Quote Originally Posted by Taunton Blue Genie View Post
Religion is part of the problem. Religious indoctrination is the reason why such terrorist groups can find recruits for suicide bombings i.e. reward in the afterlife, the concept of going to paradise etc. ETA and the IRA were both ruthless and disgusting organisations that slaughtered many innocent people but suicide bombings played no major part in their atrocities.
And we know how religion groups tends to indoctrinate its adherents that non-believers are evil/bound for hell/inferior etc - and many so-called holy books call for non-believers to be either vanquished or at least marginalised.
Agree with that, but also a sense of being part of a community that is under attack is a huge driver for terrorism.
Suicide bombings I think must have a large element if religion in the thought processes that could lead someone to do that, but many terrorist acts I think are as much about a sense of injustice and revenge than about killing the non believers.

Think of the Norwegian terrorist Anders breivik , he felt his way of life was being taken away by left wing people and immigrants, I don't think he was motivated by scripture.

Likewise a great many of the young angrymen who travel to Syria do so out of a burning hatred caused by civilian casualties in the region more than words written on a page in my opinion.

Imagine England went to war with Wales, and there was massive civilian loss in wales on a daily basis, I have no doubt that some previously right minded welsh people, woukd be motivated to cmittt acts of terrorism against the English in retribution, and it wouldn't be religiously motivated.
So I think religion does pay a big part in this, but it isn't the only driving factor.