The most obvious, and to Americans the most well known link between terrorism and religious issues, is the radical fundamentalist Islamics who feel that Americans are infidels and anyone who doesn't worship Allah, and who isn't a Muslim should be killed. These people believe that as a reward for their terrorist act, they will be met in heaven by Allah, and will be supplied with a harem of virgins for their pleasure. Even at a quick glance, this is warped thinking. Are they saying that God is a pimp?

But there have been other religious groups who have persecuted anyone who didn't accept their particular religion or God. The Crusades in my opinion was a program of terror. They brutally beat and eventually killed anyone who they found to be a heathen. An argument could be made that the Salem witch trials and executions were acts of terror, carried out by puritans who had very narrow minds. Many people were killed after being found guilty of witchcraft. A suicide bomber in Iraq is considered a terrorist, and sometimes they kill only 1-2 people. But it is the Islamic terrorists that are our biggest threat in America. There are thousands of people being trained in Al-Qaida camps, learning the ways of a terrorism. They are not afraid to die for their cause. In fact, suicide bombings are the tool of choice for an Islamic terrorist. And the Islamic groups have a huge support system. And they are organized with a leader-Osama Bin Laden.

A lot of religions have thought processes that conclude that their religion is the only true religion, and if you don't agree with the teachings, you are a sinner going to hell. The difference that makes Islamic terrorists groups more dangerous, is that they take it a step further and actually kill in the name of their God. It is a glaring contradiction. These people are supposed to be religious, are supposed to be living life as a good person, having some belief in a higher power, and treating others as you would like to be treated. Anyone with a shred of common sense can see this, but with the large numbers of terrorists, and the deterioration of global relations in general, I am not optimistic about a resolution to this problem.

Learn more about this author, Todd Meikle.
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