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| Arabia |
| Understanding the terror mindset |
| 2015-01-21 |
| Mohammed Fahad Al-Harthi [ARABNEWS] Whenever suicide kabooms take place there are the inevitable questions on what drives these people to kill others and themselves. For many, these are perplexing and unfathomable issues with no ready answers. It is particularly difficult for many Moslems to comprehend how some people can use Islam, a religion of peace with clear prohibitions on unjust killings, as justification for their barbarity. Many religious scholars, including those from Soddy Arabia ...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face... 's Council of Senior Scholars and Al-Azhar in Egypt, have repeatedly explained in edicts that takfiri ...an adherent of takfir wal hijra, an offshoot of Salafism that regards everybody who doesn't agree with them as apostates who most be killed... acts and extremism in religion are prohibited under Islamic law. It then becomes even harder to explain why these jacket wallahs ignore such rulings. Some psychiatrists believe that these individuals suffer from a deeply entrenched lack of self. As they search for meaning in their lives, some have found themselves carrying out inhumane and violent acts. This goes some way to explain why most of these bombers are young people, who are passionate, willful, determined to be relevant and achieve something in life. If they are depressed and feeling hopeless, they become even more vulnerable to those who offer them a sense of belonging, affection and respect. Finding meaning in life is not only about a job, wealth and education, but also spiritual development. When people have a spiritual void and are filled with fear, they are easily exploited to go to extremes in the false belief that they are doing the right thing. They believe that they would be praised because this is how society treats those who are pious and concerned with spiritual matters. Unfortunately, their actions are based on a convoluted view of the world. Many young people do not have a deep understanding or knowledge about life and the world. They tend to take fatwas and advice from people surrounding them at face value. It should be borne in mind that there may be an element of exhibitionism at play, with these young and undeveloped minds getting a sense of importance and attention from their extreme actions. Extremism can take many forms, but all of them lead to either some measure of dysfunction or complete personal destruction. Football fans can display this Death Eater behavior with obsession for their teams, resulting in often violent and fatal festivities with rivals. However, we can't all be heroes. Somebody has to sit on the curb and applaud when they go by... this type of hooliganism is different from being inspired by religious sentiments, which have a more powerful hold on people because of the deep emotions and status issues involved. Consequently, there is a greater opportunity for manipulation, which eventually leads to murder. Social workers and counselors in Saudi Arabia say that many of these young people have had convictions for drug dealing and other crimes. And when they latch onto religion, there are often disastrous and bloody outcomes. Some sociologists argue that certain societies control the behavior of their citizens too strictly, while there is praise for those who have the outward trappings of piousness with the way they dress. However, we can't all be heroes. Somebody has to sit on the curb and applaud when they go by... these people are simply seeking status, regardless of their qualifications. This psychological need coupled with social traditions pushes people into taking positions where they would even justify terror. As the danger of these terrorist groups increases, it makes it that much more important to find ways to combat this thinking. There is a need for extensive research by sociologists and psychiatrists on the mindsets of these people. The physical battle is important but the war will be won on the intellectual level, which is being waged for the minds and lives of our children, our most important assets. We cannot afford to lose it. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #8 Well Mohaammed Fahad Al-Harthi. The Koran, the basis of Islam, has 109 verses calling for violence, war and death. Taqiyya on your part? |
| Posted by: Ebbomosh Hupemp2664 2015-01-21 19:28 |
| #7 There's always the microchip implant... COPPER COATED MICROCHIP IMPLANT ALLOWS TERRORISTS TO SPEAK TO GOD. The implant is specifically designed to be injected in the forehead. When properly installed, it will instantly allow the terrorist to speak to God. It comes in various sizes: Generally from .223 to .50 cal. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2015-01-21 19:01 |
| #6 Psychiatry, sociology and psychology cannot understand the terror mindset. Nor can they help eradicate it. Theology is the source of the mind-set ... well, alleged theology ... and that means mullahs and that means hanging mullahs from lamp posts. That is real theology. And a Saudi writing about eradicating terrorism?!?!?!? That is really, really rich. Saud is the world's main funder of it. So, essentially, this piece in Arab News is entirely misdirection. |
| Posted by: TopRev 2015-01-21 17:24 |
| #5 I don't want to understand them, I just want them to die. Painfully and alone (eg without taking innocents with them). |
| Posted by: regular joe 2015-01-21 14:14 |
| #4 Blah blah blah 72 virgins blah blah blah. |
| Posted by: gorb 2015-01-21 10:45 |
| #3 Nothing can be done for them at this point. But quite a lot can be done for us. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2015-01-21 02:32 |
| #2 It is particularly difficult for many Moslems to comprehend how some people can use Islam, a religion of peace with clear prohibitions on unjust killings, as justification for their barbarity. Classic 'Denial' as evidenced by both psychosis [symptoms] and neurosis [the actual mental disorder]. Move along now, leave them to their communal excoriation. Nothing can be done for them at this point. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2015-01-21 01:33 |
| #1 NOW that was interesting. Too bad he didn't quote Viktor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning"...no wait Frankl is Jewish. Oh never mind But Frankl said man could find meaning in three endeavors: Love Works Enduring a hardship When I was reading the Quran during my six months in Libya, I don't ever remember seeing the word "love" anywhere in the Quran. |
| Posted by: Bill Clinton 2015-01-21 00:37 |