Dangerously Uninformed: Myths of Religion and Violence

Abstract:

The claim that religion and religion alone motivates extremists to violence is dangerously misinformed. In this paper I will argue that such claims are psychologically suspect and empirically unsupported. Most grievously, attributing extremist violence to religious belief commits the fundamental attribution error. But this is no simple, harmless error. Proponents of this error, especially if they are in positions of power, are likely to increase violence. As understanding decreases, violence increases. They are not innocently wrong, they are dangerously uninformed.

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Clark, Kelly James (2015). Dangerously Uninformed: Myths of Religion and Violence

Journal of Living Together, 2-3 (1), pp. 116-124, 2015, ISSN: 2373-6615 (Print); 2373-6631 (Online).

@Article{Clark2015
Title = {Dangerously Uninformed: Myths of Religion and Violence}
Author = {Kelly James Clark}
Url = {https://icermediation.org/religion-and-violence/}
ISSN = {2373-6615 (Print); 2373-6631 (Online)}
Year = {2015}
Date = {2015-12-18}
IssueTitle = {Faith Based Conflict Resolution: Exploring the Shared Values in the Abrahamic Religious Traditions}
Journal = {Journal of Living Together}
Volume = {2-3}
Number = {1}
Pages = {116-124}
Publisher = {International Center for Ethno-Religious Mediation}
Address = {Mount Vernon, New York}
Edition = {2016}.

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