THE CONCEPT, ESSENCE AND PURPOSE OF RELIGIOUS EXTREMISM

This article provides scientific and practical information about the concept, essence and purpose of religious extremism. It analyzes different approaches to the interpretation of religious extremism and explains its main ideological, social and legal characteristics. The article also discusses the relationship between religious extremism, fanaticism, fundamentalism, dogmatism and radicalization. Special attention is paid to the fact that extremist forces often misuse religious ideas, distort the essence of religion and attempt to influence people’s consciousness through destructive propaganda. The article emphasizes that religious extremism poses a serious threat to state security, constitutional order, public stability and the future of young people. In the context of globalization, the rapid development of the internet and digital technologies has created new opportunities for the spread of extremist ideas. Therefore, it is important to strengthen legal awareness, ideological immunity and religious enlightenment among young people. The article concludes that the main purpose of religious extremism is to use religion as a political and ideological tool, undermine social stability, create hostility among people and attempt to change the existing state system by unlawful means.