To understand how Islamic jihad gained support in Southeast Asia, it is important to gain cognisance of its founding principle. And the present wave of Islamic revivalism and the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in Southeast Asia originated during the 1970s. The movement started as a reaction to the disillusionment and failure associated with modern neo-liberal…
Category: Religion
Why and how did al-Qaeda come to gain support among Islamic militants in Southeast Asia? How can Australia redress this situation?
The study of the history and origins of support for Al Qaeda in Southeast Asia is highly relevant in the contemporary world. From a study of the rationale and motive of such groups, we can arrive at the security implications for the Australian government and the preventative measures that could be taken to thwart any…
The Pentateuch: An Overview
The Pentateuch is an important historical and legal document in the Christian tradition. They essentially depict the lives of the “Chosen People”, right from the origins up till the demise of Moses. In doing so, these sacred scriptures inform the followers of Christian faith about the rules and laws governing the lives of Israelites during…
Slave Religion by Albert J. Raboteau
Author Albert Raboteau’s book will find a place in any American religious history canon. Raboteau, being an African American himself, was able to bring out the compassion and earnestness in his cause – which is to bring to light the plight and travails of enslaved Black Americans from a religious perspective. The book is written…
Wiccan rites, rituals and symbols
Wicca is another name for the presently surviving Pagan religious cult, also sometimes referred to as the neo-pagan religion. It has been brought to public awareness in recent times by a retired British civil servant called Gerald Gardner. The last fifty years or so has seen an increased following for this religion due to its…
Outline and review of arguments and controversies generated by Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion:
Right from the publication of his first major work “The Selfish Gene Theory”, Richard Dawkins is never free of controversy. While Dawkins is impeccable as a scholar and an academic, most of his detractors are from the religious and conservative sections of the population. Over the years, Dawkins’ works on evolutionary biology have drawn equally…
Sufism in India
Sufism in India today is strongly linked to Imam Ahmed Raza Khan. In a way he was instrumental in the flourishing of Sufism and Sunnism. The Imam, who lived during the 14th century, tried to integrate orthodox Islamic values within the contemporary society. He explicated to his disciples such values as “the noble qualities of…