This is the point that sticks my craw, and that of Sam Harris. They are telling us why they are killing. They tell us why they hate us. And we won't grant them the dignity we granted the Nazis, or any other historic enemy. Were Genghis Khan's contemporary enemies trying to rationalize and excuse his behavior? I don't believe that it is controversial to say that fundamentalist, extremist Islam is murderously violent. I don't believe that it is controversial to say that modern society (Making sweeping generalizations of 'The West') is not a good framework for helping young people with lots of potential (Potential for good or ill) find meaning that satisfies. I think that religion offers that, sometimes well, sometimes poorly, but fundamentalists usually promise a lot more than moderates.While terrorists often invoke God, many social scientists are skeptical religious extremism can explain why people commit acts of terror