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MatthewElgin JohnKubler English114A 9September2013 Exercise1.2Culture/Religion Whatisreligion?AccordingtoGoogle,religionisthebeliefinandworshipofasuperhuman controllingpower.Sowhyisreligionsuchacontroversialtopictotalkabout?Theanswertothatis verycomplex.Religionhasbeentalkedaboutforyearsandcenturiesbecauseofallthediversecultures andthedifferentwayscertaingroupspracticewhattheybelievein.However,religionhasbeenmostly relatedandconnectedwithterrorism.InDavidGibsonsarticleDoesReligionCauseTerrorism?It's ComplicatedfromtheHuffingtonPost,hecomparesbothsidesastowhetherterrorismhasa connectionwithreligionandreligionnotbeingafactorforbeingterrorists.Frommypointofview,I believethatreligionDOEShaveaconnectiontowardsterrorismandtheactstheycommittofulfilltheir faithintheirhigherpower. InDavidGibsonsarticle,hesummarizesJamesW.Jones,ofRutgersUniversity,that contemporaryterrorismhasauniquelyreligiousnature...motivatedbysacredvalues.Iagreeto theextentthattheactionsofterroristsarebasedoffoftheirreligionmoralviewsandbeliefs.Terrorism andreligionhaveoftenbeenconnectedbecausetheyarewillingtosacrificethemselvestodowhatthey believeisrightfortheirownsake.TheseactionsareoftenattimesrelatedtoKamikazeattacksfrom Japanbecausetheyarewillingtosacrificetheirownlivesfortheircommongoodoftheirculturein war. Davidquestionsresearchonbywhyreligiousbeliefsaretoblamefortheseterroristattacks

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happeningandisalsogivingevidenceastoshowtheoppositeside.Whywouldtheauthor,David Gibson,givebothsidestosuchacontroversialtopic?Myanswerwouldbebecausesincereligionis suchacontroversialtopicandaddingterrorismasaconnectiontoit,ofcoursetherewillbetwosidesof everypointofview.Inhisarticle,itseemsastoifhiswayofthinkingonlylookstowardsonesideofthe topic.InoneofhissubtitlesMakingwarnotlove,hequotesJessicaStern,...todaysradical youth...expressingdissatisfactionwiththestatusquo.WhatJessicaarguesisthattheonlyreasonwhy therehasbeensomuchviolenceisbecausetheyouth(todaysgeneration)dislikeswhatsocietyhas becomeandwhatreligionhasbecomethathastoplayintheirdailyliferole.InhislastsuntitleItisnt goingaway,heimpliesthattherewillforeverbecontroversybetweenthetwodifferentsidesofthis topic,andwewillneverknowifterrorismwilleverbelinkedtoreligionbasedonwhatCharlesKimball says,terroristsareconstantlybeingforcedtoimprovisetheirjustificationsby...choosingscriptures andtraditions.Ibelievethatreligiondoesplayaroleinterrorismaroundtheworld,andwiththis relationship,itwilldestroynumerousgroupsofpeopleculturallyandreligiously,eventhoughreligionhas beenaproblemforcenturies.