British Jihadis

The New York Times Magazine has an article about middle class Brit Muslims who have gone to Syria to join the ISIS jihad. It expresses some puzzlement over their motivation.

My guess it is the same motivation that took young Christian crusaders to the region 800 to 1000 years ago, an escape from humdrum boring lives and a chance for adventure and maybe riches as well as the approval of one's god. As Scandinavians would once say, they went a-viking, that is, raiding, adventuring.

COTTonLINE has a motto that is relevant to such individuals:

If someone seeks martyrdom, be helpful and facilitate his or her death.