As compared to secular terrorists, religious terrorists inflict a lot more casualties on enemy targets. According to Hoffman, it is because of, "radically different value systems, mechanisms of legitimation and justification, and concepts of morality".What seems so ironic to me about this is that religiously motivated terrorists seemingly value human life less than secular terrorists, who see killing a large number of innocent civilians as immoral and counter productive to their goals.
In regard to Islamic terrorism, it seems that the promise of the after life has blurred their line between a moral and immoral act. While secular terrorists seek to improve the world for the present times, religious terrorists have fewer qualms about killing "infidels" because it is sanctioned in the Koran. But, who is to say what the criteria should be for determining an enemy of Islam?
4 comments:
I agree. I believe that in Islam there is no criteria that determines which enemies can be killed and which are off limits. This is where it comes in handy to have a prophet or central spokesperson. In the LDS church we have a prophet which we follow unquestionably. In Islam however there appears to be no central governing power. This leads to questions in authority about who can give the ok to kill and when to stay the hand. What if there are contradicting orders about who to kill who do you believe, who do you go with? I don’t know if this is the same as relating this to the LDS faith. If Warren Jeffs or Stephen Veazy (President of the Community of Christ) commands me to kill someone I wouldn’t take it seriously but if President Monson told me too, I would listen a little more carefully.
In addition, there are so many radical Muslim clerics that terrorists can listen to who will justify violent actions. A terrorist need only shop around to find a religious leader extreme enough to assure them that their cause is moral. It would be interesting to find out which leaders of Islam have the most influence on members of the Muslim community.
You raise a good point, but I think our perspective is radically different from theirs. Many people believe others are free to believe and "worship how, where, and what they may" (11th Article of Faith). I am definitely not an expert on all forms of religious terrorism, but many religious terrorists attempt to compel others to observe their own religious laws. They may latch on to doctrines and take them to the extreme. Thus a call to spread religion can lead to "justified" jihad. Do these terrorists think killing people is really what God wants them to do? I doubt it, but we know that it is possible for people to be "past feeling" (1 Ne 17:45). Also, arguments can be used for good or evil purposes. We know Nephi was inspired to slay Laban for the benefit of his people, but can't you see how the same rationale could be used to "justify" evil and terrorism? You're right that it's ironic for religious people to kill others, but what if you didn't grow up thinking that people have a right to believe as they feel so inclined?
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