During the past several years, Americans have witnessed the frequent occurrence of suicide attacks by radical Muslim groups. The public has wondered what drives someone to kill himself specifically in order to wreak havoc and destruction. While other works address the subject, many entirely ignore the ideological, religious, and cultural appeal of suicide attacks, and none can adequately speak to why certain groups choose to use suicide as a weapon while others do not. Beginning with a careful consideration of the religious and historical reasons, and the justifications that perpetrators find therein, for suicide operations, the authors reveal how radical groups have co-opted various aspects of their faith to provide fuel for their current activities.
David Cook is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Rice University specializing in Islam. He is the author ofStudies in Muslim Apocalyptic, Understanding Jihad, and Contemporary Muslim Apocalyptic Literature.
Olivia Allison is a graduate student at King's College, London, England. A former research assistant on media and terrorism at Rice University, she has published several articles on various topics.