The Holy War Idea in Western and Islamic Traditions

by James Turner Johnson

In this book James Turner Johnson explores the cultural traditions of the Christian West and Islam in an effort to encourage a constructive dialogue on the nature of war for religion. No other issue highlights the difference between these two cultures more clearly or with more relevance for their interrelations throughout history and in the contemporary world. In the West, war for religion is most often dismissed as a relic of the past, belonging to a time less rational and less civilized than our own. From this perspective, Muslims who advocate holy war are seen as religious fanatics who are supporting criminal and terrorist activity. By contrast, war for religion has an honored place in the Islamic world, associated with a perennial religious striving in the path of faith by heart, tongue, and hands. This striving is designated by the now familiar term jihad. In fact, striving by the sword is the "lesser" jihad, and many Muslims themselves are troubled by reductionistic appeals to jihad to justify terrorism, revolution, and anti-western activity. According to Johnson, for there to be any dialogue between Islam and the West we must understand that in the West religion and politics are placed in separate spheres, while normative Islam regards religion as properly integral to the political order. From this perspective religious concerns should have a place in statecraft, including the use of military force. Three questions form the heart of Johnson's Is there a legitimate justification for war for religion? What authority is required? What is the proper conduct in such wars? In each case, he asks the question by comparing religious wars with other kinds of wars. The picture that emerges is of war for religion not as an expression of fanatical excess but as a controlled, purposeful activity. With an eye to the present day, Johnson examines cases in history where distinctive models of war for religion were implemented by rulers. This in turn sets the stage for critical judgment on contemporary appeals to the idea of jihad in relation to political aims. Well known for his work on peace and just war, Johnson draws upon a wide base of historical and comparative scholarship. While the book is anchored primarily on the past, on the roots and historical development of the two traditions, his aim throughout is to shed light on contemporary attitudes, ideals, and behaviors, especially as they bear on real problems that affect relations between Western and Islamic cultures in the world today.

208 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1997

Reviews

[Dr. Phoenix · Rating 4 out of 5]

This baby took some long hard dedication.

Not that it was boring by any means, but it did tend to be a typically academically oriented manuscript. Loaded with precise historical information and cross cultural references linking the Just war traditions of Islam and Christianity, it provided a wealth of insights and perspectives, despite its age.

Despite having recently turned 21 years old, this text is both interesting and informative. It is a tough job to make a text speak to the lay public and academics alike but James Turner Johnson, distinguished professor of religion at Rutgers University, has that art.

He is a prolific writer and has made important contributions to the understanding of law morality and religion. I recommend this for anyone interested in expanding their knowledge of the history and development of the Holy War concept, of Jihad and how that relates to modern statecraft.

I gave it 4 stars not because any lack of writing skill, rather simply because it does tend slightly to be redundant in certain areas and may prove a challenge to those who are uninitiated in the subject matter.