The Morality of Terrorism

The Morality of Terrorism: Religious and Secular Justifications examines ""terrorist tradition"" from its origin in the revealed religions to its present manifestations, which are largely secular though not exclusively so. Important common themes running through all the essays are the moral climate that produces terrorism, the doctrines terrorists used to justify themselves, and the moral predicaments terrorists create.
The book is organized into three parts. The essays in Part I focus on religious terror. Topics covered include the successful efforts of Jewish terrorists in the first century to provoke a popular uprising; the myths of Prometheus and Satan; and the myths and fantasies in the minds of terrorists and how these myths are related to the ramshackle world of Western civilization. Part II deals with various forms of state terror. It includes essays such as the French Reign of Terror and Nazi terrorism. Part III, devoted to rebel terror, includes essays such as terrorists' justifications and their abilities to demonstrate sincerity though suffering; and responses to rebel terrorism by communities deeply committed to protecting individual rights.

Contenu

Preface
Introduction
Part I: Religious Terror
Introduction to Part I
Chapter 1 Terror and the Messiah: An Ancient Experience and Some Modern Parallels
Chapter 2 Models of Rebellion
Chapter 3 The Unraveling of the Myth of Progress
Chapter 4 International Terrorism and the Just War
Chapter 5 Liberation Theology: Its Methodological Foundation for Violence
Part II: State Terror
Introduction to Part II
Chapter 6 The French Revolution: "Jacobin Terror"
Chapter 7 Fascism's Philosophy of Violence and The Concept of Terror
Chapter 8 Nazi Terrorism: The Complete Trap and the Final Solution
Chapter 9 Document on Terror
Part III: Rebel Terror
Introduction to Part III
Chapter 10 The Moral Issue: Some Aspects of Individual Terror
Chapter 11 Terrorism: The Immorality of Belief
Chapter 12 Guilt Transfer
Chapter 13 Do Terrorists Have Rights?
Chapter 14 The Laws of War and Terrorism
Chapter 15 Eliminating the Terrorist Opportunity
Selected Bibliography
Index
About the Contributors