Who’s culpable for terrorism?

I thought it interesting the jump by many, sadly atheist and skeptics alike, to link any Muslim who does such a crime as being the natural outflowing of Islamic teaching. It is a knee jerk reaction of the ‘western media’ to assume any ‘major’ act of violence is somehow related to Islam. Many of us on the aggressive edge of atheism have been called to task for our readiness to join such condemnations even to the point of being co-opted by those with a racist or xenophobic agenda.

A number of us atheist types though were willing to label our Norwegian a “Christian terrorist”, however when this was done much commotion was raised by the Christian right that this was unfair. I found it offensive when some (notably Fox news, to no surprise) used the massacre in Norway as an opportunity to show the victimization of Christians because the term ‘terrorist’ and ‘Christian’ were used together. As we have already discussed the term “Christian Terrorist” does seem applicable in spite of the remonstrations of those on the right.

When the linkages are made for our violent Norwegian and Christianity, such links to the violence of Christianity are side stepped by claiming he was not a ‘true Christian’…that Christianity is a religion of tolerance, peace and love…sound familiar? This is the same thing that Muslim’s say when violence is tied to Islam…claims the Christian right routinely ignore and claim as only false propaganda; yet then they do it are we to think it honest? As someone who believes religion leads to bad thinking, I would hold that all religion is innately bad and potentially a gateway belief to violence. Religion may not be the ‘context’ for conflict but it is often the justification for it.

Now, the extreme right in Europe has tried to disavow our Norwegian…they explain that although our actor explicitly lists them as his inspiration, they cannot be held accountable for the actions of a ‘mad man’. Now it is true that people can read anything they wish into the writing of another. Many free-market libertarians often read Adam Smith as their inspiration while ignoring his strong beliefs in socialism and communal responsibility. That said, I think it simplest to list what they have said and let you, my wise reader, decide if these were misinterpretations of a madman or incitements to violence.

“Islam is a religion of violence. There can be no accommodation with it. They are trying to destroy us,”
Robert Spencer

“We wanted Catholics to become informed about Islam because not only is Islam the church’s chief rival in terms of religion but Islam is a serious threat to the peace and well-being of the Western world in general,”
Robert Spencer

Islam is the Trojan Horse in Europe. If we do not stop Islamification now, Eurabia…will just be a matter of time. One century ago, there were approximately 50 Muslims in the Netherlands. Today, there are about 1 million Muslims in this country. Where will it end?”
Geert Wilders

“Islam is not a religion, it’s an ideology, the ideology of a retarded culture. I have a problem with Islamic tradition, culture, ideology.”
Geert Wilders

“America has been infiltrated on all levels by radicals who wish to harm America,” “In the Muslim world, extreme is mainstream,” she wrote. She said that there is a “cancer” infecting the world, and said: “The cancer is called Islamofacism. This ideology is coming out of one source: The Koran.”
Brigitte Gabriel

“We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity.”
Ann Coulter

“Despite what they may say, Muslims are and have always been on a mission to conquer and kill infidels. They’ve been doing it for centuries and will continue until we’re all dead, or they’re all dead, or the world ends, whichever comes first. We need to get over ourselves and focus on stopping the spread of Islamofascism. Period.”
La Shawn Barber
http://lashawnbarber.com/archives/2005/06/03/if-2/

“Thousands of alienated young Muslims, most of them born and bred here but who regard themselves as an army within, are waiting for an opportunity to help to destroy the society that sustains them.”
Melanie Phillips
http://www.wright-house.com/religions/islam/britain-muslims.html

“Islamists have a global vision that requires control over non-Muslim countries too – and specifically the United States. Their universal ambitions certainly can be stopped, but first they must be understood and resisted. Only when Americans realize that the Islamists intend to replace the U.S. Constitution with Shariah will they enter the fourth and final era of this war.”
Daniel pipes
http://www.danielpipes.org/3026/bush-declares-war-on-radical-islam

“Disguised as religion, Islam has penetrated the democracies with the aim of replacing civility and liberty with the barbarism of theocracy and Sharia. Islam’s multi-prong attack aims to destroy all that liberty offers.
Presently, America is faced with a formidable enemy in a Trojan horse called Islam. This imminent danger makes it imperative to revisit the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and make the necessary changes to legally defeat Islam’s subversion of the democratic system.
Steadfastly confronting Islam is the only way to defeat a fanatical enemy who does not believe in negotiation or compromise. For Islam, it is winner take all.
Islam must be recognized for what it is: a Trojan horse carrying in its belly what will assuredly slaughter all who stand for everything that is precious to free people.”
Amil Imani
http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/id.5482/pub_detail.asp

It cannot be doubted the our Norwegian felt that he had no option but to take up arms and trigger a revolution he believed would save Europe from terrorism. Yet it is interesting that the only terrorism…threat he seems to see is Islam, yet terrorism is rife in Europe. In our final chapter we will discuss how terrorism has been regionalized.