The IDF can wipe out terrorists but what of Hamas terrorist ideology? - opinion

• Published date: 11 March 2024
• Author: MICHAEL J. SALAMON
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

The Shia extremists of Iran have for the last 30 years been developing a caliphate starting in Iran travelling to Iraq, Syria then Lebanon. Their cultish goal is to eliminate every Jew in their expanding path. How they continue in their efforts is based on radical religious beliefs and the power of cult philosophies

Leon Festinger, a psychologist who at the time worked at the University of Minnesota, decided to follow a cult that he had read about. Mrs. Keech, whose real name was Dorothy Martin, told followers that she had received messages from aliens stating that the world would end on a specific date. She attracted a large following and the group developed a beliefs-based cult called the Seekers. When the date passed without the world ending, the cult nevertheless continued, with a change in focus to proselytizing even more with the goal of attaining a larger membership.

Adapting a false ideology when confronted with reality

Festinger and colleagues wrote a book about the cult titled When Prophecy Fails: A Social and Psychological Study of a Modern Group That Predicted the Destruction of the World in which he advanced the theory of cognitive dissonance. In terms of cults, the theory suggests that cult members beliefs cannot be erroneous even if proven wrong. Cult members adapt to their belief failures by increasing their determination to establish and prove that they are correct. In the process they expand their membership.

While Festinger and his partners did groundbreaking work, the focus on this one group failed to explore the larger issue of cults.

This group is by no means the only one with a similar dogma. What we learn from studying other groups is that prophecies that cult members adhere to virtually never fail. The belief systems of cults are robust, even when contradicted by reality.

Regardless of the outcome of the Israel-Hamas war, Hamas, the cult that it is, will claim victory. Like all other radical cults, the level of cognitive dissonance which embodies their belief that the Hamas charter cannot be wrong has provided the impetus to expand their influence. And this cult has already set up the considerations to do so.

By attacking Israel with well-written and militarily exercised plans, threatening residents, raping and mutilating, taking hostages, and not negotiating in earnest, while adding to a cult of followers worldwide, Hamas will claim triumph.

The October 7 war started by Hamas is asymmetrical and can also be considered guerrilla...