Sacred Causes: The Clash of
Religion and Politics, from the Great
War to the War on Terror by Michael
Burleigh
Amazing Intelligence And Bravery By Burleigh
Beginning with the chaotic post-World War I landscape, in which religious
belief was one way of reordering a world knocked off its axis, Sacred
Causes is a penetrating critique of how religion has often been
camouflaged by politics. All the bloody regimes and movements of the
twentieth century are masterfully captured here, from Stalins Soviet Union,
Hitlers Germany, Mussolinis Italy, and Francos Spain through to the
modern scourge of terrorism. Eloquently and persuasively combining an
authoritative survey of history with a timely reminder of the dangers of
radical secularism, Burleigh asks why no one foresaw the religious
implications of massive Third World immigration, and he deftly investigates

what are now driving calls for a civic religion to counter the terrorist threats
that have so shocked the West.
Personal Review: Sacred Causes: The Clash of Religion and
Politics, from the Great War to the War on Terror by Michael
Burleigh
Moving on from the staid and historical 19th century (Earthly Powers: The
Clash of Religion and Politics in Europe, from the French Revolution to the
Great War) Mr. Burleigh now brings his pen to the 20th, ratcheting up the
volume and daring to skewer those he does not agree with.
One can tell that the books analysis is right on from the faces of those who
have been put against it. Critics have argued that the book dares to speak
of the threat of Islamism while not mentioning 'Fundamentalist Judaism' or
the political role of Hinduism in India (the BJP) or 'radical' Sinhalese
Buddhism in Sri Lanka. But how many people in the world have died at
the hands of Hindu nationalist terrorists or Sinhalese Buddhists suicide
bombers? None.
Burleigh is controversial in truth because he dares in this volume to define
Communism and Nazism as religions in their won right that replaced God
with the state. The slavish devotion of people to these 'sacred causes'
was akin to religion, but actually worse, for organized religion at its worst
never produced the horrors of Nazism and Communism. This is what
offends people. Burleigh dares to show that Communism was a scam, it
was merely a new religion invented to place the state and man at the
center. In its destruction of 50 million lives in the 20th century it has been
far worse than any organized religion. But few will admit it. Nazism too
was a renewal of pagan fundamentalism, tribalistic extremism, akin to the
Hutu fascism in Rwanda but with more evil efficiency.
Burleigh notes that these two threats to European civilization were beaten
back but that organized religion, namely the Catholic church, has suffered
in the process. He notes that Islamism has picked up where Nazism and
Communism left off in terms of a threat to European civilization. He is
right. But why is there still no resurgence in some form of religion among
the secular masses of Europe? He cannot answer this question. In
addition Burleigh has far to much praise for the Catholic church, perhaps
hoping that it will play a greater role in the 21st century.
A fascinating and brilliantly argued book. A wonderful read, brilliantly
argued, something that many can learn from.
Seth J. Frantzman

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