Mikk know this, I have zero doubt your self confidence is sadly miss placed.
Keep your insults I give no value to your opinions.
It is in my view partly true that terrorism and extremism is not new.
Remember those planes blowing up in the desert all those years ago.
And Munich Olympics .
However like it or not hate and bigotry in the name of any God is something that should shame honest followers.
If we had no fundamentalists, Christian or any other, we could start building a better world.
We however can never hide the truth, ww3 if it comes may well be bought down on us by Islamists extremists and some of our friends[ other country's] are in fact in that category.

Islamic fundamentalism is like corporate fundamentalism. It is all about power at any cost because human beings are basically pathetic insecure beings,who will sacrifice their very existence in the pursuit of power.

The Arabic countries also have a lot to be outraged about since the West corporate elites have used them for their own gratification.

Please allow me to explain a few things.
Because I was extremely disturbed by Mikk's
outburst and accusations.

This thread arose as a result of trying to
understand the reasons behind what I perceived
to be the intensification of Islamic fundamentalism,
as shown by recent news events.

Fundamentalism, be it Christian, Islamic,
Hindu, Buddhist or Judaism has been defined
as, "an approach, or set of strategies, by
which beleaguered believers attempt to
preserve their distinctive identity as a people
or group - by a selective retrieval of doctrines,
beliefs and practices from a sacred past."

They regard the problems of the world as stemming
from secular influences.

The purpose of the thread was to open up discussions on
the topic of Islamic fundamentalism.
To try to understand the reasons for it.

I appreciate all the comments received so far.
I need time to take them all on board.
You've all given me food for thought.
I'm beginning to realize what a
complicated topic this is. As Bazz pointed out
there doesn't seem to be easy solutions or answers.

Mikk, I apologise if I've caused you distress - that
wasn't my intention. Quite the opposite.
I thought that through discussion -
there was something to be learned.

Foxy

Have a happy new year!

Re: the topic,
I would suggest that the the tone of the question is highly personal to you and as such almost unanswerable in any meaningful way.

Objectively, I wonder if the percieved increased militarism of Islam is
a. an artifact of the media.The media is about sensation and that thrives on conflict and gore. One could note that the acts are still comparatively novel enough to be exploited.Compare it with car accidents in the US that kill 20000+ each year. Where are the front page horror stories? Yet a bomb that kills 3 is front page all around the world.

b. because of the media. It's an attention grabber for a cause.
The publicity arguably encourages terrorism.

c.I would argue they are no more fundamentally violent than say Israel,Just different.
d. It is a measure of frustration felt by the dispossessed, younger gen.

Egypt is virtually a dictatorship and the disparity in wealth is horrific. A degree is no guarantee of a job. The country has too many people for their resources.
Suppression is also extremely high and vicious. Against that background it is no wonder 'the Muslim Brotherhood' are powerful, they represent the people's frustration with their lot.

e. It is a consequence of being suppressed, poverty and dominated by western supported dictators.

The more you suppress the population the more radical they become.
Consider the US civil rights of the 50/60's the extremes were the like of 'black power' etc.
Go to east LA today and you are confronted with the disenfranchised, and disillusioned...the subsequent crime and violence.

religion/politics/cultural pride have always been the tools of the manipulative to radicalize people.

To me they're no worse than any number white religious bigoted nut cases in every country. Both Mexico and Argentina are catholic countries but are among the most dangerous. Gangs are responsible for more killings each year than Islamic(?) fundies in Baghdad.

Islamic fundamentalism has increased as many has observed the godless perverted result of secular humanism. Funny that Mohammed and Polanski seem to have a bit in common.

Durgh.Do we not see the parrallels between corporate lust for power and religious lust for power?It is all based on human insecurity and both will collude to subjuagate the masses if it suites their purposes.

The weakness in our humanity is reflected our own insecurity.This is why we form tribes that reflect our foibles.Great civilisations always fall from within and we need the ficticious war on terror to shore up the power of the elites.