Rethinking Islamist Terrorism
Dan Yankelovich

Participant
To refer back to a comment from Mary about her concern that without a religious connection, people might not have as strong a basis for moral behavior--a comment I disputed--I want to report, in support of her proposition, that the National Opinion Research Council at the University of Chicago just presented a study of altruism which found that those people who were actively involved in the practice of a religion, any religion, were significantly more likely to perform an altruistic act than those who were not active in a religion. Touche.

Participant
Welcome back Patty, glad to know you're recovering nicely.

Participant
Dick: It would be interesting to know the following, if they were recorded, in the Opinion Research Council study:

How often are:

Jews altruistic to Catholics and Muslims?

Catholics to Muslims and Jews?

Muslims to Jews and Catholics?

Born again Protestants to born-only-once Protestants?

It seems to me that in a multi-ethnic culture like ours the above are valid questions.

Participant
I haven't read the full report, but I can tell you that the altruistic acts were usually very simple acts of courtesy or help. I think giving directions would be considered altruistic--the average was two a day, or something like that. I have no idea if the kind of analysis you rightly think would be appropriate was made. Studies conducted long ago show that charity does not begin at home. It is easier for people to perform charitable acts for those whom they do not know.

Participant
Richard, regarding the "religious connection"--that is where I was going in my second entry way back when. It related to the recognition that there are important similarities in the theologies of Islam and Christianity and Judaism. These similarities may form a common moral basis for conflict resolution or at the very least for a beginning discussion among those sane enough to recognize the need for such a coming together. This is quite different than simply "reversing the flow of communication." It suggests a way of transcending the friction that comes from focusing on "sacred vs. secular," and "us vs. them."

A comment on altruism; there is a large body of research literature on the topic, as you know. The social psychology of altruism and pro-social behavior tends to avoid ethnic and religious variables, much to my amazement, although some good inferences are possible. But one reason for helping others must be the perception that helping other people is the right thing to do. The definition of "the right thing" obviously derives from our moral awareness which can clearly be linked with religious values even if one is not religious. But, I agree, all this may mean nothing to a fanatic who is out to blow himself/herself up in order to make the world a better place---because it is "the right thing to do." (?)

Participant
In re the words "in order to" in the last sentence above: Do we have any information at all to classify suicidal fanatics on the basis of their motivation? The dominant media would have us believe that these people have been brain-washed into think that this act is their ticket to heaven.

I really wonder if altruism or morals play any role at all.

Participant
It is natural for the U. S. government, and our feckless media, to make it seem as if the terrorists have no legitimate grievance against us. We are led to believe that they just hate us for our freedoms, or that they exhibit a fanatical and deranged misunderstanding of their religious heritage, or that they have been told that they will have seventy-two virgins in the afterlife. We forget that Osama bin Laden, and others before and since, based their attack at least partly on our continuing military presence in Saudi Arabia and our one-sided support of Israel, which has made life miserable for the Palestinians. It is this seemingly intractable and un-discussable position that has also created some of the rifts between us and other nations in the UN. So far we have shown no interest in looking at ourselves. I think correcting this grave error is one of the most important contributions that Dan has made in his report, even though at this point it still lacks specificity, particularly about our relations with Israel.

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