"only religions can fight efficiently against other religions."

Q. Because a novel doesn’t have the power to do that?

A. Yes. People can read all the novels they want. That will never change political opinion. It’s striking. The response to jihadism — it’s a religious sect from start to finish, it’s a variation, a deviation of a religion — it’s never easy to fight against a religious sect. The police are useful, but in principle, only religions can fight efficiently against other religions.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/13/books/the-submission-of-michel-houellebecq.html?_r=0