The "infidel" is the inner part of us that "doesn't believe" what we believe we believe (on a conscious level). We project or externalize our non-belief onto other group that symbolizes our own non-belief. Then, we get angry at people in that group because their lack of belief threatens our own belief. Some Christians say that Jews didn't believe in the "empty tomb," in the resurrection of Christ. Jews are "doubting Thomases." If a person were ABSOLUTELY SURE that Christ was resurrected (if there was no doubt), then there would be no reason to be ANGRY at the Jewish non-believer. If someone tells me that I don't have a lamp on my table now, I don't get angry at the fact that person "does not believe," because I see the lamp. We get angry at the non-believer when we have our own INTERNAL DOUBT (the infidel within). Just as excessive belief can be a response to doubt, so excessive doubt can be a response to considering that an idea might have some merit or truth. With regards, Richard Koenigsberg __________________________________________________ IDEOLOGIES OF WAR AND TERROR: JOIN THE LISTSERV: Over 460 people responded to our initial invitation. You still have the opportunity to become a charter member of this exciting listserv that seeks to unravel the psychological sources of ideologies of destruction. To participate, simply send an e-mail to: oanderson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx __________________________________________________________ Library of Social Science Richard A. Koenigsberg, Ph. D., Director Telephone: 1-718-393-1081 Orion Anderson, Communications Director Telephone: 1-718-393-1104 Website for RICHARD KOENIGSBERG http://home.earthlink.net/~libraryofsocialscience/ Website for THE KOENIGSBERG LECTURES ON THE PSYCHOLOGY OF CULTURE AND HISTORY http://www.conflictaslesson.com/why_main.html ------------------------------------------------------------------ To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off, digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html