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<div>Kai et. al.</div>
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<div>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.
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<div>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.
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<div>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.
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<div>Kai wrote:</div>
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<div>Any belief, taken too far, can result in fanatical zealots willing to kill <br>anyone opposed to their viewpoint.<br>-------------</div>
<div>I agree with this... Even soccer matches can result in deaths among the insane crazed fans! Can you believe it?</div>
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<div>Ted Moffett</div>
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<div><span class="gmail_quote">On 10/1/07, <b class="gmail_sendername">Kai Eiselein</b> <<a onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)" href="mailto:fotopro63@hotmail.com" target="_blank">fotopro63@hotmail.com
</a>> wrote:</span> </div>
<div>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="PADDING-LEFT: 1ex; MARGIN: 0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid">
<div>Ted, when any person or group uses fear to further an agenda, be it political or religious, it can be called terrorism.<br>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.
<br>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.<br>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".
<br>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".
<br>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.<br> <br> <br><br>
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