The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant Megathread

[viper37]

they pretty much make it as they go, so anything is possible.

[Berkut]

I don't think you can casually discount that these people truly do believe that they are the true followers of Allah.

It isn't just a bunch of bullshit they use to justify being complete nightmares to humanity. They really believe this stuff, and they recruit those who they can convince that this is what true faith is about.

[jimmy olsen]

IS bombed a police station in Cairo

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/islamic-state-claims-responsibility-for-massive-car-bombing-in-cairo/2015/08/20/6c0cd6a0-4737-11e5-8e7d-9c033e6745d8_story.html

[jimmy olsen]

Trafficking in organs now?

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/isis-harvests-organs-yazidi-sex-6281626

[Valmy]

I don't think you can casually discount that these people truly do believe that they are the true followers of Allah.

It isn't just a bunch of bullshit they use to justify being complete nightmares to humanity. They really believe this stuff, and they recruit those who they can convince that this is what true faith is about.

Oh I absolutely believe this is true. I believe daesh is absolutely earnest and honest in its beliefs. Which is why they have this attraction.

[KRonn]

I don't think you can casually discount that these people truly do believe that they are the true followers of Allah.

It isn't just a bunch of bullshit they use to justify being complete nightmares to humanity. They really believe this stuff, and they recruit those who they can convince that this is what true faith is about.

Oh I absolutely believe this is true. I believe daesh is absolutely earnest and honest in its beliefs. Which is why they have this attraction.

Agreed, they fervently believe in what they say and do. Many of them are well to do, educated, and this is what they believe. Doesn't matter if rich or poor, they're believers in the cause. As long as they keep winning they'll keep attracting those who either are fellow believers or converts to the cause, along with many who are just drawn in for whatever reasons even though they have a comfortable life style in the West.

[Valmy]

Well I am sure they have a few recruits from non-Western countries.

[viper37]

I don't think you can casually discount that these people truly do believe that they are the true followers of Allah.

It isn't just a bunch of bullshit they use to justify being complete nightmares to humanity. They really believe this stuff, and they recruit those who they can convince that this is what true faith is about.

I do not discount it.

I am simply stating that they are making their rules as they go, re-interpreting the Coran to justify their actions, like all religious sects do.

The Bible does not say you get to molest and beat your kids to give them proper education, yet, some people use the Bible to justify that and they truly believe it.
The Bible does not advocate slavery, yet it has been used ot justify slavery and many people truly believed they were doing the will of God by enslaving black people.

The same goes with Isis type.  The fact they use religion to justify their actions does not mean they do not believe in what they do.  But as they do things, they re-interpret their religious teachings to justify it.

[Valmy]

The Bible is pretty long and full of contradictory stuff written centuries apart from completely different cultural perspectives. I am not sure you can map this particular 'feature' on to other religions.

I mean you might be able to but I got the feeling the Quran was a bit tighter.

[KRonn]

The things ISIS does that aren't in the Quran can be abstracted enough for the purpose of controlling people. By turning some/many of their actions into a religious edict it gives the actions the highest form of acceptability in their governing view.

[jimmy olsen]

I think this is an important article, it's quite long, but I think it's worth the read. It posits that ISIS is specifically targeting the nationalist identities and the concept of the nation state itself, and that it may do enough damage to them in the Arab world that even if ISIS is specifically defeated, another extreme Caliphate will arise from the ashes.

http://nationalinterest.org/feature/newsflash-time-running-out-defeat-isis-13650

[Admiral Yi]

Based soley on your cogent but somewhat perplexing precis of the article, it sounds like ground already covered in that Atlantic article on the theological foundations of ISIS's agenda.

[Grey Fox]

Isn't the creation of a non-extreme Caliphate in our interest?

Maybe that's what we need Iran to be.

[Eddie Teach]

Isn't the creation of a non-extreme Caliphate in our interest?

Maybe that's what we need Iran to be.

Doubtful.

At any rate, Iran is the wrong sect.

[Berkut]

What is needed is a credible religious voice willing to not only say that killing for Allah is wrong, but that those who are doing it are burning in whatever version of hell Islam has for infidels and heretics.