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About this quote

What does it mean?
Harris asserts that specific Islamic doctrines regarding martyrdom and jihad explain Muslim violence.
In plain terms
Muslim violence is explained by Islamic teachings on dying for faith and holy war.
What can you take from it?
Examine specific religious doctrines to understand claims about violence.

Where it applies

  • security analysis
  • theological study
  • conflict resolution

Putting it to work

  • study religious doctrines
  • analyze violence sources

Questions to consider

  • Do religious texts directly cause violence?
  • How do we distinguish doctrine from practice?

Another view

Attributing violence solely to doctrine ignores political and economic factors.

More from Sam Harris

  1. There are other ideologies with which to expunge the last vapors of reasonableness from a society's discourse, but Islam is undoubtedly one of the best we've g…

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  2. [M]uch of the world's population could be annihilated on account of religious ideas that belong on the same shelf with Batman.[2]

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  3. We are now in the 21st century: all books, including the Koran, should be fair game for flushing down the toilet without fear of violent reprisal.

    Permalink to quote #46

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