It is a perilous path to attempt to understand the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants who justify massacres and beheadings as the height of moral Islamic conduct. However, the perverted sense of logic that goes into such views continues to amaze many of us. This week, the press is reporting that Islamic State fighters are deeply worried. No, not about U.S. air strikes or the training of their opponents. According to reports, IS fighters are terrified that they are facing female Peshmerga fighter (“Peshmergettes”) and, here is the poetic justice, if they are killed by one of them, they will not get the 72 virgins that they were promised in paradise.
Peshmergettes, it appears, is far more disturbing than all of those heads of non-believers that the fighters like to pass around.
Ed Royce, who chairs the U.S. House International Relations Committee, is quoted as saying that “These [ISIS] soldiers apparently believed that if they were killed in battle, they went to paradise as long as they were killed by a man.” Leave it to women to ruin everything by entering the workforce for IS terrorists.
Of course, if you believe that you are guaranteed 72 virgins in paradise, this may not be quite as far fetched as it may seem to the rest of humanity.
In other news, the spokesman for IS has denounced John Kerry “the old uncircumcised geezer.” Only a group of murderous, sex-obsessed maniacs would incorporate the fact of circumcision as the most relevant characterization of one of their foes.
What is truly impressive that none of this seems at all crazy to these guys: the beheadings, the virgins, the need to be killed by a man. It is all treated as perfectly understandable in the parallel universe of the Islamic State.
Source: Al Ararabiya and Telegraph
I see it specifying “virgins”… It doesn’t seem to specify sex or even species; there may be a whole lot of disappointed martyrs.
wrxdave – personally, I think they are running out of virgins of any kind. 🙂
then it must be clear: the mil people have do implement everywhere women to prevent the easy moving to the so called virgins: .-)
stepheng2010 on 1, September 23, 2014 at 2:00 am
“What we see in the Middle East is what happens when the fundamentalists are unchecked over generations.”
I think what you’re seeing is fundamentalists uncorked after years of suppression under secular strongmen.
JT
“What is truly impressive that none of this seems at all crazy to these guys: the beheadings, the virgins, the need to be killed by a man. It is all treated as perfectly understandable in the ‘parallel universe’ of the Islamic State.”
That is close to a perfect simile for the cultural gulf that exists between Islam and western philosophies.
Everything is possible when you come from a culturally parallel world. Otherwise ‘reasonable’ 21st century peoples literally believe in a burning bush that spoke, elephant headed deities, bread and water that transforms into flesh and blood, a life ending world deluge and the seven days of creation…why not virgins for the martyred believer?
The conundrum is why ‘rational’ people think that a belief system can/ will peacefully change in anything short of an eon. Forcefully changing a behavior is possible and oft demonstrated but, a belief system… I’m not buying.
What is a reasonable solution that can be accomplished, given our world view and cultural limitations? That’s the burning question. Arguing for anything else is just pissin in the wind.
Regardless of the solution it is clear that fundamentalist religious fervor is at the heart of the problem.
What we see in the Middle East is what happens when the fundamentalists are unchecked over generations.
I have no doubt we would see something quite comparable in the US if the fundamentalists were in charge.
That is one of the reasons for the Establishment Clause.
What is going on in the ME between the SUNNI and the SHIA and ISIS and everyone else nothing whatsoever to do with Jesus. It is the outgrowth of religious teachings that demean women and infidels and and glorifies their killing add to the mix a devout love of money and power and you have the MIDDLE EAST princes, potentates and caliphate leaders.
I pity the humans caught in the middle however many make it clear that they would rather live or die with their own than be saved by the Great Satan and I say great. We have plenty to do with our money right here at home.
PROOF.
Religion is mass psychosis. Religion, the opiate of the masses, must be constrained. There must be a Separation between Church and State.
Oops. There is. Except there isn’t.
America fights wars for Israel, continuously since 1948, a country from which America derives absolutely nothing except Ponzi schemers, “banksters” and religion. We fight endless wars because some believe in the very human and very Hebrew Jesus and the “nothing between the atoms,” nonexistent “God.”
Onward Christian Soldiers.
How about a little dose of reality?
Country Joe And The Fish – 1965
“And it’s one, two, three,
What are we fighting for ?
Don’t ask me, I don’t give a damn,
Next stop is Vietnam;
And it’s five, six, seven,
Open up the pearly gates,
Well there ain’t no time to wonder why,
Whoopee! we’re all gonna die.”
For what?
stephen – the virgins may be awarded en masse but you are not required to deverginize them en masse. Patience is a virtue.
Paul,
The virgins are awarded as a bevy, en masse – not seriatim.
Just saying.