The hot spots in world politics are now, he argues, on the fault lines between civilisations and he cites Bosnia, the Sudan, Middle East and many other examples. The conflict also stemmed however from their similarities. Both are universalistic, claiming to be the one true faith to which all human beings can adhere. Now it is clearly true that much modern conflict is rooted in questions of identity and is misunderstood if analysed in merely Marxist terms. We only have to look the other side of the Irish Sea to acknowledge the truth of this proposition Religion both in history and still in many parts of the world is crucial to social cohesion and therefore religion is likely to be co-opted in any struggle which is about the identity of a particular group or people.
Popular wisdom understands how the best ideals are bent to the most malign purposes.
As Dean Swift said, how is it that we have just enough religion to hate one another but not enough to love one another. N It this view which Professor Martin sets out to refute. As a believer, I can very easily see the perils of religion. I can see the sense of the position adopted by Bishop Warburton which is anathema to fundamentalists of all kinds. But the trouble is that if we do not worship in a worthy tradition then we seem to attach ourselves to an unworthy object of worship.