Chapter 7: Religious Terrorism

Test Bank

Multiple Choice

1. The invasions of the Islamic east in 1095 were referred to as the ______.

a. holocaust

b. crusades

c. cadres

d. phansi

Learning Objective: 7-1: Explain the concept of primary and secondary motives for religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Christian Crusades

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. In the modern era, which of the following faith traditions have become the predominant perpetrators of political violence motivated by religion?

a. Christian crusaders

b. Jewish zealots

c. radical Islamists

d. radical Hindus

Learning Objective: 7-1: Explain the concept of primary and secondary motives for religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Understanding Jihad as a Primary Religious Motive: An Observation and Caveat

Difficulty Level: Medium

3. Radical Christian extremists are “exclusivist” in their beliefs. Which of the following best summarizes this tendency?

a. They believe that their faith tradition is the “true faith.”

b. They believe that their faith tradition is compatible with other faith traditions.

c. They believe that their faith tradition may have flaws, but it is basically a good tradition.

d. None of these.

Learning Objective: 7-5: Discuss the future of religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Trends and Projections

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. Religious conflict between nations is rare in the modern era, but it arguably still occurs periodically between which of the following nations?

a. the United States and Iraq

b. Turkey and Russia

c. Ireland and Great Britain

d. Pakistan and India

Learning Objective: 7-3: Interpret some incidents of religious-motivated political violence as state-sponsored religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Regional Case: Pakistan and India

Difficulty Level: Medium

5. A new generation of “Afghan Arabs” arguably arose during the conflicts in which of the following countries?

a. The civil war in Sudan

b. The Balkan conflict

c. The interventions in Afghanistan and Iraq

d. The Iranian revolution

Learning Objective: 7-4: Interpret some incidents of religious-motivated political violence as dissident-sponsored religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Movement Case: The International Mujahideen (Holy Warriors for the Faith)

Difficulty Level: Medium

6. Cult-like violent extremism arises periodically, as indicated in which of the following?

a. Boko Haram

b. The Lord’s Resistance Army

c. The Stern Gang

d. None of these

Learning Objective: 7-2: Understand the historical context of religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Phase 2: The Lord’s Resistance Army

Difficulty Level: Medium

7. Which of the following statements most accurately explains the continued dissemination of the Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion?

a. The publication is a renowned work of scholarship.

b. The publication is a credible counterpoint to official publications on international affairs.

c. Although the publication is a forgery, it is used to promote anti-Semitic and anti-Israel propaganda.

d. Both “The publication is a renowned work of scholarship” and “The publication is a credible counterpoint to official publications on international affairs.”

Learning Objective: 7-2: Understand the historical context of religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Religious Scapegoating Case: The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion

Difficulty Level: Medium

8. Which of the following statements most accurately explains how participants justify violence in the name of religion?

a. God wills it, and will reward those who participate in violence done in the name of the faith.

b. The faith tradition is under attack from non-believers and must be defended at all costs.

c. Non-believers do not understand the faith tradition, and so they all must be exterminated.

d. Both “God wills it, and will reward those who participate in violence done in the name of the faith” and “The faith tradition is under attack from non-believers and must be defended at all costs.”

Learning Objective: 7-4: Interpret some incidents of religious-motivated political violence as dissident-sponsored religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Dissident Religious Terrorism in the Modern Era

Difficulty Level: Medium

9. Which of the following was founded in 11th-century Persia?

a. Lord’s Resistance Army

b. Pogroms

c. Order of Assassins

d. Cadres

Learning Objective: 7-2: Understand the historical context of religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The Assassins

Difficulty Level: Medium

10. In what way do apocalyptic cults such as Aum Shinrikyō pose plausible threat scenarios?

a. Followers sincerely believe that their actions will bring about a spiritual upheaval in the world.

b. Many apocalyptic cult members possess weapons of mass destruction.

c. Apocalyptic cults have infiltrated mainline religions.

d. The membership of apocalyptic cults is vast.

Learning Objective: 7-4: Interpret some incidents of religious-motivated political violence as dissident-sponsored religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Cult Case: Aum Shinrikyō (Supreme Truth; Aleph)

Difficulty Level: Easy

11. Which of the following used phansis when sacrificing victims?

a. Order of Assassins

b. Lord’s Resistance Army

c. Crusaders

d. Thuggees

Learning Objective: 7-2: Understand the historical context of religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: A Secret Cult of Murder

Difficulty Level: Medium

12. Evidence exists that strongly concludes Iran has sponsored which of the following allies or movements?

a. Hezbollah

b. Hamas

c. Palestine Islamic Jihad

d. All of these

Learning Objective: 7-3: Interpret some incidents of religious-motivated political violence as state-sponsored religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: State-Sponsored Religious Terrorism

Difficulty Level: Medium

13. The 2011 Arab Spring led to which of the following outcomes?

a. Democracy spread throughout the Middle East.

b. Peace slowly but steadily occurred among warring factions.

c. Thousands of Islamist fighters volunteered to wage jihad against perceived opponents.

d. Both “Democracy spread throughout the Middle East” and “Peace slowly but steadily occurred among warring factions.”

Learning Objective: 7-4: Interpret some incidents of religious-motivated political violence as dissident-sponsored religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Movement Case: The International Mujahideen (Holy Warriors for the Faith)

Difficulty Level: Medium

14. Which of the following observations is most correct?

a. Religious terrorism began in the modern era.

b. Religious terrorism was rare throughout history.

c. Religious terrorism has a long history.

d. Religious terrorism is unique to the Middle East.

Learning Objective: 7-2: Understand the historical context of religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Various

Difficulty Level: Medium

15. The Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan stimulated the rise of which self-professed movement?

a. the Afghan Islamists

b. the Afghan Jihadists

c. the Afghan Crusaders

d. the Afghan Arabs

Learning Objective: 7-4: Interpret some incidents of religious-motivated political violence as dissident-sponsored religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Movement Case: The International Mujahideen (Holy Warriors for the Faith)

Difficulty Level: Medium

16. In the modern era, ______.

a. only Muslims engage in religious terrorism

b. Christians never engage in religious terrorism

c. Jewish and Buddhist terrorism is common

d. religious terrorism has increased in frequency, scale, and global reach

Learning Objective: 7-1: Explain the concept of primary and secondary motives for religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Religious Terrorism

Difficulty Level: Easy

17. The Lord’s Resistance Army represents the case of ______.

a. a cult-like movement in Uganda

b. Christian rebellion against Muslim oppression in Sudan

c. a Christian militia in Lebanon

d. none of these

Learning Objective: 7-2: Understand the historical context of religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Phase 2: The Lord’s Resistance Army

Difficulty Level: Easy

18. ______ is considered to be the central feature of New Terrorism.

a. Economy

b. Education

c. Religion

d. Gender

Learning Objective: 7-5: Discuss the future of religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Trends and Projections

Difficulty Level: Easy

19. What of the following statements is most accurate about the thuggees?

a. They were thugs.

b. They represent a case of religious organized crime.

c. They were suppressed by the British in India.

d. Both “They were thugs” and “They represent a case of religious organized crime.”

Learning Objective: 7-2: Understand the historical context of religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: A Secret Cult of Murder

Difficulty Level: Easy

20. Which of the following statement is most accurate regarding pogroms?

a. Religious programs that are established for the benefit of the community.

b. Targeted massacres against religious groups.

c. Violent suppression of European Jews by European Christians.

d. Both “targeted massacres against religious groups” and “violent suppression of European Jews by European Christians”.

Learning Objective: 7-2: Understand the historical context of religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Religious Scapegoating Case: The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion

Difficulty Level: Medium

True/False

1. An Islamic jihad is conceptually the same as a Christian crusade.

Learning Objective: 7-1: Explain the concept of primary and secondary motives for religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Understanding Jihad as a Primary Religious Motive: An Observation and Caveat

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. Religious terrorism began in the modern era.

Learning Objective: 7-2: Understand the historical context of religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Various

Difficulty Level: Easy

3. The Afghan Arabs are international Mujahideen who became prominent during the Soviet invasion of Iraq.

Learning Objective: 7-4: Interpret some incidents of religious-motivated political violence as dissident-sponsored religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Movement Case: The International Mujahideen (Holy Warriors for the Faith)

Difficulty Level: Easy

4. The Aum Shinrikyō case represents the threat from weapons of mass destruction in the hands of religious extremists.

Learning Objective: 7-4: Interpret some incidents of religious-motivated political violence as dissident-sponsored religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Cult Case: Aum Shinrikyō (Supreme Truth; Aleph)

Difficulty Level: Easy

5. Only Muslims engage in religious terrorism.

Learning Objective: 7-1: Explain the concept of primary and secondary motives for religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Various

Difficulty Level: Easy

6. The Lord’s Resistance Army is an example of a Christian rebellion against Muslim oppression.

Learning Objective: 7-2: Understand the historical context of religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Phase 2: The Lord’s Resistance Army

Difficulty Level: Easy

7. Violent anti-Jewish campaigns in eastern Europe are referred to as pogroms.

Learning Objective: 7-2: Understand the historical context of religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Religious Scapegoating Case: The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion

Difficulty Level: Easy

8. The jihadist movement has become a globalized phenomenon.

Learning Objective: 7-5: Discuss the future of religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Trends and Projections

Difficulty Level: Easy

9. Christian extremists continue to promote a religious motivation for the war on terrorism.

Learning Objective: 7-5: Discuss the future of religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Trends and Projections

Difficulty Level: Easy

10. Al Qaeda has become more than an organization—it evolved to become a symbol and ideology.

Learning Objective: 7-5: Discuss the future of religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Trends and Projections

Difficulty Level: Easy

Short Answer

1. What are the Christian Crusades?

Learning Objective: 7-2: Understand the historical context of religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Christian Crusades

Difficulty Level: Easy

2. Why were the Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion written? Who wrote it? Who believes in it in the modern era?

Learning Objective: 7-2: Understand the historical context of religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Religious Scapegoating Case: The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion

Difficulty Level: Medium

3. Briefly discuss the threat from apocalyptic cults such as Aum Shinrikyō.

Learning Objective: 7-4: Interpret some incidents of religious-motivated political violence as dissident-sponsored religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Cult Case: Aum Shinrikyō (Supreme Truth; Aleph)

Difficulty Level: Easy

4. Briefly discuss the threat from the International Mujahideen and their fellow-believers.

Learning Objective: 7-4: Interpret some incidents of religious-motivated political violence as dissident-sponsored religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Movement Case: The International Mujahideen (Holy Warriors for the Faith)

Difficulty Level: Medium

5. Briefly discuss the threat from Iran’s sponsorship of radical Islamist causes.

Learning Objective: 7-3: Interpret some incidents of religious-motivated political violence as state-sponsored religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Nationa Case: Iran

Difficulty Level: Medium

6. What will be the long-term effect of the Arab Spring on al-Qaeda?

Learning Objective: 7-4: Interpret some incidents of religious-motivated political violence as dissident-sponsored religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Movement Case: The International Mujahideen (Holy Warriors for the Faith)

Difficulty Level: Medium

7. Most major faiths have members who resort to violence. Which major faith do you think engages in LESS violence than others?

Learning Objective: Various

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Various

Difficulty Level: Medium

8. Identify and discuss the trends and projects for the future of religious terrorism.

Learning Objective: 7-5: Discuss the future of religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Trends and Projections

Difficulty Level: Medium

Essay

1. Discuss why religious terrorism and extremism are so difficult to defeat or otherwise counteract.

Learning Objective: 7-5: Discuss the future of religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Trends and Projections

Difficulty Level: Medium

2. Compare the differences between an Islamic jihad and a Christian Crusade. What is the modern perception of what a jihad is? How have groups like Al Qaeda used jihad to justify what they do?

Learning Objective: 7-2: Understand the historical context of religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Various

Difficulty Level: Hard

3. In the modern era, radical Islamists have become the predominant perpetrators of religious terrorism. Why has this occurred? Explain the motives of modern radical Islamist violence.

Learning Objective: 7-1: Explain the concept of primary and secondary motives for religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Understanding Jihad as a Primary Religious Motive: An Observation and Caveat.

Difficulty Level: Hard

4. Christian and Muslim extremists are typically exclusivist in the sense that they believe that their faith is an exclusive “true faith” for salvation. Compare and contrast the agendas of Christian and Muslim extremists. In what ways are their agendas similar? How do they differ?

Learning Objective: 7-5: Discuss the future of religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Trends and Projections

Difficulty Level: Hard

5. In what ways have India and Pakistan justified their proxy wars against each other? How has religion been used as a central motive behind their conflict? Explain your answer.

Learning Objective: 7-3: Interpret some incidents of religious-motivated political violence as state-sponsored religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Regional Case: Pakistan and India

Difficulty Level: Medium

6. Discuss whether, in your opinion, an environment has been created for a new generation of Afghan Arabs as a result of the long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Learning Objective: 7-4: Interpret some incidents of religious-motivated political violence as dissident-sponsored religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Movement Case: The International Mujahideen (Holy Warriors for the Faith)

Difficulty Level: Hard

7. In your opinion, why will cult-like movements such as the Lord’s Resistance Army and Aum Shinrikyō continue to appear from time to time?

Learning Objective: 7-2: Understand the historical context of religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Various

Difficulty Level: Hard

8. Explain the nature of state-sponsored religious terrorism. Discuss why it arises and whether it is likely to continue in the near future.

Learning Objective: 7-3: Interpret some incidents of religious-motivated political violence as state-sponsored religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: State-Sponsored Religious Terrorism

Difficulty Level: Medium

9. Why has the Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion continued to be disseminated?

Learning Objective: 7-2: Understand the historical context of religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Religious Scapegoating Case: The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion

Difficulty Level: Medium

10. Discuss the ways in which violence in the name of religion is justified by those who participate in such violence.

Learning Objective: 7-1: Explain the concept of primary and secondary motives for religious terrorism.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Various

Difficulty Level: Hard