In C.S. Lewis's "The Great Divorce"; a fantasy book about Heaven and Hell --Lewis tries to help us understand why people, even when they are presented with the truth about Heaven, and how truly wonderful it will be, insist on not wanting to go; but would rather be in Hell.  In Chapter 9 there is a very interesting statement by one of the "Bright Spirits" -- a person who has passed on and is saved, who is trying to encourage a lost soul to choose to be saved as well, and come into Heaven -- this Bright Spirit (quoting the Roman historian Tacitus) says, "They terrify lest they should fear." In other words, there are some people, who have chosen to do wrong, and chosen to sin, and it has become such a deeply ingrained pattern, that they can no longer choose right -- and don't want to do right -- but want to do wrong continually; and gradually they become more and more and more lost, till there is nothing left of their God-given humanity; they become completely and utterly dead in their sins -- and they know it. Then what is left for them to do? To terrify and frighten other people -- to cause other people to be afraid. And you know why? Because any other choice would mean they would have to face themselves, and the fact they are empty and lost and damned, with no hope of reprieve; and when a person reaches this state, and they know it (and don't want the reprieve), then there is only one thing left, fear; fear of the fact that eternity awaits, fear of an eternity without God, fear of an eternity of everlasting punishment; fear of total darkness and separation. This is what some people can't face; so they are constantly looking for ways to terrify (and hurt) other people -- so they can put off facing their own deadly and terrifying fear.

I think this is what is behind Islamic terrorism; what is actually going on inside the hearts and minds of the terrorists -- as opposed to the explanations that are currently being trotted out; i.e. that terrorists are really just "freedom fighters" -- or their actions are for political gain, or for social change and the like; or one of my favorites, that they are engaging in their horrific acts of brutality and mass-murder because the United States supports Israel; and isn't supportive enough of the "Palestinians".  As I have come to understand it, Islamic terrorism is an age old phenonmena, and has been practiced since the earliest days of that religion -- so what we are now witnessing is simply the most recent manifestation of a centuries old evil.

This is my personal opinion (only) -- based on my own understanding -- for what it's worth; and I'm certainly open to discussing and considering the many other points of view surrounding this issue.  Mark Zacharias