Introduction Instances of religious fanaticism or religiously based violence are as old as time. From Spanish Conquistadors killing Jewish men and women to the Holocaust, religious terrorists attacking non-complying innocents appears to be a recurring theme. But what about modern terrorism? Modern terrorism seems to be a beast of its own. From mass shootings and suicide bombers, to cars deliberately running over people, we are now in a whole new realm of terrorism in an ever growing modern world. Religious terror in England Religiously based wars, plots, and murders are ingrained in England’s history. From Middle Eastern terrorists groups to England’s ancient tug of war with Protestants and Catholics, England is steeped in conflicts that stem from religion. Historical Plots: The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 The Gunpowder plot was a Catholic conspiracy (Adams, “The Gunpowder Plot”) to blow up the English Parliament, and thereby assassinate King James the I and the Queen of England (“Encyclopedia Britannica”). The main grievances of the Catholics involved were recent enacted penal laws, “…Involved an oath to the royal supremacy over the church and obligatory attendance at a parish church every Sunday. Absence, soon described as recusancy (disobedience, hence recusant), incurred a one shilling fine… Their target, however, was clear: the Catholic missionary clergy and those who sheltered them” (Adams). According to Adams, those involved in the Gunpowder plot had four main objectives:
Their plot ultimately failed, and those found responsible were either shot by sheriffs, or found guilty and hung for their crimes. To read more about the Gunpowder Plot, visit: https://www.britannica.com/event/Gunpowder-Plot Modern Day Plots: Manchester Arena Bombing The Manchester Arena Bombing which took place on May 22, 2017 was a terrorist attack carried out by suicide bomber Salman Abedi (Helling, “Terror in Manchester Innocence Lost”). This terrorist attack was carried out during an Ariana Grande concert, and it ravaged the stadium and its occupants. Approximately 22 people were killed and more than 59 injured, “Authorities say 22-year-old British-born Salman Abedi walked into the crowd near the arena's main ticket office and detonated an improvised explosive device, killing himself in the blast. ISIS claimed responsibility for that attack” (“Terror in Manchester Innocence Lost”). The Manchester Arena bombing was particularly cruel and evil – the suicide bomber’s main objective was to injure and murder innocents while they were having fun and enjoying their lives. Conclusion Comparing these two plots, one can easily see how terrorism has progressed, and it is simply terrifying. I am sure that if those involved in the Gunpowder Plot had access to the devices used in modern day terrorist attacks, they would have used them to carry out their plot. This progression shows that as technology advances, so does terrorism To read more about terrorism, visit: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0022343313491277 Works Cited Adams, Simon. “The Gunpowder Plot.” History Today, 55.11 (2005): 10-17. Print. “Gunpowder Plot.” Encyclopedia Britannica 6 May 2019: Print. Helling, Steve, et al. “Terror in Manchester Innocence Lost.” People 12 June 2017: 72-77. Print.
0 Comments
|