Religious Extremism (complete video 4:00) Do Now: Do some faiths lend themselves to extremism more than others?

Fundamentalism vs. Extremism Religious fundamentalism Movement that seeks to return to the foundations of the faith Also seeks to influence political policy Religious extremism Fundamentalism taken to violent “extremes” “People in one society often fear fundamentalism in other societies without recognizing it in their own.”

How much do you agree or disagree with the statement? Human spectrum How much do you agree or disagree with the statement?

Is All of Islam “Extreme”? “Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on.” – Trump campaign press release 12/7/15 “We cannot turn against one another by letting this fight be defined as a war between America and Islam. That, too, is what groups like ISIL want. ISIL does not speak for Islam. They are thugs and killers, part of a cult of death, and they account for a tiny fraction of more than a billion Muslims around the world, including millions of patriotic Muslim Americans who reject their hateful ideology.” – Obama 12/6/15 “Why does Islam, alone among the major religions, mark conversion to another faith as apostasy, punishable by death?...How can significant minorities (and a few majorities) of surveyed Muslims express approval or “understanding” of terrorist acts…? – deBlij, The Power of Place Video: Reza Aslan on CNN

How well do you know religion? Quiz: Bible OR Koran?

Islamic fundamentalism May emphasize the concept of jihad Holy war Koran actually doesn’t say a lot about jihad Unlike other holy books, it says make both peace and war with unbelievers It says “Fight them wherever you find them, and expel them from where they have expelled you” It also inveighs against killing civilians Taliban in Afghanistan Strictest fundamentalist regime

Christian fundamentalism Protestant fundamentalism in the U.S. Strict adherence to a literal interpretation of the Bible Contemporary society should align with biblical principles Political activism Prayer in public schools, teaching creationism in science classes, banning abortion, outlawing gay marriage Catholic fundamentalism Latin Mass; don’t recognize the pope

Are we in an age of “endarkenment”?