This polemic discusses how countries such as the United States and Israel allegedly view the so-called terrorist states of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine, contending that Western powers behave in much the same way as terrorist and extremist groups. Arguing that countries such as the United States demonize certain sets of people@2014termed @201Cthe Other@201D@2014the author goes on to suppose that these countries adopt a similar attitude of hate and violence as right-wing terrorist cells, making extremists in these countries irrelevant. Contemporary terrorism reveals the central role of religion in terms of providing its ideology, organization and motivating impulse. Societies move into crises when existing secular models are seen as having failed to fulfil the developmental, psychological and cultural aspirations of the populace. They then often trace contemporary shortcomings in their lives and the parlous state of their polities to the erosion of religious belief and its diminished influence in contemporary society, and seek solace by harking back to the "fundamentals" of their faith. However, it is only when fundamentalism is clothed in the garb of messianism that we obtain the essential precondition for violence against "the Other." Messianic belief has been central to the three Semitic religious traditions since their inception and it has remained a vibrant force throughout their history. While providing comfort in times of crises and calamities, Messianic movements also demonise the enemy, seeing him as Satan or Antichrist. In this conflict with evil, God is seen as providing divine sanction for the perpetration of the most horrendous violence against the "Other", which is identified as a collective enemy among whom "no-one is innocent." In contemporary times, we are witnessing a revival of messianic belief among adherents of the three Semitic traditions, be it triumphant Jewish messianism,. Christian messianism in the face of a perceived social and cultural malaise, or Islamic messianism emerging from a pervasive sense of defeat and despair. In line with precedents set in the earlier age of faith, these modern-day messianic assertions are based on a selective understanding of pristine traditions transplanted into 21st century circumstances, setting the stage for a rehearsal of ancient fratricidal feuds in a contemporary environment. The Children of Abraham are at war with a new intensity, but with the same age-old mutual non-comprehension, intolerance and demonisation.includes bibliographical references index