Scary Extremists - Why?

[KillarneyRose]

I'm wondering about the extremists in the world. People who blow up clinics, who plant bombs in public places, who kill people who don't agree with them, who fly planes into buildings, etc.

Do you think that they are sincerely motivated by the force of their beliefs? Or do you think that they are just thugs who found a convenient outlet for their hatred and aggression? In other words, do you think they are perverting a belief system by twisting it around to suit their desire to inflict violence?

Sorry for such a downer question, but we were discussing this with some other couples last night and since I respect the opinions of the people on this board I thought I would just toss this out there.

[curiouss]

It can be very complex.

Two reasons I know for sure:

1. They're insane, who in their right minds would do such things. Most extremists are way beyond aggressive and hateful.

2. They're followers of the insane. According to lectures from the Abnormal Psychology course I took last semester, people who are influenced by the insane act insane. Especially if that is all they know. For example, a child of a mentally ill
mother will likely behave like his/hers parent until they get exposed to something else. In some cases, that is too late. Now, put that on a larger scale.

[volgirl2376]

Originally posted by KillarneyRose
In other words, do you think they are perverting a belief system by twisting it around to suit their desire to inflict violence?

Yes.

I believe that if a person was unstable, disturbed, and destructive, they would cause harm to the people closest to themselves, or even themselves. I would consider the kids who shoot up a school or kill their parents or friends to be on a smaller scale or extremist behavior. Although sometimes they relate to things and people like extreme violence or Hitler...they project these horrible feelings and actions to the people closest to them. I think this resembles the thugs who find a convenient outlet for their hatred and aggression.

On a larger scale, I believe people who bomb federal buildings, clinics etc really think they are following their religon, beliefs and what have you and their actions reflect what they think "they" deserve..."they" being the doctors in the clinics, the government workers in the federal buildings etc.

I would say more, but I need the change leftover from my 2 cents to get some lunch

[Eirene_DGP]

You know I honestly don't think extremists are crazy, but I do think they have had some kind of crazy ideology brainwashed into their minds. Look at Waco, Tx for example. Those were your typical Christians who had a man who was supposedly their leader to brainwash them and have them "fight" in the name of God. That is the same thing with the Taliban. I guess the better question is to what extent do you stand up for/ fight for you beliefs? I mean you can't kill thousands in the name of God when the people you are fighting haven't threatened you or your way of life.

[33girl]

I think it's 50/50. Some people are just using it as an excuse for their own hatred and thirst for power, and some people really think they are doing the right thing in name of religion, country, whatever. I mean, look at all the people killed during the Crusades and the Inquisition. But even with that, I think there were power-lusters and naive believers...both sides.

It's like the Patty Hearst case...was she brainwashed, or did she know what she was doing? Even though she went to jail, the jury is still out on that one.