[Vision2020] Are you enabling extremism

[Ted Moffett]

Kai et. al.

I think it is clear at this point we do not agree on how to define
"terrorism."  Read my most recent post to Paul R. on this issue (subject:
Are you enabling extremism?) where I attempt to clarify with examples what
is and is not terrorism.  I ask him for documentation of his claims
regarding "eco-terrorism" also.  I have studied scholarly articles on
terrorism, and it can be a difficult concept to define and apply precisely.
A too broad definition is dangerous for civil rights, the right to protest,
and engage in civil disobedience, in my opinion.

In this post to Paul R. I also mention some of the negative impacts of
religious thinking based on denial of scientific evidence and unquestioning
belief in religious principles that are highly doubtful.  We could discuss
this same basic theme, with modifications, as it applies to Stalin, Hitler,
Pol Pot, Mao, or various less explicitly religious movements, that also
featured denial of evidence and unquestioning belief in highly doubtful
principles.  But the focus of Paul's original post was on widespread
acceptance of highly questionable religious belief (like absolute belief
that the Bible or Koran is the literal word of the creator of the universe)
promoting a mindset in society where extremism of various kinds can be
justified, politicians use religion to manipulate a gullible public for
cynical ends, and critical global problems science is warning need to be
addressed are dismissed  This is not a trivial problem.  It should be
addressed frankly and critically.  There are widespread negative effects,
even though most of the people who follow the religious beliefs involved are
good decent people.

Of course, many Christians do not take the Bible literally.  They view it
more metaphorically or allegorically, even if still believing it is divinely
inspired, with human errors introduced into the "translation" from above.
But it is astonishing how many view the Bible (or Koran) literally, and
based on this, justify beliefs and actions that are, frankly, downright
frightening.

Kai wrote:

Any belief, taken too far, can result in fanatical zealots willing to kill
anyone opposed to their viewpoint.
-------------
I agree with this... Even soccer matches can result in deaths among the
insane crazed fans!  Can you believe it?

Ted Moffett

On 10/1/07, Kai Eiselein <fotopro63 at hotmail.com > wrote:

> Ted, when any person or group uses fear to further an agenda, be it
> political or religious, it can be called terrorism.
> Would you say that burning a cross on someone's lawn is not terrifying to
> the individual that is targeted? There is no intent to murder by merely
> burning the cross after all.
> ALF, ELF and Earth First! all employ tactics that  use fear as a weapon,
> just like suicide bombers, the KKK or any number of other extremist groups.
> Their aim is to cow people into doing what they want.
> I merely pointed out a parallel, one that has no religious dogma. (That
> I'm aware of anyway) I guess I could have pointed at Stalin and his use of
> fear (terror) to control an entire country. Instead of religion, political
> rhetoric was used. But I wanted to point at something that was more
> "modern".
> Furthermore, the Mafia and drug cartels are well known for using terror
> tactics. In their cases the driving force is greed, not religion. It could
> be said that the casual drug user is contributing to "narco-terrorism".
> In the end there are many reasons/excuses, not just religious, for the use
> of terror. The overiding theme is the extreme political/religious/monetary
> fanatacism that drives them.
>
>
>
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