Trying to find a historical precedent for the self-radicalizing element of ISIS led me to think of the Anarchist Movement of the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. Odd to compare Anarchism to the totalitarian philosophy of a Theocracy? Some interesting similarities:
Ideological infighting within sects of both movements
The movement exists as both lone wolfs and organized groups
Acts of violence terrorized the public
Many fighting both movements were willing to sacrifice civil liberties and justice
A Utopian philosophy is common to both
The good news was the violent Anarchist movement died out. The bad news was it took World War I to make it happen.
And by the way: Utopian societies tend to be pretty unrealistic. You have to squint pretty hard not to notice things.
"The great problem of any civilization is how to rejuvenate itself without rebarbarization." - Will Durant "We've kept more promises than we've even made" - Donald Trump "Of what meaning is the world without mind? The question cannot exist." - Edwin Land
The CCC wrote:; Animal Farm, 1984, Brave New World, and Lord of the Flies
- Whenever a poet or preacher, chief or wizard spouts gibberish, the human race spends centuries deciphering the message. - Umberto Eco - To assert that the earth revolves around the sun is as erroneous as to claim that Jesus was not born of a virgin. - Cardinal Bellarmine at the trial of Galilei
