Acknowledgments -- General information -- The major objective of the book -- Research methodology -- The major contribution of the book -- Part I. the origins of political violence and "terror" - 1. Ancient and Medieval concepts - 2. The rise of modern secular-agenda political violence - 3. The rise of modern religious-agenda political violence -- Part II. The early origins of holy war in Monotheism - 4. The origins of holy war in Judaism - 5. The origins of holy war in Christianity - 6. The attitudes toward Jihad in Medieval Islam -- Part III. From holy war to modern terror - 7. The rise of modern religious violence in Judaism - 8. The rise of modern religious violence in Christianity - 9. The rise of modern religious violence in Islam -- Summary and conclusions -- Bibliography -- Index -- About the author.