Religion as a Source of Violence
By Luthfi Assyaukanie
Source: Islamlib.com, 28/2/2005
For a long time now, sociologists have studied how religion serves as a source of violence but with the current crisis such studies have assumed special contemporary relevance. A recent study of violence and Islam and Hinduism, Religion as Source of Violence (2001), by T.K. Oommen, an Indian sociologist, concludes that religious violence is due not only to factors such as economics, politics and psychology, but also due to religion – by no means a new thesis, but nevertheless, food for thought in the Indonesian context.
Religionists used to deny this thesis, as for them, violence is antithetical to the noble message of all religions and therefore it is impossible for it to serve as a source of violence. In their view, religious based violence is a form of misconduct on the part of adherents and the claim that religion is a source of violence is paradoxical since the main message of religion is peace. However, the history of the inter-connection between religion and violence shows that they are indeed connected.
Let us reflect upon whether religion causes its adherents to commit violence. First, violence is a consequence of religious intolerance and religious texts often promote intolerant attitudes. For example, Muslims often legitimize intolerance and violence through the famous doctrine of “amar makruf nahi munkar” which is a command to do good deeds and prevent evil deeds. Moreover, some Muslims consider that physical violence should be used to counter evil since the Prophet said: “Anytime you encounter evil deeds counteract them with your hands” (man ra’a minkum munkaran, fal yughayyir biyadih).
Extremist Indonesian and Malaysian Muslims have used this doctrine to legitimize seizing and destroying places they consider to be sites for immoral or indecent behavior. Such groups are represented in Indonesia by the Front for the Defenders of Islam (FPI) and in Malaysia by the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department (JAWI). Recently, JAWI raided cafés and public spaces just as FPI had done previously during Ramadan. People are anxious about this lack of public order and in Malaysia they demanded that the Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi take more serious measures to handle these “moral police” (Sunday Mail, 23 Januari 2005).
However, the leaders of JAWI claim that their actions are justified. When asked why they are committing such crimes, they answer that they are simply carrying out the doctrine of amar makruf nahi munkar as well as the Prophet’s call to counteract evil with physical force – man ra’a minkum munkaran.
13 October 2009, 06:00