The vast majority of terrible acts carried out in the world through the ages have been in the name of religion. News Shopper columnists RUPERT SMYTHE and RACHEL BRADMAN consider whether religion is to blame and at what point honestly-held beliefs breach acceptable limits and turn into

destructive religious fervour.

Islam is not our enemy

SO, THE die is cast. The world stands on the brink of a massive conflict after terrorists hit New York and Washington.

The attack has now drawn into line two irresistible forces the ideology of democracy versus the “fanatic” ideals of Middle Eastern Islam.

But can we see the impending conflict in such simple terms? National tabloids with their screaming headlines certainly do.

What do we really know about Islam? Not as much as we know about Coca-Colonial America for sure.

Well, let's start with a bit from the Koran, the Muslim holy book: “Never let your hatred of people lead you into the sin of aggression, but rather, help one another in furthering virtue, and do not help one another in furthering evil and enmity and remain conscious of God, for behold, He is severe in His retribution.”

It doesn't sound like a rallying cry for bloodthirsty warmongers, as Muslims are often made out to be.

The truth is, the Koran regards acts of terror as a direct challenge to the authority of Allah and so, unpardonable.

Moreover, jihad, or holy war, cannot be proclaimed by any psychopath with a gun. It is a fight against tyranny and has to be sanctioned by the highest Islamic authorities with the broadest consensus in the state. Jihad is never targeted at innocents, only the enemy's troops much like the code of conventional warfare.

The carnage in America was ordered by terrorists who have nothing to do with Islam.

They are the enemies of all religions.

Paying a price for religion

ONCE again religious fanaticism has played a

central role in an international disaster.

Belief should always be respected but religion, in the hands of zealots, like those who have brought Islam into disrepute, is a dirty word.

How can a fervent belief in Allah and the desire to ascend to Paradise justify suicide bombings and the slaughter of innocents? It's not martyrdom, it's insanity.

Rational Muslims have condemned the events in America. But such things happen time and time again, combining twisted logic and religious compulsion.

Just look back at British history to see how much damage religion has caused. You only have to mention the name Bloody Mary to remember the thousands of Protestants murdered during her reign.

The same thing happened to Catholics when Elizabeth I was on the throne.

And what about the trouble in Northern Ireland?

Now we face the terrifying prospect of a modern-day version of the Crusades. Bush speaks of a long, hard struggle to weed out terrorism, making it sound like a holy war.

The deputy chairman of the Taliban's ruling council of ministers, Mullah Mohammad Hasan Akhond, says: “America and all imperialists in the world, Jews and Christians and their supporters intend to destroy the Islamic order, which has been established at the cost of our blood.”

And he has called for a renewed jihad.

When religious fervour replaces reason, it becomes the root of much evil.