What can you say about apocalyptic jihad?
It turns out that the answer is “a great deal.”
The first weekend in May I attended a conference held in Boston entitled “GenerationCaliphate: Apocalyptic Hopes, Millennial Dreams and Global Jihad.” It was organized by Richard Landes, millennial scholar, inventor of the term “Pallywood,” blogger at The Augean Stables, exposer of the suspect nature of the claims about al Durah’s death, author of the book Heaven on Earth, brilliant and original thinker, and a person I’m happy to call my friend.
This was a scholarly conference, but that certainly didn’t mean it was dull. Au contraire; it was very lively.
One of the strongest impressions I got from the conference is how many people there are who have dedicated their lives to studying the history of Islam and Islamic thought, and how much information they have gleaned about how that thought informs the motives and expectations of modern terrorists. Many of us non-experts tend to think of terrorists as more grounded in the present than they apparently are, and to ignore what seem to be their wild fantasies about the end of the world and fail to appreciate how very much those apocalyptic dreams are informed by Islam and its history.
Something else that struck me about the conference was how it illustrated that although many of us (and I include myself here) tend to think everyone fighting terrorism is on the right, there are some people on the left who are very concerned about terrorism and take it very seriously, but that there are some rather large rifts between those of the right and left who share this common cause and common interest in combating terrorism.
There were too many erudite and engrossing speakers at the conference to describe each one, but some highlights (in addition to the aforementioned Richard Landes) were, in no particular order:
(1) Graeme Wood, who wrote an article in The Atlantic back in February (I discussed it here) on the subject of the apocalyptic belief system of ISIS.
(2) Timothy Furnish, an expert in the more ancient history of the Capiphate and of Islamic end-time beliefs, and how they are influencing modern politics.
(3) Jeffrey M. Bale, who discussed the many reasons why so many people refuse to take the ideology behind Islamic terrorism seriously, prominently including what he calls “mirror imaging,” which is the tendency to project one’s own thoughts and beliefs onto others.
(4) David Cook, a professor of religion and an expert on Boko Haram.
(5) JM Berger, who gave a fascinating talk on the increasingly sophisticated ways in which Islamic terrorists use modern social media to transcend geographic limitations.
(6) Itamar Marcus, founder of Palestinian Media Watch, an invaluable site for studying the ferocity and hatred expressed in Palestinian propaganda. I’ve already discussed his website in this post, but I suggest that if you haven’t looked at it, please do.
(7) Charles Jacobs, founder of the Boston branch of CAMERA, founder of the David Project, and instrumental in the fight against slavery in the Sudan, was a forceful speaker who explained why some of the Jewish organizations traditionally involved in the fight against anti-Semitism and intolerance (such as the Anti-Defamation League) have been reluctant to involve themselves very heavily in these issues.
(8) David Redles spoke on a topic I’d never really heard about before, how apocalyptic thinking figured in Nazi ideology.
(9) Paul Berman, one of the liberals at the conference and author of the well-known book Terror and Liberalism, spoke of how terrorism presents the west with a crisis among the left, particularly its intellectuals, and academia.
One of the scheduled presenters was Hirsi Ali, whom I’ve long admired. I was much looking forward to her appearance in such a relatively small venue. She was due to speak on the second day, but unfortunately she had to cancel. I wasn’t privy to her reasons, although I’m sure she had them. It certainly didn’t escape anyone’s notice, however, that the evening after the first day of the conference, when we went back to our rooms, the news of the attack and shootings in Garland, Texas aimed at Pam Geller and the free speech event was being broadcast.
Geller’s conference was very different from ours both in tone and purpose. But even academic get-togethers such as the one I attended provide substantial security details these days. That this is so is a sad commentary on the growth and scope of terrorism today; I doubt that such a presence (at least not so large a presence) would have been necessary prior to 9/11. But that’s the reality of our times.
[ADDENDUM: Richard Landes has kindly provided a set of recommended articles and website links connected with the conference and its authors. You can read them here; they are listed towards the bottom of the page.]
Thank you for this Neo. This is a subject that I consider of monumental importance, especially in light of the fact that we are seeing sharia-imposing areas cropping up all throughout our western world. I have bookmarked your links and will be taking the time to examine them. I am sponsoring a friend who is returning to the Catholic church after an adulthood worshiping in the evangelical community. At the inquiry class this Wednesday, the moderator stated that “no one should have a problem with the Pope recognizing the Palestinian state”. As much as I try to not be a constant dissenter, this is not a statement I could ignore and therefore had to openly contest it. I’m sure I will find many supports for my point of view at the PMW site.
Pamela Geller’s tone is just right!
Fundamental Concepts – Eff Off
We need a Patton.
“In a manner entirely in keeping with apocalyptic beliefs, but utterly counter-intuitive to outsiders, these Jihadis see the Western-driven transformation of the world as a vehicle for their millennial beliefs”
I must take issue with the assertion “utterly counter-intuitive to outsiders”
These Jihadis see the Western-driven transformation of the world only tangentially as a vehicle for their millennial beliefs. Primarily, Jihadists see the Western-driven transformation of the world as a mortal threat to the survival of the 7th century Islam that they yearn to resurrect.
It is my contention that the rise of fundamentalist Islam is reactive in nature, that it is a reactive response to the cultural intrusion of the modern world.
It is my contention that, consciously or unconsciously, jihadists sense that Islam cannot survive another century of cultural exposure to the modern world. Thus for them, it is literally a fight to the death.
Iran’s 1979 revolution was absolutely a reactive response to the Shah’s westernization of Iran. ISIS’ drive to achieve dominance is a continuation of that reactive response and a reaction to the West’s suicidal timidity.
The Caliphate’s time is now because otherwise it will never come, since in a modern world, Islam’s 7th century tenets are not viable. Faced with that cultural mortal threat, jihadists have no choice but to imagine Armageddon because culturally, Islam is faced with a de facto form of Armageddon.
The only reason why Islam can claim to be culturally superior to the West is because of the moral depravity of the West’s secular liberal/left.
Islam cannot compete with the West creatively, technologically or industrially and, upon those three pillars rest material progress.
The only reason why Islam can challenge the West even in the slightest is because the West refuses to identify and fight the threat from Islam.
GB–Very astute. Just yesterday I was at the bank and the person helping me was not wearing her head scarf for the very first time. (A lovely woman, and amazingly, with only the difference of the scarf, I wasn’t quite sure it was the same person, who even opened our latest IRA for us one month ago.) When I asked, and determined that yes, today she isn’t wearing her scarf, I asked her about it. She said she was starting to be too warm at work, so she talked to her mother about it (she is married) and her mother told her, ” You are an adult. It is your decision”. I asked her about sharia laws and how she felt. Obviously, she detests Isis, etc. If she were still in her country of origin (can’t remember, Morocco, I think), I’m pretty sure she would still be wearing that headscarf.
Great Comment GB,
But I have a contention of my own, re:
“The only reason why Islam can challenge the West even in the slightest is because the West refuses to identify and fight the threat from Islam.
It is my contention that you can’t fight something with nothing. I contend that the West is so immersed in nihilism, Gnosticism, that it has disarmed itself. I contend that the West is resolute in its depradations, plundering the wealth of its own citizens; and deprecating the native population, depreciating citizenship, desecrating its heritage, and decrying its Christianity and Christian ethos. As far as I can make out they are relying solely on their own hubris, that they can make the religiosity of Islam submit to profane secularism. That’s worse than showing up at a knife fight empty handed; it’s showing up at a knife fight with a handful of candy.
Islam is a political system with a veneer of religion. Islam has been a disaster every place the Islamists have taken over. Islam is still stuck in the middle ages.
A vast majority of those who honor the call to prayer, whether in arabia or elsewhere, are shackled to an ideology that is utterly incapable with Western Civilization. It all comes down to killing enough of them so the survivors capitulate and renounce their affliation with a sick, monstrous ideology. Everything else is talk talk. No one in Germany post May 8, 1945 was proud to identify as a nazi beyond a handful of zealots.
Outstanding comment GB. I fully agree.
I do share this much with the Islamist; much if not most of what passes as western culture today I find offensive. Unlike them I recognize a right to cultural suicide if that is the preferred course.
… The only reason why Islam can challenge the West even in the slightest is because the West refuses to identify and fight the threat from Islam…
East/West.
What is at stakes:
A Muslim cleric in Saudi Arabia has called on women to wear a full veil, or niqab, that reveals only one eye.
TWICE!
I am puzzled by Prof. David Cook, despite his pretty remarkable credentials. How exactly does one become an expert on Boko Haram? Especially if one is on the Rice U. faculty in Houston. I imagine that requires more than a knowledge of islam and Arabic. Houston does have a large Nigerian population, the largest cluster outside Nigeria, so perhaps he’s educated himself on Boko through them.
George Pal Says:
May 15th, 2015 at 4:25 pm
… I contend that the West is resolute in its depradations, plundering the wealth of its own citizens; and deprecating the native population, depreciating citizenship, desecrating its heritage, and decrying its Christianity and Christian ethos…
Yes, Oikophobia
“the West” referred here is composed of very specific individuals and you know perfectly who they are amongst those around you in daily life or at large.
They can carry with their sordid agenda only if you allow them.
It will take nothing short of direct action. Existential!
I looked at Neo’s sources in this post. Very interesting … but … we know all that!
Hirsi Ali, Pam Geller, Robert Spencer, Walid Shoebat and others have been telling and telling and telling us at great personal risk.
Your Obama voting family, ‘friends’, neighbors, colleagues, acquaintances, do.not.mean.you.well.
The longer you delay the Eff Off process the worse the outcome will be.
It’s happened before, and like the last time it.will.be.your.fault.
There are no victims only players.
– exception for children –
Ignorance or sins of omission are no excuse because … existential.
I blame the voters.
Voters or human livestock?
kaba Says:
May 15th, 2015 at 5:17 pm
I’ve read that only a few decades ago, much of the developing world looked up to the West and America as something to emulate.
That many of them despise us now may have more to do with our depraved entertainment industry and popular culture than the usual excuses of “colonialism” and “imperialism”.
… That many of them despise us now may have more to do with our depraved entertainment industry and popular culture than the usual excuses of “colonialism” and “imperialism”….
Correct. And it: spreads.
I you buy the product you are part of the problem. If you don’t Eff them Off you are a participant.
They.do.not.mean.you.well. at the Frankfurt School and similar.
Ymarsakar Says:
May 15th, 2015 at 10:21 pm
Voters or human livestock?
None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
We are being farmed.
Land of the Sheeple, Home of the docile.
That many of them despise us now may have more to do with our depraved entertainment industry and popular culture than the usual excuses of “colonialism” and “imperialism”.
To the rest of the world, the colonialism and imperialism is the Hollywood depravity and sickness. What do you think their experience of America comes from? Most as tourists and mostly from the exports. What do we export? Hollywood movies and entertainment, news, etc.
When the Left talks about colonialism, they are really talking about themselves. But they’re also talking about America because Americans Allow Leftists to Live in America. It works like that.
“One of the strongest impressions I got from the conference is how many people there are who have dedicated their lives to studying the history of Islam and Islamic thought…”
FYI, the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation wants to classify intelligence analysis as a form of “Islamophobia.” A word I can’t stand, but unfortunately must use.
The people who want to kill us produce quite a bit of propaganda so we’ll stay asleep until our rude awakening. It’s very possible to read what Muslims produce for themselves and arrive at a different conclusion than the one they want us to arrive at. But we’ll be harder to kill that way. So it must be a hate crime.
It all makes about as much sense as the Soviets insisting we have a KGB officer as CIA director during the Cold War. We just may finally be suicidal enough to go with it.
It all makes about as much sense as the Soviets insisting we have a KGB officer as CIA director during the Cold War. We just may finally be suicidal enough to go with it….
Speaking of which:
Obama’s Nominee For CIA Director Converted To Islam…
It all makes about as much sense as the Soviets insisting we have a KGB officer as CIA director during the Cold War. We just may finally be suicidal enough to go with it….
Speaking of which:
FDR mistress Daisy Suckley’s diary, which was discovered under her bed in 1991, isn’t a secret, as I discovered by searching the term. But, it sure as hell has not been been publicly aired. I’m talking about FDR telling Ms. Suckley about D-Day details a month prior to June 6th, 1944 (“… technically treason”). I’m talking FDR’s plan to partner up with Joe Stalin after the war, to crate a new world order, with FDR running the planned United Nations…
Sob!