It should be obvious that people are more likely to commit acts of terrorism if they think that their religious leaders approve of them and/or that they will be pleasing to God. That’s one reason why the teachings of Saudi imams and scholars have been one of the more incendiary causes of the rise of terrorism over the last thirty years. So, it’s very encouraging that the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs is running a program to promote moderate and resist extremist ideologies. It’s kind of creepy and totalitarian to haul your religious leaders into the capital for reeducation, but I can feel their pain, as that idea carries some appeal here at home.
Casual Observation
