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Realists have long argued that the international system must be based on hard calculations of power and interest. But in recent years, religion's role on the international scene has grown. The Influence of Faith examines religion as a growing factor in world politics and U.S. foreign policy. Particular attention is placed on the American reaction to the persecution of Christians and Jews overseas, as well as the role of faith-based groups such as missionary and relief organizations in the formulation and implementation of U.S. policy. The Influence of Faith considers these timely issues from diverse points of view, offering broad historical analysis as well as concrete examples taken from current affairs.

The subject of this book is the discourse of persecution used by Christians in Late Antiquity (c. 300–700 CE). Through a series of detailed case studies covering the full chronological and geographical span of the period, this book investigates how the conversion of the Roman Empire to Christianity changed the way that Christians and para- Christians perceived the hostile treatments they received, either by fellow Christians or by people of other religions. A closely related second goal of this volume is to encourage scholars to think more precisely about the terminological difficulties related to the study of persecution. Indeed, despite sustained interest in the subject, few scholars have sought to distinguish between such closely related concepts as punishment, coercion, physical violence, and persecution. Often, these terms are used interchangeably. Although there are no easy answers, an emphatic conclusion of the studies assembled in this volume is that “persecution” was a malleable rhetorical label in late antique discourse, whose meaning shifted depending on the viewpoint of the authors who used it. This leads to our third objective: to analyze the role and function played by rhetoric and polemic in late antique claims to be persecuted. Late antique Christian writers who cast their present as a repetition of past persecutions often aimed to attack the legitimacy of the dominant Christian faction through a process of othering. This discourse also expressed a polarizing worldview in order to strengthen the group identity of the writers’ community in the midst of ideological conflicts and to encourage steadfastness against the temptation to collaborate with the other side. Chapters 15 and 16 of this book are freely available as downloadable Open Access PDFs at http://www.taylorfrancis.com under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.

The book comes at a very critical moment in the debate on civilization and responds to the lack of scholarly attention by international relations and political theorists as to how the discourse of dialogue of cultures, religions, and civilizations can contribute to the future of world order.

Looking at topics across the spectrum of America's wars, religious groups, personalities, and ideas, this volume shows that even in an increasingly secular society, religious roots and values run deep throughout American society and are elevated in times of war. There is a long and deep relationship between religion, politics, and war in U.S. history. While there is a constitutional and legal separation of religion and the state in American society, religion has been and remains a potent force in American culture and politics affecting many aspects of life, including perspectives on war and peace and the experience of war in U.S. history. From the American Revolution to the wars of the 21st century, religious values have informed and influenced American attitudes toward war and peace and have provided rationale for support and non-support of American participation in conflicts. An overview essay surveys the background and significance of religion in American culture and provides historical context for discussions of contemporary topics. A timeline highlights key events related to wars and conflicts. The volume then includes more than 50 topical essays that discuss specific wars as well as religious themes within culture and politics, ultimately providing a detailed overview of the intersection of religion, war, and politics in contemporary America.

This clear and engaging guide introduces students to key areas of the field and shows how to apply an anthropological approach to the study of religion in the contemporary world. Written by an experienced teacher, it covers major traditional topics including definitions, theories, and beliefs, as well as symbols, myth, and ritual. The book also explores important but often overlooked issues such as morality, violence, fundamentalism, secularization, and new religious movements. The chapters all contain lively case studies of religions practiced around the world. The third edition of Introducing Anthropology of Religion is fully updated and contains additional content on material religion, visual religion, and affect theory, and a new chapter takes a closer look at medical and health topics. The author encourages the reader to engage throughout with the unifying themes of race, gender, and power, and how these themes are intertwined with anthropology of religion. Images, a glossary, and questions for discussion are included and additional resources are provided via a companion website.

What drives individuals to take up arms in the name of their faith? "Faith Warriors" delves into the complex history of religious warriors and holy battles, examining their multifaceted roles in defending, expanding, and shaping religious beliefs across diverse cultures and eras. This work is essential because it provides a critical understanding of how religious convictions have intersected with military action, a recurring theme throughout human history that continues to influence contemporary geopolitical landscapes. This book explores three primary interconnected themes. First, it examines the motivations and ideologies that inspire individuals and groups to engage in religious warfare. Second, it analyzes the strategies, tactics, and impact of holy battles on the course of history. Third, it investigates the long-term consequences of these conflicts on religious institutions, societies, and the relationship between faith and power. To understand these dynamics, the book provides a historical overview of key religious conflicts, from the early Crusades to the Islamic conquests and beyond. It explores the sociopolitical conditions that fostered these movements, the theological justifications employed, and the practical realities of warfare in different historical contexts. This provides the necessary foundation for understanding the complex interplay of religious fervor, political ambition, and military necessity. The central argument of "Faith Warriors" is that religious warfare is not simply a product of fanaticism or irrationality, but rather a complex phenomenon rooted in specific historical, social, and political circumstances. Understanding these circumstances allows us to move beyond simplistic characterizations and appreciate the multifaceted nature of religious violence. The book is structured in three parts. Part one introduces the concept of religious warfare, defining key terms and establishing a theoretical framework. Part two examines specific case studies of religious conflicts throughout history, analyzing their causes, conduct, and consequences. These cases illustrate the diverse manifestations of religious warfare across various cultures and time periods. Part three synthesizes the findings and explores the implications of religious warfare for understanding contemporary conflicts and the relationship between religion and violence in the modern world. This section focuses on practical applications of the historical analysis, offering insights into conflict resolution, interfaith dialogue, and the challenges of religious extremism. The arguments presented are supported by extensive historical research, drawing on primary source materials such as chronicles, religious texts, and military records, as well as secondary scholarship in military history, religious studies, and political science. The book uniquely synthesizes these diverse sources to provide a comprehensive and nuanced account of religious warfare. "Faith Warriors" connects to several academic disciplines including sociology, anthropology, and political science. By examining the social structures that support religious warfare, the cultural meanings ascribed to it, and the political objectives it serves, the book offers a multidisciplinary perspective on this complex phenomenon. These connections enhance the argument by demonstrating the broad relevance of religious warfare as a subject of study. This book offers a fresh perspective by avoiding simplistic narratives of religious conflict and focusing on the contextual factors that shape its manifestations. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the specific motivations, ideologies, and power dynamics that drive religious warriors in different historical and cultural settings. The tone is scholarly yet accessible, aiming to engage both academic and general readers interested in military history, religious studies, and the history of conflict. The target audience includes students, scholars, policymakers, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the relationship between religion and violence. This book is valuable because it challenges conventional wisdom and offers a nuanced perspective on a topic of ongoing relevance and importance. As a work of military history, "Faith Warriors" adheres to the genre's standards of factual accuracy, rigorous analysis, and clear presentation of evidence. It also incorporates elements of religious history, providing detailed accounts of the theological and cultural contexts of the conflicts examined. The book's scope is broad, encompassing a wide range of religious traditions and historical periods, but it focuses primarily on conflicts in which religious ideology played a significant role. It does not attempt to provide a comprehensive history of all wars involving religious actors, but rather to analyze the specific phenomenon of religious warfare. The information presented can be applied to understanding current conflicts involving religious actors, informing strategies for conflict resolution and promoting interfaith dialogue. It provides valuable insights for policymakers, religious leaders, and anyone working to address the challenges of religious extremism and violence. The book addresses the ongoing debates surrounding the role of religion in conflict, acknowledging the complexities and nuances of this issue. It challenges simplistic explanations and promotes a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between faith and violence.

"Archaeology & the New Testament" is the perfect book for those interested in the world of the New Testament and the history of early Christianity. This comprehensive volume brings together the latest discoveries and research from the field of archaeology to provide a unique perspective on the material culture of the ancient world and its contributions to our understanding of the biblical text. Each chapter is organized thematically, providing a comprehensive overview of the ways in which archaeology can enhance our understanding of the New Testament. With its interdisciplinary approach to the past, this book is a valuable resource for scholars and students of archaeology, biblical studies, and related fields, as well as for general readers with an interest in the history and culture of the ancient world. By reading "Archaeology & the New Testament," you will gain new insights into the world of the first century CE and the development of the history of Christianity, from its beginnings up to the present day.

Spanning various regions of Sub-Saharan Africa, the authors of this volume come together to explore the complex relationship between religion and democracy in contemporary Africa. As a result of the end of the Cold War and the fall of the Soviet Union, many African countries have come to the realization, however partial, that political and social change is inevitable in spite of government heavy-handedness and threats. It has also become evident that no political system that refuses to permit freedom of political expression and alternative systems of governance could continue to be sustained. It is in precisely this political climate that religious institutions have collaborated with other elements of civil society to call for political reforms, with the church often becoming the prominent voice against oppressive governments in countries such as Kenya and South Africa. It is the purpose of this book to assess how religion shapes political issues and to what extent religious forces influence the civil society. By acknowledging the role of the civil society, the essays recognize the resilience that comes out of Africa even when the sociopolitical situation seems unbearable.

As the news shows us every day, contemporary American culture and politics are rife with people who demonize their enemies by projecting their own failings and flaws onto them. But this is no recent development. Rather, as John Corrigan argues here, it’s an expression of a trauma endemic to America’s history, particularly involving our long domestic record of religious conflict and violence. Religious Intolerance, America, and the World spans from Christian colonists’ intolerance of Native Americans and the role of religion in the new republic’s foreign-policy crises to Cold War witch hunts and the persecution complexes that entangle Christians and Muslims today. Corrigan reveals how US churches and institutions have continuously campaigned against intolerance overseas even as they’ve abetted or performed it at home. This selective condemnation of intolerance, he shows, created a legacy of foreign policy interventions promoting religious freedom and human rights that was not reflected within America’s own borders. This timely, captivating book forces America to confront its claims of exceptionalism based on religious liberty—and perhaps begin to break the grotesque cycle of projection and oppression.

Virtually every trouble spot on the planet has some sort of religious component. One need only consider Iraq and Afghanistan, Iran, Israel and Palestine, Turkey, India, Pakistan, Russia, and China, to name but a few. Looming behind national issues, of course, is the problem of regional Islamist extremism and transnational Islamist terrorism. In all of these sectors, religious tensions, ideas and actors are of great geo-political importance to the United States. Yet, argues Thomas Farr, our foreign policy is gravely handicapped by an inability to understand the role of religion either nationally or globally. There is a strong disinclination in American diplomacy to consider religious factors at all, either as part of the problem or part of the solution. In this engaging and well-written insider account, Farr offers a closely reasoned argument that religious freedom, the freedom to practice one's own religion in private and in public, is an essential prerequisite for a stable, durable democratic society. If the U.S. wants to foster democracy that lasts, he says, it must focus on fostering religious liberty, especially in its public manifestations, properly limited in a way that advances the common good. Although we ourselves have developed a remarkably successful model of religious freedom, our foreign policy favors an aggressive secularism that is at odds with the American model. It is essential, says Farr, that we take an approach that recognizes the great importance of religion in people's lives.