The Morality of Terrorism

The Morality of Terrorism: Religious and Secular Justifications examines terrorist tradition from its origin in the revealed religions to its present manifestations, which are largely secular though not exclusively so. Important common themes running through all the essays are the moral climate that produces terrorism, the doctrines terrorists used to justify themselves, and the moral predicaments terrorists create. The book is organized into three parts. The essays in Part I focus on religious terror. Topics covered include the successful efforts of Jewish terrorists in the first century to provoke a popular uprising; the myths of Prometheus and Satan; and the myths and fantasies in the minds of terrorists and how these myths are related to the ramshackle world of Western civilization. Part II deals with various forms of state terror. It includes essays such as the French Reign of Terror and Nazi terrorism. Part III, devoted to rebel terror, includes essays such as terrorists' justifications and their abilities to demonstrate sincerity though suffering; and responses to rebel terrorism by communities deeply committed to protecting individual rights.