1. Key Issue #4 – Why Do Territorial Conflicts Arise Among Religious Groups?
Cold War – global conflict about democracy vs. communism
Cold War ends 1990-ish – local conflict about cultural diversity – religion
Resurgence of religious fundamentalism – literal interpretation of religious documents; strict and intense adherence to basic principles of religion
Intense resistance to cultural and economic globalization; desire to preserve distinctive cultural identity.
Insistence by some groups that their beliefs are the ONLY correct one. (Exclusionary views)

2. 2 Kinds of Religious Conflict
Religion vs. Government Policies
Religion vs. Religion
Which one is the “War on Terrorism”?

3. Religion vs. Govt. / Econ. Modernization
Religion vs. Social Change
Taliban Islamists vs. Western Values
Hinduism (caste system) vs. Social Equality
Evangelical Xtians (LRA) in Uganda vs. Homosexuality
Religion vs. Communism
Eastern Orthodox Xtianity & Islam vs. Communism
Buddhism vs. Southeast Asian countries (“immolation”)
Angkor Wat in Cambodia – Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge

6. Self-immolation, also called “bonzo” is tolerated by some elements of Mahayana Buddhism and Hinduism, and it has been practiced for many centuries, especially in India, for various reasons, including Sati, political protest, devotion, and renouncement
Thích Quảng Đức, and many others, immolated themselves in protest of the discriminatory treatment endured by Buddhists under the Roman Catholic administration of President Ngô Đình Diệm in South Vietnam — even though violence against oneself is prohibited by most interpretations of Buddhist doctrine.
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“Stand Up For Tibet” “Tibet Burning” “as a Political Tool”

7. Pol Pot’s communist Khmer Rouge committed genocide against 20% of Cambodia’s population

8. Religion vs. Religion Religious Wars in Ireland
Catholic Republic of Ireland
Protestant Northern Ireland
Protestants (58%) discriminate against Catholic minority (42%)
Catholics resist persecution and seek reunification w/ Ireland

9. Religious Wars in the Middle East
Crusades – Christians vs. Muslims
Jews vs. Muslims in Palestine

10. Religions face off in Jerusalem
The Western Wall (Wailing Wall) is the only remaining portion of Second Temple on the site of the original temple built by King Solomon in 1000 B.C.E.
The Temple Mount contains The Dome of the Rock where Muhammad ascended to heaven, and Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac.

11. Some 230,000 Israelis live in 145 settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, not including the scores of illegal outposts which Israel had promised the United States it would dismantle.
Currently 59% of the West bank is officially under Israeli civil and security control. Another 23% of it is under Palestinian civil control, but Israeli security control. The remainder of the territory is governed by the Palestinian National Authority.

12. Map of Israeli settlements in West Bank
V-P Biden on two-state solution
V-P Biden visits Israel