Re: [FairfieldLife] Martyrs (was Re: Voodoo TM or TM Program)

[Vaj]

On Jul 17, 2006, at 10:46 PM, curtisdeltablues wrote: I have no real answers but I do know that explanations of poverty and powerlessness may not hold up.  The suicidal terrorists we know about best were mostly privileged.  One necessary component is a belief in an afterlife that rewards such behavior. Yes: a tribal and *mythical* god is the almost universal characteristic in fundamentalist terrorism.   That is Sam Harris's particular beef with Islam.  He states that all religions are not equal in their sanctioning of such behavior.  We don't see Buddhist terrorists even though they have often experienced as much oppression as any group.  So for him it is unchallenged irrational beliefs of extremist which are protected by religious moderates who share less extreme, but still irrational , beliefs.  I agree with his view but I really don't hold much hope for humans to give up their religious beliefs.   As long as the scriptures are explicitly supporting such behaviors with a promise of reward in the afterlife I don't see anything getting better. Personally I think our wonderful human ability for creative thought has run amuck in the case of these irrational beliefs.  It is one of our greatest assets and it becomes our downfall when disconnected with reason. __._,_.___ To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS  Visit your group "FairfieldLife" on the web.    To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:  [EMAIL PROTECTED]    Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. __,_._,___