NPS logo Naval Postgraduate School
Dudley Knox Library
        View Item 
        •   Calhoun Home
        • Theses and Dissertations
        • 1. Thesis and Dissertation Collection, all items
        • View Item
        •   Calhoun Home
        • Theses and Dissertations
        • 1. Thesis and Dissertation Collection, all items
        • View Item
        • How to search in Calhoun
        • My Accounts
        • Ask a Librarian
        JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

        Browse

        All of CalhounCollectionsThis Collection

        My Account

        LoginRegister

        Statistics

        Most Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors

        Convergence and religious terrorism in America

        Thumbnail
        View/Open
        Icon04Sep_Ashby.pdf (284.1Kb)
        Download Record
        Download to EndNote/RefMan (RIS)
        Download to BibTex
        Author
        Brinsfield, Gregory S.
        Ashby, Christopher B.
        Date
        2004-09
        Advisor
        Simons, Anna
        Second Reader
        Lober, George
        Metadata
        Show full item record
        Abstract
        Religious terrorism, as most recently highlighted by the horrendous 9/11 attacks, is not a new phenomenon. It is not restricted to any one particular religion or belief system, nor is it reserved as a weapon against foreign lands. Domestic religious terrorism is just as prevalent throughout history and is brought about by certain converging factors at particularly susceptible times within the society, such as economic difficulties, new or modified technologies, and social uncertainties. Under these conditions, a charismatic leader with an appealing ideology and access to sufficient resources may become a very powerful threat to society, pitting the secular against the divine. This type of convergence may result in altogether new religious movements, or the unexpected growth of fringe groups that, until they act, are not even identified. Examining the historical convergences of the Reformation, First and Second Great Awakenings, and the trends of modern domestic society, we find that the threads which hold these movements together remain consistent throughout history. Enabled by the rapid growth of technology, these groups have unprecedented potential power. A group that decides to become offensive or use weapons of mass destruction, such as Japan's Aum Shinrikyo, may pose an unacceptable risk to our country.
        Description
        Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
        URI
        http://hdl.handle.net/10945/1464
        Collections
        • 1. Thesis and Dissertation Collection, all items

        Related items

        Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

        • Thumbnail

          Homeland Security Affairs Journal, Volume II - 2006: Issue 2, July 

          Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) (Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate SchoolCenter for Homeland Defense and Security, 2006-07);
          July 2006. The July 2006 issue of Homeland Security Affairs offers articles about risk perception, domestic right wing extremist groups, social network analysis, and the impact of foreign policy on homeland security. It ...
        • Thumbnail

          On terrorism: an analysis of terrorism as a form of warfare. 

          Hanle, Donald J. (1987);
          This thesis examines the proposition that terrorism is a form of war. To do this, this paper first analyzes warfare in terms of what it is and how it functions. This is done by surveying classical military thinkers such ...
        • Thumbnail

          An alternate military strategy for the War on Terrorism 

          Canonico, Peter J. (Monterey California. Naval Postgraduate School, 2004-12);
          Alternate Military Strategy for the War on Terrorism calls for addressing the war as a global insurgency. Addressing the war on terrorism as a Global Insurgency provides an alternative strategic framework for prosecuting ...
        Feedback

        411 Dyer Rd. Bldg. 339
        Monterey, CA 93943

         

        circdesk@nps.edu
        (831) 656-2947
        DSN 756-2947

        Start Your Research

        • Research Guides
        • How to Cite
        • Search Basics
        • Ask a Librarian
        • Library Liaisons
        • Graduate Writing Center
        • Thesis Processing Office
        • Statistics, Maps & More
        • Copyright at NPS

        Find & Download

        • Databases List
        • Articles, Books & More
        • NPS Theses
        • NPS Faculty Publications: Calhoun
        • Journal Titles
        • Course Reserves

        Use the Library

        • My Accounts
        • Request Article or Book
        • Borrow, Renew, Return
        • Remote Access
        • Workshops & Tours
        • For Faculty & Researchers
        • For International Students
        • For Alumni
        • Print, Copy, Scan, Fax
        • Rooms & Study Spaces
        • Floor Map
        • Computers & Software
        • Adapters, Lockers & More

        Collections

        • NPS Archive: Calhoun
        • Restricted Resources
        • Special Collections & Archives
        • Federal Depository
        • Homeland Security Digital Library

        About

        • Hours
        • Library Staff
        • About Us
        • Visit Us

        NPS-Licensed Resources - Terms & Conditions

        Copyright Notice

         
         

          Federal Depository Library  

        NPS Home Privacy Policy Copyright Accessibility Contact Webmaster