JIHAD AS MUSLIM’S MORAL OBLIGATION AND ITS IMAGE IN INTERNET MEDIA IN SLOVAKIA AND EUROPE
JIHAD AS MUSLIM’S MORAL OBLIGATION AND ITS IMAGE IN INTERNET MEDIA IN SLOVAKIA AND EUROPE

Summary/Abstract: The contemporary media content seems to be flooded with reports on various evil deeds allegedly motivated by individual perpetrators’ religious convictions. Considering the fact that authors of the mainstream and commercially motivated, mainly news media content predominantly limit themselves to the most basic, often out-of-context knowledge of the religion concerned, then information received by recipients may be distorted to a lesser or greater degree – even though this need not necessarily be (and let us assume that it is not, either) a result of the authors’ actual intentions. This piece is aimed at analysing individual shortcomings related to incomplete presentation of Islam’s religious morality in media outlets in Slovakia and other European countries, with a special attention being paid to interpretation of individual norms and values within the religion’s actual doctrine. Our research of Muslim’s moral duties will focus mainly on the issue of jihad and its controversial interpretations. Religionist research points to complexity of specific religious forms, frequently displaying internal division into individual factions and distinct branches, as well as to overall comprehensiveness of religion as a phenomenon. We must constantly be aware of these facts, considering also the existence of certain controversies appearing in almost every religion, including Islam. This contribution reflects upon current issues and events, but it is not our single point of departure – we also take into account fundamental principles present in Islam’s real values, as well as principles of intercultural (and interreligious) tolerance.

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