Shit is happening

[Lemonray]

Turns out ISIS isn't ACTUALLY religiously motivated (though it's under the GUISE that it is) It's mainly political, with money being the main driving force

The motivation here isn't entirely religious, or entirely political. Plenty of the IS/IS-allied individuals  across the various tiers of power aren't just in it for worldly gain and do have true faith. I would compare the IS to the Waffen-SS in this aspect, because as with the islamic state, the members were not all equally fanatical. I actually used to know someone who was a member of the Waffen-SS during the final years of the war, who despite being quite nazified at the time was not one of the cold-blooded ones. Gradients, remember.

I'd also compare the IS, particularly at the higher levels, to the arabian nobility, in that there are certainly secret atheists/deists etc. within the organisation posing as devout muslims for their own reasons. They're probably not incredibly rare either. See also: The many western leaders who pose as god-believing christians for acceptability.

Oh, and something else worth remembering. From the islamic viewpoint, religion and politics are not seperate but intertwined. Muhammed's intent was for this connection to be impossible to break apart. Meaning, the religion is the state, and the state is the religion. And the muslim state/nation itself, the Umah, is not though of as being restricted by land or manmade borders, instead it is a worldwide collective every muslim is supposed to be a member of. This is something Muhammed lifted from the ancient jewish concept of a nation, although ever since Muhammed kicked the bucket, the muslims have been doing a not-so-great job of holding it together in comparison to the chosen people.
_____

Update: Mayhem in Mali. Jihadists took nearly two hundred hostages and apparently executed some people who weren't able to recite quranic verses. The local forces have already entered the hotel but it looks like they're still not sure how many jihadists are involved. Some hostages are now confirmed safe thankfully. It's not IS, but a different group of pro-sharia fighters.