Terrorism remains one of the most contested concepts in modern political life. There is no single definition that commands universal agreement. Broadly understood, it refers to the use or threat of serious violence intended to intimidate the public or influence government in pursuit of political, religious, or ideological goals. Its ambiguity has long complicated efforts to confront it, allowing some to excuse violence under the language of liberation while others reduce it to a purely military problem.
The popular phrase “war on terror” reflects this confusion. It suggests that terrorism can be defeated primarily through force. History tells a different story. Armed movements have only succeeded politically when they secured sustained support from the communities they claimed to represent. Where that support was absent, violence collapsed under its own moral and social weight. Terrorism, therefore, is not defeated on battlefields alone but within communities themselves.
This is where the Church holds a critical responsibility. In an age often described as secular, faith communities remain among the few institutions capable of shaping moral imagination across social divides. Many Muslim communities, particularly in tense or fragile contexts, recognise the Church as a partner that understands the language of belief, conscience, and moral obligation. Where Christian and Muslim leaders have built relationships of trust, cycles of suspicion and retaliation have been interrupted.
There are powerful examples of this moral solidarity. In moments of crisis, interfaith processions, shared prayers, and public acts of unity have sent a clear message that violence carried out in the name of religion finds no shelter among people of faith. Where communities affirm shared humanity, extremist narratives lose their appeal.
Winning hearts and minds remains central to confronting terrorism. Intelligence gathering and security measures are necessary, but they are insufficient without moral legitimacy. When force is used, it must be restrained, proportionate, and accountable. The Christian Just War tradition, often dismissed as outdated, offers enduring ethical guidance. Its principles, including legitimate purpose, last resort, proportionality, and careful weighing of consequences, continue to inform contemporary debates on collective security. These principles remind societies that not all uses of force are morally equal and that restraint is a measure of strength, not weakness.
The Church’s contribution lies not in strategy rooms or military planning, but in shaping conscience. By fostering dialogue, condemning violence without qualification, and promoting justice rooted in dignity, the Church undermines the social conditions in which terrorism thrives.
In Nigeria, this moral voice has been particularly clear. The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria has consistently warned against sacrificing moral, cultural, and social values in exchange for security assistance or foreign support. The bishops have affirmed that national unity, grounded in justice, human rights, and the rule of law, remains stronger than division born of fear.
Their message is uncompromising. Nigeria must confront terrorism decisively, but never at the cost of its ethical foundations. A society stripped of its moral values, they warn, risks losing its soul even if it gains temporary security. Their call for prayer, national reflection, and spiritual solidarity reflects a deeper conviction that violence cannot be healed by violence alone.
The bishops have also reaffirmed the sanctity of human life as central to Christian witness. From conception to natural death, life must be protected, especially in times when terror seeks to normalise brutality. Defending life is not a political slogan but an expression of faith lived consistently.
Religious communities therefore have a shared responsibility. Extremists seek to divide, to provoke fear, and to frame violence as inevitable. United moral resistance denies them that victory. An attack on one place of worship is an attack on all. An assault on one faith community wounds the conscience of humanity itself.
Terrorism does not represent religion, culture, or identity. It represents cruelty and hatred. These are enemies of all people, regardless of belief. The Church, by standing firmly for peace, justice, and human dignity, plays an indispensable role in exposing that truth and in nurturing societies resilient enough to reject violence in all its forms.
Brendan Amadi is a Nigerian‑born scholar, writer, and public intellectual based in the United Kingdom, whose work traverses the intersecting fields of politics, religion, philosophy, history, and African identity.
