Appeal of IS
I believe that some Muslims become extremely committed to their faith and wish to pursue it in its purest and most authentic form. Some of these devotees study the Quran, the life of Mohammed and the behaviour of the revered earliest Muslims and conclude that IS are adhering to this core of tradition more faithfully than moderate Muslims.
Westerners love to project their own world view onto others, reducing all conflict to material causes, but the explicitly religious character of IS cannot be ignored. Those peaceable Muslims who also wish to honour the Quran as divine revelation and to elevate Mohammed as a “role model for today” need to argue forcefully why many apparent principles from these sources no longer apply.
Richard Lucas
Broomyknowe