Religion and Terror examines the link between religion and terrorism which can be found in the rhetoric of some world leaders, and in the popular media. It assesses the reality of the link, and the reasons it is made. It will do so from two interrelated perspectives: ideology (general) and the nature of religious conviction (individual). The course will investigate the history of religion and terror; examine the issue of motivation and justification for the use terror in religious conflicts; and explore the relationship between religious conviction and behaviour. It will evaluate the effectiveness of the rhetorical use of religion in armed conflict.