Life or death? A politico-philosophical reflection on religious fundamentalism and political extremism

Abstract

In this chapter I reflect on the relationship between religion and violence. I come to this as a Catholic-Christian involved in inter-religious dialogue, particularly Jewish-Christian. Specifically, I seek (1) to explore how insights drawn from inter-religious dialogue might help us understand the link which some make between religion and violence and (2) suggest how such genuine dialogue might contribute a balancing voice in a time of introverted nationalism, religious-sometimes violent-fundamentalism and political extremism.