Islamic fundamentalism

[Platonicus]

Great thread Tom. I think the gist of it is that radicals of any stripe are very dangerous people. One thing that I find interesting is that those educated religious leaders who declare Jihad always seem to look to the less educated (and apparently easily dupped) to actually serve as suicide bombers. Wouldn't you think if it were true that those who blew themselves up for the cause were actually going to get seven virgins in the after life that Osama would be all over it?

[TomOfSweden]

Great thread Tom. I think the gist of it is that radicals of any stripe are very dangerous people. One thing that I find interesting is that those educated religious leaders who declare Jihad always seem to look to the less educated (and apparently easily dupped) to actually serve as suicide bombers. Wouldn't you think if it were true that those who blew themselves up for the cause were actually going to get seven virgins in the after life that Osama would be all over it?

I think it's the other way around. It's the less educated who are more likely to go and look for the fundamentalist Imams. I don't think the Imams are preying on them. I think they're the ones who are desperate to find meaning in their lives. Having a down and out job with no prospect of ever getting ahead in life is a good motivator to seek meaning in something else than monetary gain and a comfortable life.

One thing that often gets confused is that a Jihad is a war war. Suicide bombing and general Islamic terrorism is a modern invention which isn't really covered in the Koran, and certainly isn't what Mohammed had in mind. Off-course. For one, they didn't have bombs or any of the tools needed for a small force to terrorize a majority at the time.

That whole thing about the 72 virgins for suicide bombing needs a very liberal reading of the Koran. Martyrdom for the cause sure gets you into heaven but suicide gets you into hell. And far from all Islamic scholars believe in 72 virgins. I think it's generally accepted to have some alternate meaning rather than to mean 72 untouched and willing hot chicks.

here's an article on it.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/religion/S...631357,00.html