Religion, Terror, and Error.

• Author: Morris, Greta N.
• Position: Book review

In Douglas Johnston's important and thoughtful book, two themes stand out:

Religion is playing an increasingly important role in international and domestic political affairs. To understand and deal effectively with international issues, including terrorism, Americans (particularly those involved in diplomacy or the military) must have a much better understanding of religious movements, especially Islam.

To be effective in dealing with other nations in an era when religious or identity- based politics are increasingly important -and particularly in dealing with terrorism - "American foreign policy must develop a capacity for spiritual engagement." (p. 5)

The first theme would be hard to dispute: In the most spectacular attacks, terrorist actions motivated by extremist forms of Islam killed almost 3000 people on September 11, 2001. But terrorists motivated by extremist strains of Islam have also killed hundreds of others: in Bali, Madrid, London, East Africa and Fort Hood.

Johnston, who is the President and Founder of the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy (ICRD), completed his book prior to the "Arab spring," and although movements in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Syria have been motivated by demands for freedom and human rights, groups linked with Islam, such as the Muslim Brotherhood, are clearly playing a role in efforts to forge new systems of government (particularly in Egypt).

The second theme - the need for "spiritual or faith-based engagement" as part of U.S. foreign policy - is more controversial in a nation where separation of church and state is a fundamental principle. Nonetheless, Johnston makes a convincing case that spiritual engagement is not only necessary, but also possible without violating the First Amendment.

Johnston begins his discussion of the first issue - the need for greater understanding of religious movements, particularly Islam - by reviewing Islamic grievances against the U.S., and "western" grievances against Islam. Among the Muslim grievances against the West, he cites contentions that the decline of Muslim societies is a legacy of European colonialism and American neo- colonialism and that Islamic extremism and terrorism are reactions to western imperialism. He also notes criticisms that the U.S. is not serious about promoting democracy in the Muslim world and props up autocratic regimes. Among the western grievances (in addition to terrorist attacks in the name of Islam) are: that radical Muslims...