Deck 6: Violence in the Name of the Faith: Religious Terrorism

Question 1

Which of the following statements most accurately explains why "Holocaust denial" persists?

A) Many other nations and people have suffered, so it is not more important than other incidents.
B) This sort of denial is common practice, and so should be expected.
C) It is motivated by anti-Semitism and revisionist history by racial and religious extremists.
D) Both "many other nations and people have suffered, so it is not more important than other incidents" and "this sort of denial is common practice, and so should be expected."

Answer 1

C

Question 2

In the modern era, ______.

A) only Muslims engage in religious terrorism
B) Christians never engage in religious terrorism
C) Jewish and Buddhist terrorism is common
D) none of these

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The greater jihad requires ______.

A) self-struggle in the way of what is required by God
B) warfare on behalf of the faith
C) defending the faith against infidels
D) both "warfare on behalf of the faith" and "defending the faith against infidels"

Answer 3

A

Question 4

In the modern era, which of the following faith traditions have become the predominant perpetrators of political violence motivated by religion?

A) Christian Crusaders
B) Jewish Zealots
C) Radical Islamists
D) Radical Hindus

Question 5

Which of the following statements regarding jihad is most accurate?

A) Jihad is an ideology of world domination.
B) The greater jihad refers to the struggle each person has within themselves to do what is right.
C) Jihad and the Christian Crusades represent identical concepts.
D) None of these.

Question 6

One plausible global threat from the international mujahideen includes which of the following?

A) Many mujahideen possess weapons of mass destruction and plan to use them.
B) Dedicated mujahideen have traveled to other countries and live covertly as "sleeper" cells.
C) There are many mujahideen with financial resources that will be used to sabotage the global economy.
D) Both "many mujahideen possess weapons of mass destruction and plan to use them" and "dedicated mujahideen have traveled to other countries and live covertly as 'sleeper' cells."

Question 7

The Lord's Resistance Army represents the case of ______.

A) a cult-like movement in Uganda
B) Christian rebellion against Muslim oppression in Sudan
C) a Christian militia in Lebanon
D) none of these

Question 8

Religious conflict between nations is rare in the modern era, but it arguably still occurs periodically between which of the following nations?

A) The United States and Iraq
B) Turkey and Russia
C) Ireland and Great Britain
D) Pakistan and India

Question 9

A new generation of "Afghan Arabs" arguably arose during the conflicts in which of the following countries?

A) the civil war in Sudan
B) the Balkan conflict
C) the NATO/U.S. interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq
D) the Iranian Revolution

Question 10

The Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan stimulated the rise of which self-professed movement?

A) the Afghan Islamists
B) the Afghan Jihadists
C) the Afghan Crusaders
D) the Afghan Arabs

Question 11

The 2011 Arab Spring led to which of the following outcomes?

A) Democracy spread throughout the Middle East.
B) Peace slowly but steadily occurred among warring factions.
C) Thousands of Islamist fighters volunteered to wage jihad against perceived opponents.
D) Both "democracy spread throughout the Middle East" and "peace slowly but steadily occurred among warring factions."

Question 12

Which of the following statements most accurately explains how participants justify violence in the name of religion?

A) God wills it and will reward those who participate in violence done in the name of the faith.
B) The faith tradition is under attack from nonbelievers and must be defended at all costs.
C) Nonbelievers do not understand the faith tradition, and so they all must be exterminated.
D) Both "God wills it and will reward those who participate in violence done in the name of the faith" and "the faith tradition is under attack from nonbelievers and must be defended at all costs."

Question 13

Cult-like violent extremism arises periodically, as indicated in which of the following?

A) Boko Haram
B) the Lord's Resistance Army
C) the Stern Gang
D) none of these

Question 14

Evidence exists that strongly concludes Iran has sponsored which of the following allies or movements?

A) Hezbollah
B) Hamas
C) the Assad regime
D) all of these

Question 15

Which of the following statements is most accurate about the Thuggees?

A) They were thugs.
B) They represent a case of religious organized crime.
C) They were suppressed by the British in India.
D) Both "they were thugs" and "they represent a case of religious organized crime."

Question 16

Radical Christian and Muslim extremists are arguably similar in that they are "exclusivist" in their beliefs. Which of the following best summarizes this tendency?

A) They believe that their faith tradition is the "one True faith."
B) They believe that their faith tradition is compatible with other faith traditions.
C) They believe that their faith tradition may have flaws, but it is basically a good tradition.
D) None of these.

Question 17

Which of the following observations is most correct?

A) Religious terrorism began in the modern era.
B) Religious terrorism was rare throughout history.
C) Religious terrorism has a long history.
D) Religious terrorism is unique to the Middle East.

Question 18

Which of the following statements most accurately explains the continued dissemination of the Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion?

A) The publication is a renowned work of scholarship.
B) The publication is a credible counterpoint to official publications on international affairs.
C) Although the publication is a forgery, it is used to promote anti-Semitic and anti-Israel propaganda.
D) Both "the publication is a renowned work of scholarship" and "the publication is a credible counterpoint to official publications on international affairs."

Question 19

Which of the following statements is most accurate regarding pogroms?

A) religious programs that are established for the benefit of the community
B) targeted massacres against religious groups
C) violent suppression of European Jews by European Christians
D) both "targeted massacres against religious groups" and "violent suppression of European Jews by European Christians"

Question 20

In what way do apocalyptic cults such as Aum Shinrikyō pose plausible threat scenarios?

A) Followers sincerely believe that their actions will bring about a spiritual upheaval in the world.
B) Many apocalyptic cult members possess weapons of mass destruction.
C) Apocalyptic cults have infiltrated mainline religions.
D) The membership of apocalyptic cults is vast.

Question 21

An Islamic jihad is conceptually the same as a Christian Crusade.

Question 22

Briefly discuss the threat from Iran's sponsorship of radical Islamist causes.

Question 23

The Afghan Arabs are international mujahideen who became prominent during the Soviet invasion of Iraq.

Question 24

The greater jihad requires warfare on behalf of the faith.

Question 25

Briefly discuss the threat from the international mujahideen and their fellow-believers.

Question 26

Why does Holocaust denial persist?

Question 27

The Aum Shinrikyō case represents the threat from weapons of mass destruction in the hands of religious extremists.

Question 28

The Lord's Resistance Army is an example of a Christian rebellion against Muslim oppression.

Question 29

Most major faiths have members who resort to violence. Which major faith do you think engages in less violence than others?

Question 30

What kinds of targets do radical Christians typically attack? Why have these targets been selected?

Question 31

What kinds of targets do radical Islamists typically attack? Why have these targets been selected?

Question 32

The Stern Gang attacked British interests in India.

Question 33

Religious terrorism began in the modern era.

Question 34

Briefly discuss the threat from apocalyptic cults such as Aum Shinrikyō.

Question 35

A pogrom is an attempt to peacefully convert members of another faith.

Question 36

Explain how scapegoating is used to justify persecutions such as the Nazi Holocaust.

Question 37

Why were the Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion written? Who wrote it? Who believes in it in the modern era?

Question 38

What will be the long-term effect of the Arab Spring on Al-Qa'ida?

Question 39

Only Muslims engage in religious terrorism.

Question 40

Kach is an example of a Jewish extremist movement.

Question 41

Explain the nature of state-sponsored religious terrorism. Discuss why it arises and whether it is likely to continue in the near future.

Question 42

In the modern era, radical Islamists have become the predominant perpetrators of religious terrorism. Why has this occurred? Explain the motives of modern radical Islamist violence.

Question 43

Christian and Muslim extremists are typically "exclusivist" in the sense that they believe that their faith is an exclusive "one True faith" for salvation. Compare and contrast the agendas of Christian and Muslim extremists. In what ways are their agendas similar? How do they differ?

Question 44

Discuss why religious terrorism and extremism are so difficult to defeat or otherwise counteract.

Question 45

In your opinion, why will cult-like movements such as the Lord's Resistance Army and Aum Shinrikyō continue to appear from time to time?

Question 46

Why has the Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion continued to be disseminated?

Question 47

In what ways have India and Pakistan justified their proxy wars against each other? How has religion been used as a central motive behind their conflict? Explain your answer.

Question 48

Discuss whether, in your opinion, an environment has been created for a new generation of Afghan Arabs as a result of the long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Question 49

Compare the differences between an Islamic jihad and a Christian Crusade. What is the modern perception of what a jihad is? How have groups like Al-Qa'ida used jihad to justify what they do?

Question 50

Discuss the ways in which violence in the name of religion is justified by those who participate in such violence.