It\u2019s very difficult to understand the things that impel people to some of the dreadful actions that we have seen over the last few years unless you have some sense of religious literacy. You may reject and condemn it \u201d\u201c that\u2019s fine \u201d\u201c but you still need to understand what they\u2019re talking about.<\/p>\n
And in order to understand, religious people in Europe must regain the ability to share our religious vocabulary with the rest of the continent. If we treat religiously-motivated violence solely as a security issue, or a political issue, then it will be incredibly difficult \u201d\u201c probably impossible \u201d\u201c to overcome it. A theological voice needs to be part of the response, and we should not be bashful in offering that.<\/p>\n
This requires a move away from the argument that has become increasingly popular, which is to say that ISIS is \u201d\u02dcnothing to do with Islam\u2019, or that Christian militia in the Central African Republic are nothing to do with Christianity, or Hindu nationalist persecution of Christians in South India is nothing to do with Hinduism. Until religious leaders stand up and take responsibility for the actions of those who do things in the name of their religion, we will see no resolution.<\/p>\n