Practical or Religious Purpose?

Submitted by Jason Pappas (United States), Aug 23, 2005 at 16:42

Still don't underestimate the power of rituals. They lie not in the concrete benefits – they may even cost in the short term. They lie in the reaffirmation of the worldview. The attacks on 9/11, 7/7, etc have little strategic purpose and most jihadist-minded Muslims won't partake. But they can vicariously enjoy, rejoice, rejuvenate, and revive the Islamic spirit of Muhammad's time when Islam conquered the known world in its first century.

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