Are terrorists evil, or just misguided?

Question

I think to qualify as evil you have to know that what you're doing is wrong and do it anyways. But terrorists don't think they are wrong. They honestly believe they are carrying out the will of their god. They think they are doing the right thing. That's not evil.

Now, I know someone out there is probably going to misunderstand me (what else is knew?) and think that I'm trying to defend terrorists. I'M NOT. I think their beliefs are wrong and I think the only way to deal with someone that hardcore is to eliminate him.

But he's not evil.

Thoughts?

Answer 1

I agree with you, when they know what they are doing is to the destruction of others, that is evil. When a teenage girl makes herself a suiced bomber to get out of a bad marriage or family, she is only doing it as an escape, she thinks its better to die than live in that situation.
When someone believes that acting out terrorism and violence is for the better of their country and that their god will reward them for it, I feel truly sorry and feel pity that they are so spiritually blinded that they believe it, and succed in doing it. We might have different opinions on what is evil and what is not but I understand what you are saying. The man is just doing what he thinks will bring honor to himself, and his country, he might not even fully understand what he is doing. What I TRULY think is evil, is when a man will murder his own daughters, just to bring honor to his family, that is evil, he knows what he is doing and all he wants is a reward from a false god. These are my thoughts and I hope my opinion counts to you.~

Answer 2

… You know, my mother always tells me that I am something else whenever I say I feel more for the terrorists that bombed the Twin Towers than any of the victims. Whenever I hear ‘9/11’ I think about the bombers first. It’s not that I like them, it’s not that I dislike them, it’s that I understand them. So, I don’t think that they are evil, but I don’t think that they are misguided, either.

For you to really understand the above statement, I’d have to write for a long time, so, suffice to say… Nothing, really. I can’t make an opinion on an entire people, that’s just too… ignorant, conceited, assuming. And I just don’t want to come off like that.

Answer 3

Misguided in the sense that they believe that by using terrorism they can force the United States and Britain out of the Middle East and put pressure on Israel to give freedom to Palestinians. A better approach for them would have been to organize a proper political movement, but that takes political acumen, money and lot of patience, which they don't have. The motivation is all political; it's not religious in nature. Not all terrorists are religious extremists (many came from very liberal backgrounds) and not all religious extremists are religious.

Answer 4

Unfortunately, the word terrorism has evolved greatly since GWB got in. It used to mean people who were involved in organizations such as the IRA, who were trying to create havoc by attacking civilian targets as a military tactic to further their nefarious goals.

Of late, however, almost anyone that the government disagrees with is a terrorist, including such groups as PETA! Anyone who is willing to fight for what they believe in, or to defend strongly can today be considered a terrorist. Disagreeing with the war in Iraq is considered by some to be treason, and sympathizing with terrorists.

So, to go a bit beyond what you say, I'll go so far as to say that perhaps most people considered terrorists are not ony not evil, but not really terrorists in the first place.

Answer 5

Personally I think terrorism is a criminal act and should be treated as such, that means just like any other crime - no special powers or laws required. Like any crime we should look at the motives to assist preventing further crime.

The reasons behind terrorism may be numerous, some may stem from cruel foreign policies that lead people with no other weapons to fight with the primitive form of terrorism. More often it is fundamentalists who simply believe their holy book more feverently than most, and take it literally. This then justifies their actions in their own minds.

This can be said for fundamentalist christians who have killed abortion doctors also. It is not that they are evil. They believe something so feverently they have lost the connection with reality that what they are doing is immoral and cruel.

So I think they are deluded, not evil and they should be charged with murder, which is the crime committed. We should look at the reasons behind any crime, not to justify it, but to understand it and help prevent future crimes of that nature.

Answer 6

I understand exactly what you are saying. In my opinion, their religious leaders know what is what, they have learning, so they play on the fears of the average man or woman and use them in their plots at terrorism. That is the reason, also in my opinion, that they do not want the people educated. An educated person can think for themselves. They don't want that, they want to control everyone's thinking to achieve their own ends. And if the use of religion will help them get it they will use that ploy. The only truly evil people are the supposed religious leaders, the people themselves are mostly dupes.
But, as I said at the start of this answer, this is just my opinion.

Answer 7

The 6th pillar is made up. Muslims that have self belief that anybody merits assaults are at a loss for words. "usa" is interior the middle east attempting to help the Muslim people benefit freedom from the EVIL leaders over there. in case you rather accompanied the Qu'ran you're able to understand. "usa" knows of that there are solid Muslims interior the middle east, it is why they do no longer turn it right into a huge vehicle vehicle parking zone. THE MEDIA would not CONSTRUE a real MESSAGE. THEY INFLATE THE undesirable/EVIL and not in any respect concentration on the solid it is BEING carried out.

Answer 8

I understand that you are not defending terrorists but are attempting to differentiate between misguided and evil. I consider those who commit acts of terrorism to be evil since they are acting in anger and with hatred and surely know that what they do is horrendous. They may rationalize what they do, but they can not justify it. Human beings of adequate intelligence are capable of knowing what is right and what is wrong in the course of dealing with others, and whatever causes pain, terror, and/or death is wrong, regardless of how the perpetrators may twist their philosophy or religion to convince themselves that their misdeeds are honorable...

Answer 9

Here is the deal...WE ARE ALL EVIL! Well, sinful I should say! When left in DEFAULT mode, we pretty much chose our sinful nature all the time...It is only by God's grace and his presence in our lives we do anything right!! I think you pretty much nailed it as far as their beleifs...They are completely misguided as it would seem. I suppose you can't really know unless you are the person himself, but it seems they are so convicted in what they do, that they seem to beleive it is truth and their mission in life. What they do doesn't seem to compare to stealing a car, cheating on your wife etc...But in God's eyes, they are all same! Though they do horrible things, we all have to realize we all do horrible things, we are all considered equal in the eyes of God, and we are all sinful beings. We are not called to judge them, but to love them...I'm not sure how that is possible, but again, that would only be with the help of God! Good question...Going deep, heh?

Answer 10

Evil .. and i dissagree with Misguided.. I feel like they were guided right down the path there on. By sickos like the KKK, and Hitler, and Alqueda,(sp).. there are always leaders, good bad or ugly, but its every humans responisbility to make there own judgments as to what is right and wrong good or evil. Those who chose terrorism have activly chosen evil.