism, piety, & religious tolerance, is analyzed. Similar calls for return to fundamental values & teachings during the 19th century, as seen in the Nirankari & Namdhari movements, are described. It is shown how Sikh fundamentalism has been shaped more by employing traditional elements for contemporary uses than returning to the values of the past, as exemplified by efforts to establish an exclusive Sikh identity during the early 20th century. Events following the 1983 raid & the forces (Hindu militancy, a deep sense of injury felt after the raid) shaping the scattered, fractious, & exclusionist nature of current Sikh fundamentalism are discussed. It is concluded that Sikh fundamentalism is unlikely to dissipate any time soon, & what is needed is a reevaluation of the relations between state, religion, & society. Bibliog. T. Arnold