Does terror have a religion?

[rug]

Does the bomb have a religion?

Does the blast discriminate among victims?

In the recent serial blasts in Mumbai, a Muslim family lost a son who was in his early twenties and had gotten married just a couple of months ago.

Is the pain of this family any less acute than that of many others who lost their loved ones but, belonging to a different religion or community?

http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/7164/does-terror-have-a-religion/

[edhopper]

1. What's your point?

[Jim__]

2. "... it’s politics and not religion that guide militant groups."

I think that line from the article nails it.

[rug]

5. Me too.

I think that point is obvious to anyone who reads it.

[trotsky]

3. Why is it that after events such as this...

someone is yelling "Don't you dare blame religion!" before the body heat has left the victims' corpses?

[rug]

6. Which event, Norway? This article discusses India and Pakistan.

[trotsky]

13. I wasn't referring to the article. n/t

[dimbear]

4. It's actually difficult to convince individuals that they should die.

To pick a neutral example, Shinto was instrumental in convincing the Kamikaze pilots to sacrifice themselves. Their religious regalia be my witness.

Add your own examples.

[rug]

7. What convinced the Spartans at Thermopylae?

What convinced the people inside the Alamo?

What religious regalia was used at Corregidor?

[Taverner]

8. Thermopylae? Money

Alamo? Slavery

Corregidor? (I really hate to say this) Buddhism

[rug]

9. How many Buddhists were in the Marine Corps in 1942?

[tortoise1956]

10. I would differ on Thermopylae

I don't think it was money that led to them sacrificing themselves in a fight they knew they couldn't win. In my opinion, it was belief in something intangible. It might have been their country, or their families, or something else entirely, or perhaps a combination of things, but I doubt that they would have died for the sake of money.

Whatever it was, it demonstrates an aspect of humanity that is common throughout our history. It is seen in a soldier who throws himself on a grenade to protect his buddies, or the fireman who runs into a burning building when everyone else is running out, or a mother who will offer her life to save a child. I believe that there is something in all of us that makes us capable of such sacrifices.

I know that humans are also capable of great evil, as has been shown so many times in the past. I, however, prefer to believe that the good part of our nature ultimately is stronger than the impulse to do harm - at least in most of us.

Sorry if I started to sound kinda preachy, I didn't intend to. I'll stop now, before I get really gushy...

[dimbear]

11. Thermopylae?

History says the Spartans were convinced to act by the Athenians, their rivals, to avoid the destruction of both. Reasonable stance.

Are you suggesting that fealty to Apollo was important? Probably.

The history of the era is sketchy and unreliable, as we all know.

The fact that you reach there is suggestive.

[rug]

12. That's not my suggestion in the least.

Quite the opposite, actually.

[edhopper]

14. I think there is a vast difference between

a soldier going into a battle against an opposing army that he probably won't survive, and a suicide bomber blowing up himself and any victims he can.
Equating the two is wrong and insulting to the soldiers.

[tortoise1956]

15. I think that in most cases, it's not religion that makes terrorosts...

People who are angry, or disenfranchised, or maybe just psychotic, may use religion to justify terrorism. However, I believe that true terrorists will always find some means of justifying their actions. Think of Hitler, Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot...not exactly religious fundies.