Terror in the mind of God: the global rise of religious violence

This work seeks to understand the linkage between violence and religion and does so through a series of case studies, from the Christian bombers of abortion clinics in the United States to Aum Shinrikyo in Japan. Looking at the role that cosmic ideologies and siege mentalities play in the violent episodes of some religious movements, Juergensmeyer also argues that such violence is an inherent part of religion. This work is considered to be of key importance by many working in the study of religion in aiding readers seeking to understand the reason why, in recent times, there would seem to have been a resurgence in religious movements utilising violence. Whilst Juergensmeyer's definitions of religion and use of these to argue for a motivation towards violence are not unproblematic the case studies (looking at cultures of violence within Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Sikhism and Buddhism) draw together some excellent research.