Islamic fundamentalism

[mkemse]

So long as you realize that the christian fundamentalist sects, which rose during the Reformation, were just as brutal and had just as little regard for the lives of those around them who didn't conform to their ideals. They likewise ignored their teachings in their crusade to impose their will on those around them.

They were notorious because of their use of assasination to influence those in power.

The modern christian fundamentalists in this country scare me no less than the Islamic fundamentalists do. Perhaps more. They can affect my life much more directly.

I agree, my only point to my post is that the Islamic Extremists are only serving themselvees and nobody else
If for example Iraq put a Soccer Team together for International Competition and Extremeists did NOT believe the Koran allowed this, I would not be suprised to see or hear the Team kidnapped and or killed for just that reason, they felt like killing the team, but most extremists regardless of faith have no regaurd for life any or their own for if they did they would not have suicide bombers

[_ID_]

most extremists regardless of faith have no regaurd for life any or their own for if they did they would not have suicide bombers

This part of your post I believe to be accurate, however to play devils advocate for the sake of discussion. The Muslim extremists you refer to believe their acts to be sanctioned by Allah (god) and that they will receive holy rewards for their selfless act. So you could say they value life so much, that they give up precious life for the ultimate reward.

[Thorne]

So you could say they value life so much, that they give up precious life for the ultimate reward.

I think rather that they value life so little, especially their own, that they are willing to commit ANY atrocity just for the POSSIBILITY of rewards in the afterlife. Yet the vast majority of religions (including Islam, I believe) preach that the rewards in the afterlife are spiritual rather than physical. Without the physical body there is no need for material rewards, including some indeterminate number of "virgins."

And when you think about it, what kind of "reward" would that be for the virgins? Here they've gone and kept themselves pure, only to have to give themselves to some asshole who hated himself enough to kill himself? Some paradise!