There has to be some reason why Muslim terrorism has been such a problem to the West. It is a problem that may still be growing despite the killing of its leaders.
If we knew what is causing it, would could perhaps bring it to an end. If we don't, we are just thrashing in the dark!
Myself, I conclude it is because they once had a civilization that dominated half the world and are proud of their impressive cultural heritage. They see it being dragged in the mud every day. They feel humiliated and resentful. The religious extremists feed on this deep, mostly suppressed resentment. . .
I have had direct experience with this. When I lived for three years in Indonesia, a Muslim country, a Muslim I knew showed me a picture of the 9/11 catastrophy. He tried unsuccessfully to hide expressions of pride.
And he was secular---and no "Arab."
1. Too much monotheistic religiosity. Christians similarly terrorized people from all over the world, in the name of the True God. How many civilizations were wiped out by Christians "Terrorists"?
2. Muslims do have a perceived sense of Glorious history. I maintain most of it's fictional, I can't even find a single military coin (or any other coin) contemporary to Khalid (if you have one, or any other evidence please post it). However, that's besides the point, it is reasonable to suggest this is causing some aberrant behavior. The Chinese built a great civilization, they were colonized, occupied, sold heroin, feel they were humiliated (and were), and subjected themselves to 80 years of Communism, destroyed their own culture and only now are pulling their thumbs out and getting on with it. So, yes, this is another valid rational.
3. Too much monotheistic religiosity makes it hard for people to modernize and compete in a modern global world. The Arab empire was able to monopolize trade between China, India and Europe, that's never going to happen again. To compete in the modern world, they will have to drastically alter their culture to become more "Western". It should be noted much of "Western" culture is really only 100 years old. It's really a culture of competition, which has been around for 1000s of years that they need to get in touch with.
4. Too much monotheistic religiosity makes it more difficult to see other people's cultures as equal and valid as one's own (if not difficult, then totally impossible). That can also lead to aberrant behavior in a multicultural environment. Especially when you're taught your culture is "supreme" (even to the point of think "Arabic is God's language" and yet in reality you're way way WAY behind the curve.
As to an aside: One could ask why the USA is terrorizing much of the planet as well. We're the ones who invaded and or armed Muslim countries and put bases in their magic land which ultimately led a few nutters to commit 9/11. That aside, we could see the various Muslim nations as no different than most 3rd world nations (oil barring stated resembling any other petrol-State). they're not really that much different.
