Why would someone of western origin want to join ISIS or other extremist Middle-Eastern organization?

2015-03-23T06:23:07-04:00

Why would educated, typically non-brainwashed 'Westerners', whether American, European, or from other civilized parts of the world want to pursue such lifestyle?

What do you know about extreme Middle Eastern and Northern African extremist organizations?

http://www.msnbc.com/jose-diaz-balart/watch/us-veteran-accused-of-trying-to-join-isis [login to see] 67

US veteran accused of trying to join ISIS

NBC’s Jim Miklaszewski and msnbc’s Ari Melber report on the developing news that an American Military veteran has been stopped while trying to enter Syria, accused of trying to join ISIS.

Response by PO1 Stephen Caldonetti made Mar 23 at 2015 6:34 AM

2015-03-23T06:34:04-04:00

What a shame that American citizens want to destroy Western Democracy for a religion. He should know better, as an American, he should understand the freedom of religion in our Constitution. I do not force my beliefs onto anyone, and I respect what ever you want to believe. I guess that some people can only see things one way, and if its not their way, then they want to harm you. What a shame.

Response by 1LT David Moeglein made Mar 23 at 2015 1:12 PM

2015-03-23T13:12:37-04:00

America is not only a continent or a country, but an ideal. In the USA, we have been known to say that something or someone is either American or un-American, to include American citizens. American citizens who join these terrorist organizations in the Middle East, feel disconnected from the fabric of our American society, and their actions are decisively un-American. I don't know of a similar term used to describe someone as un-Western.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2015 2:17 PM

2015-03-23T14:17:43-04:00

It's not difficult to become disillusioned with Western society, the materialism, the greed, decadence, depravity and rampant injustice and I suspect tens of millions of Americans wrestle with this...

A lot of the people who wrestle with these issues wind up turning to religion, and in some cases those religions are not Western, I suspect hundreds, perhaps even thousands of Americans every year turn to Islam because they perceive traditional western religions as being part of the problem.

Out of these it seems that dozens are radicalized and convinced that taking up arms to support extremist/fundamentalist versions of their religion is the best way to make the world a better place. I don't know how they miss the fact that places where Islam is the law of the land are even more screwed up than the west.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 28 at 2015 9:59 PM

2015-11-28T21:59:48-05:00

There are as many answers for why people want to ISIS (and company) as there are for why people want to join the US. It is a relatively easy process to join some of the organizations over there. ISIS is unique in helping pay for people's trip over to the middle east. Some people want to go for the adventure. Some people think they can find a better sense of purpose there. It is rarely for the money when speaking in terms of Westerners; indeed, it is in a move to reject materialism that some people join. Some people feel guilty for not living right and think that going to wage a holy war (not a jihad) will help absolve them of their sins (kind of like the way Christian priests told villagers their sins would be forgiven if they went on the Crusades or went to fight against the Natives in North/South America).