Woke up to news of another terrorist attack

It is very difficult to understand the justification of killing people for the sake of ideology. I won't dignify it as being done in the name of religion. Religion is about personal salvation. Personal salvation in exchange for loss of lives is not acceptable. Any powerful deity who is all-knowing would not allow it. Religious teachings are written by humans who attempt to interpret their deity's intention as if they have a direct line.

I cannot in clear conscience follow a deity who commands their followers to kill infidels or sinners, whatever the definition is. I am not just condemning the appropriation of Islam, but Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, and Hinduism as well. Religion itself does not condone violence, but fanatics ignore the message of loving and helping one another and use it to propagate their own agenda.

I live very near a Planned Parenthood clinic. I know people who have availed themselves of their healthcare services. Focusing only on abortion, which already does not receive any government funding, is shortsighted. Holding them hostage for just a very small portion of what they do is evil. All it does is making affordable healthcare unavailable for low-income women, and that's not very neighborly.

While I have my opinion on abortion, I truly believe pro-choice is not equivalent to pro-abortion. Education is the key to preventing unwanted pregnancies, but they do happen. Women are overwhelmingly the victims, but all the rhetoric has almost always excluded them from the discussion. Women don't need patronizing. They need an equal voice.

If one truly believes theirs is the only true religion, make the effort to convince people to convert. Killing them defeats the purpose. Terrorist acts will not convince them to believe in a deity who wants them dead.

I had a Twitter thread hijacked by a religious group who claims to be true followers. All they perpetuate are lies and hatred. That's not religion. There's no personal salvation there. There's also no point in reasoning or arguing with them. They twist any sane and reasonable argument to suit their own agenda. They will have to answer for it eventually. I'm sure their deity is not too pleased with them.

What makes people so marginalized they turn to hateful rhetoric that exhorts them to kill in the name of religion? This becomes a vicious cycle. Not all terrorists are uneducated, but they believe they have been wronged and they are justified in what they do. It's time to wake up and listen.

So, reader, I am asking for your stories. Do you know people who have been affected by terrorist acts? Why do you think people are willing to sacrifice nonbelievers for their own salvation? What would you do to counter the current hateful climate?

As always, please keep it civil and relevant. I promise I will refrain from commenting on your experience, but I might be curious enough to ask questions to better understand your story.