Does religion cause terrorism? It's complicated

(RNS) The shock of the 9/11 attacks was so great, and the personal
losses so deep, that many people understandably sought simple answers
for such overwhelming malevolence.

What, they asked, would cause someone to hijack a plane of innocent
civilians and fly it into a building?

Since Osama bin Laden's holy warriors carried out the attacks, some
decided that Islam was clearly to blame, case closed. Others --
especially the New Atheists who found a wide audience after 9/11 --
didn't stop at Islam and instead said that all religions are bad because
they all inspire senseless violence.