Does religiosity, in any form, drive societies toward violence? Although all religions portray themselves as advocates of peace, well-being, compassion and reverence for life, it is striking that, in the modern era, they are often linked to conflict and war. While Islam appears to be the most frequently subjected to such accusations today, other religions have also come to be associated, albeit to varying degrees, with violence. For a Muslim who understands Islam as a source of peace, safety and benevolence toward the world, being labeled as violent carries a weight far beyond mere defamation. Yet, the reality remains: every major religion has, at one point or another, confronted allegations of violence, and Islam is no exception.
Among all religions, Judaism was undoubtedly the most protected and avoided controversy. It benefited from legal safeguards, and its influence in intellectual, scientific and cultural spheres helped reinforce this posi
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