Re: Boom! and you go to Heaven

From: Steve Drew (sd014a6399@blueyonder.co.uk)
Date: Mon May 20 2002 - 23:34:57 BST

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Date: Mon, 20 May 2002 23:34:57 +0100
Subject: Re: Boom! and you go to Heaven
From: Steve Drew <sd014a6399@blueyonder.co.uk>
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    > Date: Sun, 19 May 2002 18:51:55 -0400
    > From: "Wade T.Smith" <wade_smith@harvard.edu>
    > Subject: Re: Boom! and you go to Heaven
    >
    > On Sunday, May 19, 2002, at 06:17 , Lawrence DeBivort wrote:
    >
    >> The matter of 'going to heaven and finding virgins, of whatever gender,
    >> is a
    >> western oerception and preoccupation--not a Muslim one. IIRC, the Bible
    >> suggests that someone martyred for Christendom is rewarded with heaven,
    >> but
    >> I doubt many western soldiers leap to arms with that hope in mind....
    >> Is
    >> there a Christian or Christian scholar on the list who can fill in this
    >> idea?
    >
    > It's not 'not even' a Muslim one- the mention of houri's in the paradise
    > of the afterlife is apocryphal in the q'uran according to many islamic
    > scholars.
    >
    > But, serving one's god and country, and the giving up of one's life for
    > those authorities, is an old and perhaps ageless, and perhaps culturally
    > non-isolated property of society. It is certainly not just a xian or an
    > islamic hero that offers his life in battle.
    >
    > Posthumous awards are given to the family of the hero- land, or riches,
    > or position, in many and sundry lands.
    >
    > The priests and the kings are the sources of many of these fables and
    > tricks. The old men do not go to war.

    Very true.
    >
    > - - Wade

    My original question was that Evo Psych does not explain suicide bombers
    etc. So what is powerful enough to make young men and women commit suicide
    for a cause?

    Regards

    Steve

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