2015 RNA Annual Conference

2015 RNA Annual Conference


Panel: Religion and Violence

August 29, 2015

From the rampages of ISIS to the Charlie Hebdo and Boston Marathon massacres, from the strong religious overtones of the Russia-Ukraine war to attacks on American mosques and Muslims, and to the kidnap-murders of Jewish and Arab youth in Israel, the question regularly arises: Why do people kill — and die — for religion? But is this even the right question, when far more people who share the same religion, background and grievances of the killers refrain from killing? What other factors are involved?

Peter Smith - Religion Editor, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Naveed Ahmad - Managing Director, Silent Heroes, Invisible Bridges
Hasan Azad - Doctoral Candidate, Columbia University, Contributor, Religion Dispatches and Islamic Monthly
Tom Heneghan - Religion Editor and Senior Correspondent, France, ThomsonReuters