Reaction Piece WK 4

Question, Elaboration, Rebuttal Wk4

Reaction Piece3 WK 4
This reaction piece is done on a lecture that was recorded. The lecture was done by Mark Juergensmeyer and it was called “Terror in the Mind of God”. Obviously this lecture was on religion but he raised the issue that religion has taken a “violent turn”. At first I wasn’t really sure where this lecture was going but then he started to talk about his trip to Iraq. He talks about this man he went to see who was preaching to a group of people. I can’t remember the name of this man but Mark said that this man spoke with such conviction. He told the people that they had lost their faith and that they were not helping in the war. He spoke of a war between religions. He told the people basically that if they had faith they would have to take up arms. Mark went on to talk about how he got the chance to meet some of the men who decided to take up arms. Mark said that these men were around 19 years of age. When Mark asked them why? The young men did not know what to say.
These young men were not just willing to die for what they believe in but they were also willing to kill for it. I am honestly speechless, fighting for what you believe in can be an honorable thing, but in a nonviolent way. Religion is important to so many people, and most have their own interpretation of it. But having different styles or beliefs doesn’t call for war. Maybe I just don’t understand. Actually I don’t understand. How can someone be willing to say I will kill for what I believe in? I will kill innocent women and children for what I will believe in. dying for a belief may not be the best way to prove you have faith, but suicide bombs, shooting, killing other people is the absolute worst. In their religion is their nothing about committing murder? I hope that, well they probably do condone murder since they do it so often. I can’t stress how much I feel for all those who have to suffer because of a religion. How does someone fix a country with a religion that encourages murder?