Terror and Terrorists

Tensions between secular culture and a religious practice often focus on education. How should governments balance the right to religious freedom and the best interests of the state, its citizens, and the larger world? Since the September 11th attacks Pakistani President Musharraf has tried to reform the Islamic religious schools in his country, some of which were responsible for educating leaders of the Taliban and thousands of young people who became recruits for Al Qaeda and other extremist groups.

Economist and humanitarian, Amartya Sen writes about his multiple identities. He believes "the main hope of harmony lies not in any imagined uniformity, but in the plurality of our identities.

Since September 11th reporters have searched for explanations for the attacks on the United States and the murder of almost 3,000 innocent men, women, and children from over 80 nations. Buddhists, Christians, Jews, and Muslims were among those who died that day.

In the introduction to these readings, Professor Marc Gopin writes about the complexity of identity and religion and its ability to shape human behavior. He writes, "It turns out that since the beginning of time great spiritual minds and courageous people of vision in all cultures, in all corners of the globe, have evolved a rich tapestry of oral and written literature, stories, rituals, and symbols, which express the most exalted ethical values.