Re: "Islamists Know a Western Civilization Secret: ‘Progress’ Makes Religion Decline"

At Pajamas Media, there was a discussion of the causes of terrorism (here).  My observation with one response were as follows:

"Religious reformations do not produce societal change. Societal change, specifically economic change, produces religious reformation. 

With sufficient economic freedom, men will be too busy making money to spend time at the mosque. Daughters will be sent to school because it will enable them to provide their parents with a comfortable retirement. Business will provide the sense of personal success that Islam promised, but didn’t deliver.

People who drive Mercedes and vacation in the south of France don’t dream of martyrdom."

JD Will - "Hmmm. Didn’t I see some photo’s of the Bin Laden family on vacation in Europe (Switzerland, I think)?"

 
"You are mistaking wealth for economic freedom.

Religious extremism fills a psychological need for a sense of meaning and pride. Wealth can not substitute to fill that void, but the achievement of wealth often can. If you feel that you are a failure in life and are ashamed, winning the lottery will not give you a sense of personal pride. Hard work that results in wealth can be a source of pride in accomplishment. 

This is why the oil wealth of the gulf has increased religious extremism. Riches fall from the sky, but it comes with no pride in accomplishment. Therefore attainment of wealth is discredited as an option for personal fulfillment and people turn to religious fundamentalism as the only remaining option.

As for the case of the Scottish doctors; this is the danger of a class centric society. When economic success is not rewarded with increased social standing, people will turn to other means. This is why Muslim Americans are less radical than European Muslims of equal wealth. In America, hard work is rewarded with increased social prestige.

The common theme is that it is not the wealth itself that inhibits religious extremism, but the psychological and social effects of attaining it that matter.

When you are proud of your accomplishments, and you have the admiration of your society, you will not need martyrdom. Economics is only a convenient arena for that success."