A Critical Study of Martyrdom & Terrorism

Catalog description

After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the concept of martyrdom underwent a radical transformation in the public imagination, with media coverage of jihadist suicide bombers describing a “martyr” as any person who dies for his or her faith—even those who murder innocents. This course explores the theological, political, and legal dimensions of martyrdom, as an act of political violence, to argue that martyrdom is a form of nonviolent political resistance. As such, martyr narratives ought to be reclaimed as theological resources for resisting political violence today.