This has more to do with tribalism than religion imo. Religion is just another way of belonging to a tribe.

I would like to see if religion would not exist (so no heaven, no elaborate scripture, no virgins, no caliphate) if they would've picked another 'tribe' with such vigor and disinterest in their own and other lives.

(Following huuu here; we don't know if it was ISIS or another group yet)

Hutu and Tutsi in Rwanda? Whites and Blacks a few decades ago in the USA? Aryans and Jews in Germany a few decades ago?

You can find plenty of references to Hitler and some of his henchmen thinking they're doing the will of god; http://jewsforjesus.org/publications/issues/v16-n10/01

Nor would I describe that as terrorism; the nazi's were the elected party.

Claiming something and believing in something are two different things.

Of course, "tribes" have always painted their fight against the other tribe as God-approved. That doesn't mean that God actually plays a role.

But I was not claiming that; if you take away religion, at least you don't have god on your side. That is what i'm saying.

The word terrorism comes from the Reign of Terror that the French government practiced at the end of the 18th century.

How do you know this was an religious attack?

Because ISIS (and other terrorists; I think most terrorists in history?) bases all attacks on their religion?

But was this an ISIS attack?

Agreed, let's shelve this until we know. However unless it's just some lunatic (escaped from an asylum, coming out of nowhere, working alone etc; so no, i'm not calling all terrorists lunatics although, in some ways at least, of course they are) I am willing to bet, ISIS or another group/person, it was religion based.

Which was why I added the possibility of a lunatic. But I was indeed thinking of that. As I just left the Netherlands when that happened and people were quite shook up.

Are you implying this was because of Islam? That's racist.

Western Countries could change their foreign policy.

Religion only doesn't explain why the recent (post 9/11) surge in terrorists attacks. Also the world is far less religious than it was in the past, a very violent and vocal minority of people claiming to be religious are perpetrating these attacks while the majority of religious people condemn them. So it would be interesting to think about what changed, if not religion, that might cause this. I don't have a complete answer, not an expert in the subject but I'd venture to say that the actions of the West in the Middle East are one element of response.

> venture to say that the actions of the West in the Middle East are one element of response.

Agree to that. And I don't say that no religion would stop it, but I think it would help as then you don't have firm base to stand on and get others to follow you for.