In this thirteenth episode of The Mosaic Chat, we explore one of the most difficult chapters in the modern history of the Abrahamic world:
the relationship between religion, violence, and political ideology in the twentieth century.
Through three symbolic sounds, silence, the shofar, and the takbîr,
this conversation examines how Judaism, Christianity, and Islam each responded to moments of profound historical trauma.
The episode revisits the silence and ambiguities of parts of the Catholic Church during the Shoah and authoritarian regimes, raising questions about institutional responsibility and moral courage in times of persecution.
It also explores the emergence of armed Jewish movements before and after the creation of Israel, shaped by exile, survival, and the memory of genocide, while reflecting on the tensions between national defence, messianism,
and political violence.
Finally, the conversation examines the rise of contemporary Islamist radicalism, from the Iranian Revolution to Al-Qaeda and ISIS, analyzing how religious language can be transformed into a transnational political project claiming absolute authority.
Throughout the episode, a central distinction emerges: the difference between faith as a spiritual tradition and ideologies that instrumentalise religion to justify domination, violence, or total control.
This episode invites listeners to reflect on how the Abrahamic traditions can preserve conscience, dignity, and spiritual meaning in a world where religion continues to intersect with power, identity, and conflict.
🎙 A conversation with Galith Abbou Benichou and Tomer Attias.
📖 Inspired by Abramundi: Manifesto for the Creation of an Abrahamic Alliance in the Middle East and North Africa
