By Neil Elmer
What motivates a person to construct and place a car bomb in New York City Times Square in order to injure and kill many people? Extreme hate has to be the emotion that stimulates a person’s passions to do such a hideous act.
Anger is a natural human emotion that can intensify into more potent forms such as resentment, hate, violence, and murder. Anger is a belief about something. Our lives don’t start with beliefs; beliefs are learned.
Most anger is learned from experiences. Children who are abused or neglected learn anger, which leads to rebellion as they grow older. From a state of rebellion, anger can escalate to much anti-social and self-destructive behavior.
Many terrorists on record came from privileged backgrounds. Is their anger learned from neglect or by other means? In the case of religious terrorists, cultural and generational training are the more likely factors. Parts of the Muslim religion, for example, are very legalistic (harsh rules) with strict expectation of adherence and severe consequences for disobedience. This can be a breeding ground for anger--especially when taken to the extreme.
So why isn’t there mass rebellion against or exodus from that sort of religion? There are two reasons. First, fear is used to manipulate and control. The threat of death cannot be ignored. Second, the teaching which starts at an early age deflects the anger away from the family and the religion--the "infidels" are made out to be the problem. So, their anger is justified and pain is the price of being faithful to the religion.
However, anger and pain are not unique to the lives of religious extremists. Unresolved anger within any segment of humanity can simmer and burn within hearts and minds. Often, anger, no matter how mild, leads to destructive behaviors to self, relationships, or society--even in America. Certainly, the stresses surrounding anger are detrimental to physical and emotional health. My article Forgiveness: The Antidote for Anger and Pain deals with the problem of anger and pain facing so many of us. Though anger may not lead most of society to make a car bomb or destroy the World Trade Center, we are all deeply affected. True peace can only be found in the Lord Jesus Christ.
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Neil Elmer is author of the book PreScriptures for Life: A Believer's Guide to Praying Scripture. His ministry helps people achieve peace in life and be set free from the bondages of sin and oppression.
PreScriptures for Life
$15.95 Harvest Day Books
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