William Cavanaugh and Religious Violence

According to William Cavanaugh, the idea that religion has a dangerous inclination to promote violence is a myth. He contends that any attempt to separate religious violence from any other type of violence (i.e. secular violence) is incoherent (Cavanaugh 2009: 4). He goes on to say that although religions "can and do promote violence under certain circumstances," it is incorrect to say that they are more inclined towards violence than any secular ideology or institution (Cavanaugh 2009: 5). Ideologies that are labelled secular, such as nationalism, Marxism or capitalism, can be just as dangerous and irrational as those labelled religious, such as Christianity or Islam. 

Cavanaugh details that the notion that religion has a tendency to promote violence is part of the conventional wisdom of Western societies (2009: 3). Western societies regard the secularization of politics as foundational for a rational and civilised society. So, the very separation of religion from politics is an invention of the modern West in attempt to reach this apparent aim. It is thought that there is no room for religion in a rational and civilised society. Or, simply no room for 'public' religion.

This myth of religious violence therefore helps to marginalize a 'villainous' religious Other, being in direct contrast to the so called 'peace-loving,' 'rational' secular subject (Cavanaugh 2009: 5). In this sense, religion is seen as an irrational and dangerous impulse that must give way, when it comes to politics, so that society can become rational. This argument ironically seems to forget that religion has historically played a significant role in promoting reconciliation and understanding between groups (Bushman et al 2006: 207).

For example, Muslims are casted as 'evil' because they have "not yet learned" to separate politics from the danger of religion. Islam is therefore branded with a negative stereotype of being a 'violent' religion from a society that does not fully understand it. The media especially, and constantly, advertises the view that Muslims are adherents of a religion that promotes anti-Western values such as indiscriminate violence. This in turn legitimizes coercive measures against them as the Other. Modern politics focuses on the minor negatives of religious history to sway the population to favour secularism. And, it appears to be working.

In the study, When God Sanctions Killings, it became evident that people who believe that God sanctions violence are more likely than others to behave aggressively themselves (Bushman et al 2006). However, not every Christian who reads a Bible passage about violence will inherently turn violent themselves. It is the vast minority, being religious extremists, who take one single violent episode out of context and miss the overall message and understanding. They focus on one passage from scripture to explain their violent acts. Biblical scripture in its totality does not justify aggression. It is the religious minority who imply or force this villainous stereotype onto the majority.

So, why is religion so blasphemous in today's society? Why must people feel like they have to hide that they are religious to be able to feel included in a secular society? People should be proud of their beliefs and hold the freedom to express who they are and where they come from. This isn't in saying that the world is against religion as such, but against "public" religion.

As a studies of religion major, I witness the hostility towards religion in a secular world first-hand. When telling people that I study religion, I am constantly greeted with a shocked look and a "oh.. so you're really religious?" as if being religious is something bad or wrong. To me, this is, as Cavanaugh foregrounds, part of the "friend-enemy distinction" (2009: 5). When someone recognises themselves as publicly religious, they are somewhat labelled as absolutists, divisive, irrational and, in extreme circumstances, an 'enemy' to secular society. Why can't people answer this question proudly and confidently with "Yes, I am religious" without being afraid of being judged. Why must contemporary society be so "anti-public religion"? (Cavanaugh 2009: 12). Are people becoming afraid of religion?

References

Bushman, B.D, R.D Ridge, E. Das, C.W Key, and G.L Busath. (2006). When God Sanctions Killing: Effect of Scriptural Violence on Aggression. Psychological Science. 18 (3), 204-207.

Cavanaugh, W.T. (2009). Introduction. In The Myth of Religious Violence: Secular Ideology and the Roots of Modern Conflict (3-14). New York: Oxford University Press.