Religious terrorists - Essay Example

In short, religious terrorists are different from secular terrorists because they feel that their deity is commanding them to commit these acts, in addition to having a “greater purpose” for their actions and wishing to cleanse the world of those that do not believe as they do. The religious terrorist finds justification in their actions by committing grave acts in the name of whatever deity they worship. They consider their act to be an act of duty to their deity, and to them, if it is necessary to give their own life in addition to the lives taken for this cause, then so be it.

Consider, for example, the role of suicide bombers. Frequently, those bombers shout prayers before pushing the button that will end their life and others, as they believe that their life’s sacrifice, as part of the war that they are engaged in, is worth it. They believe that when they are dead, they will then automatically be favored in the eyes of their deity; therefore, their sacrifice was not in vain as they were carrying out the commands given to them. Lives other than their own are also considered acceptable losses in the eyes of the religious terrorist, mainly because their psychosis and/or underlying psychological issues have caused them to believe that everyone would like to die as well, but because their deity has commanded them to do so.

Though these persons are most likely suffering from psychosis, such as paranoid schizophrenia or delusions, in their eyes they feel that their deity has commanded them to take these lives, and if necessary, their own. . Religious terrorists differ from secular terrorists due to the lengths that they are willing to go to achieve their agenda. They believe, whether through psychosis or brainwashing, that they are the only ones that shall inherit the earth, and everyone else must die. It is not enough for the religious terrorist to simply banish those thought of, in their mind, as unclean, unworthy, or otherwise non-favored individuals.

Their very existence must be wiped from the earth and the world, never to rise again, and they must not be permitted to spread, for those who believe as the religious terrorist does are the only ones that can be allowed to live. This reason is, I think, the biggest difference between religious and secular terrorists. Religious terrorists are willing to wipe out large portions of people; usually, secular terrorists are not. Though there are incidents of mass destruction when it comes to secular terrorists, without any religious agenda involved, religious terrorists, again, believe that they have been commanded to do these works by their deity, while secular terrorists usually do not see the value in mass killings or even mass destruction, as it is usually better (in their opinion) to attack a tactical or strategic target, such as a building.

Their attacks are usually small and to the point, seeking to get a point across. For example, while they go after a target, they are not likely to kill anyone else around the primary target. To the religious terrorist, his or her point of view is the only view. You must believe as they do, or you must die. No amount of talking or negotiating will help; different beliefs must be wiped away. This makes the religious