The Bridge Betrayed: Religion and Genocide in BosniaThe recent atrocities in Bosnia-Herzegovina have stunned people throughout the world. With Holocaust memories still painfully vivid, a question haunts us: how is this savagery possible? Michael A. Sells answers by demonstrating that the Bosnian conflict is not simply a civil war or a feud of age-old adversaries. It is, he says, a systematic campaign of genocide and a Christian holy war spurred by religious mythologies. This passionate yet reasoned book examines how religious stereotyping—in popular and official discourse—has fueled Serbian and Croatian ethnic hatreds. Sells, who is himself Serbian American, traces the cultural logic of genocide to the manipulation by Serb nationalists of the symbolism of Christ's death, in which Muslims are "Christ-killers" and Judases who must be mercilessly destroyed. He shows how "Christoslavic" religious nationalism became a central part of Croat and Serbian politics, pointing out that intellectuals and clergy were key instruments in assimilating extreme religious and political ideas. Sells also elucidates the ways that Western policy makers have rewarded the perpetrators of the genocide and punished the victims. He concludes with a discussion of how the multireligious nature of Bosnian society has been a bridge between Christendom and Islam, symbolized by the now-destroyed bridge at Mostar. Drawing on historical documents, unpublished United Nations reports, articles from Serbian and Bosnian media, personal contacts in the region, and Internet postings, Sells reveals the central role played by religious mythology in the Bosnian tragedy. In addition, he makes clear how much is at stake for the entire world in the struggle to preserve Bosnia's existence as a multireligious society. |
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The Bridge Betrayed: Religion and Genocide in Bosnia Michael Anthony Sells No preview available - 1996 |
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Albanians Andrić arms embargo atrocities attacks Balkan Banja Luka battle of Kosovo Belgrade Bihać Bishop Bosnia-Herzegovina Bosnian government Bosnian Muslims Bosnian Serb bridge Catholic century Christ killers crimes Croat and Serb Croat nationalists Croatia culture death destroy destruction ethnic cleansing ethnoreligious Europe European Foča Former Yugoslavia Franciscans Genocide in Bosnia Herceg-Bosna Herzegovina human rights International Criminal Tribunal Islam Izetbegović Jews killing leaders Medjugorje militants Miloš Montenegro mosques Mostar Mountain Wreath multireligious Nazi nian Njegoš Omarska Orthodox Church Ottoman peace President Radovan Karadžić rape refugees refused religion religious nationalism reports Republika Srpska safe area Sarajevo Security Council September Serb and Croat Serb army Serb militias Serb nation Serb nationalists Serb Orthodox Serbian Orthodox Slavic Muslims Slavs Slobodan Milošević South Slavic Srebrenica symbol tion Tito town Tudjman Turks U.S. State Department University Press Ustashe violence Vreme News Digest Vuk Branković Vuk Karadžić Western World York Yugoslav army Yugoslavia Zvornik
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Page xiv - It was genetically deformed material that embraced Islam. And now, of course, with each successive generation it simply becomes concentrated. It gets worse and worse. It simply expresses itself and dictates their style of thinking, which is rooted in their genes.