[ExI] Fwd: New Article

[Sergio M.L. Tarrero]

On Oct 5, 2007, at 12:42 AM, hkhenson wrote:

> At 01:56 AM 10/4/2007, BillK wrote:
>> On 10/3/07, hkhenson wrote:
>> <snip>
>>>  Of course even understanding the problem may not lead to a  
>>> solution.  And
>>> it may be that the explanation is too bitter a pill.
>>>
>>>  If anyone has a way to get Sam Harris' attention, please let me  
>>> know.
>>>
>> He is making the case that all religions are not equal and the Muslim
>> religion is much more likely to produce jihadist murderers than other
>> religions.
>> So there is also a specific Muslim problem to deal with.
>
> I would disagree with him there.  *All* religions can inspire
> warriors to jump up and down and yell "kill, kill."  That's the
> evolved *function* of religions and if one has drifted away from its
> function, it can jolly well swim back as needed.  Remember the  
> crusades!

I don't think you'll find many jains jumping up and down yelling  
"kill, kill". I do think the specific set of memes found in a given  
religion, and how seriously (and literally) hosts take these ideas  
and the strategies the religion proposes to enhance its survival or  
growth, to make a difference.

You may find jains ganging up to defend themselves, maybe. In the  
case of islam, though, there is a level of unprovoked belligerance  
and constant need to expand the "house of allah" (until the whole  
world is converted or destroyed) that you simply don't find in other  
creeds.

I would also venture that a religion (and certainly some of its  
offshoots) may lose its evolutionary function until it's  
unrecognizable (and even unrecoverable).

--
Sergio M.L. Tarrero
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