I would belong to no club that would have me as a member

Groucho Marx

Terrorism is a specifically chosen, demographically tested and evocative word, meant to bring about fear in the masses and provoke panic and a demand to be kept free from, at the cost of freedom to, from those who see safety as more desirable than liberty and/or privacy.

This is a subject that is treated in a recent book called "The Human Swarm". Unfortunately, the takeaway seemed to be that we are hardwired with a desire to belong. There is no "us" without a "them".

The author is a biologist who applies sociobiological thinking to humans and other animals. He has convincing arguments and lots of examples.

This is a good book very much related to this topic.

We are pack animals so we are meant to part of a tribe. We do not prosper on our own. When I found agnostic.com I found my tribe.

I disagree. We need to see that we are all of one group. We share the same DNA, mitochondrial DNA shows we are all related. We are all the same, until we realize that we are better off realizing this and not fighting each other over something that is not ours.We do not own the land, the oceans, the air, we need to realize that we all benefit from these resources and share in them and their sustainability. Sounds like we will never get to this place, but if we do not we will not make it as a species. Perhaps raccoons will be the next sentient species to give it a try.

I don't know if tribalism is in man's DNA, but it is apparent to me that it is reinforced via social participation. Mankind seems not to have left his monkey-troop beginnings too far behind.

So the oil and coal industries that are literally destroying our planet are not the real threat at the moment ???

I agree, i remember as a young college student i couldn't understand why the school I went to encouraged disparaging the school 10 miles away that was our rival in sports. Whether it sports politics, business, relgion etc. Competition is one thing demonizing is another. The fancy term for it is the us/them dichotomy by a psychologist named Aaron Beck. As soon as u start thinking in terms of us/them it all goes down hill from there. Religion is based on this. Beleivers/non-beleivers thats why relgion will always fail humanity.

Tribalism is in our DNA. As we evolved from small groups formed for survival from foes(animal and other groups) And food (hunting/gathering), as well as protection from the elements.
We still prefer hanging out with like minded people. This may extend to geographic areas of the world with Similar cultural aspects, ie. linguistics, dress, diet, entertainment etc. evolving. All separating us from other groups (tribes) also evolving. These differences have proved too much for some individuals and groups, eg. white rascists. And so terrorism can have tribal routes. I don’t think we have to belong to a tribe so much as we just do (DNA as I said) or choose to (sports for example). Sports and higher education are great prejudice break downers, as you are forced to be with others from other tribes and at first get along then usually respect and appreciate. Religion doesn’t have to be evil. I’m the first in my family to become agnostic but there were no evil ancestors of mine that I’m aware of.

Everyone has an innate sense of "family" or "tribe", even if they don't feel they belong to one. I think that the size of that conceptual family differs among people. It may be your immediate family, your neighborhood, your "congregation", your political party, your city, your country, etc.

You are correct but there will always be tribes. Man has such a need to belong that he continues to make things up. It's the same old crap whether the Crips and Bloods or varieties of religion. Football is not off the hook either. In Texas years ago a doctor and his son got into an argument about Earl Campbell's salary. One killed the other.

Sub tribes can cause even more trouble. Sectarian subdivisions like Catholic/Protestant. or Shia/Sunni

No. Humans group together for safety & security & from that comes the sense of tribalism, gangs, clans & elitism. I see no transcendence. That would require a major paradigm shift of thinking.

Patriotism & political party affiliation come to mind.

It's in our natures to seek validation. There is a serious learning curve, though, between fellowship and tribalism.

Most countries are attempting to resolve their differences with out warfare. War has become much too expensive for most civilized nations. The uncivilized starve their people into submission with a lack of knowledge.

It gets kind of lonely when one is not a part of a tribe or a group of people.

Well, there's nothing wrong about being in a "tribe". As long as there's respect for others. In a way, nationalities are a bit like tribes, we have to learn to appreciate what others have to offer. When I travel to anywhere I never been, I try to learn about their ways and appreciate whatever they have, be it monuments, food, music, sports.

Unless we become one, single "tribe?"

Perhaps the "evil" of which you speak is really just a transition period, brought on by our rapidly developing communications technology?

As "tribes," grew in size, first
Very small units, then
Villages, then
Cities,
City states,
Nation states,
Finally
Confederations and Federations between and among nations, doesn't a progression to a
One World Government
seem inevitable?

As warring "tribes" come into close proximity geographically, friction was--and still is--inevitable.

But in the Internet Age, geography is increasingly irrelevant, right?
The friction these days comes more from a clash of the very ideas on which cultures, including especially RELIGION, are based.

Ergo:
Are we on the cusp of the formation of entirely new religions, eventually melding into a single religion, one which reflects the state of our rapidly increasing scientific knowledge?

THIS religion, based on fact rather than ignorance, would have to be, would be, flexible enough to change and grow as our understanding of the universe evolves.

So if you put on your rose-colored glasses, this "evil" may be in fact a very good thing.
(If we don't destroy ourselves first.)

P.S. Being anti-theist, I'm using the word "religion" very loosely, it's amended definition (or maybe we need a different word) meaning 'pursuit of answers to basic remaining questions as to our still mysterious origins.'
If there is such a thing.
Maybe some "mysteries" will remain.
But I doubt it.

I think it is a basic effort of group safety. It gets out of control trying to maintain control. The bigger the safer some think, so these groups flourish irregardless of the dangers present in those groups.
Many of us don't like groups to much, because they are real adept at control factors..

Oh, wow. That's really interesting.

In the US 71% of terrorism was perpetrated by white supremist, not all of them belonged to a tribe but were acting independently.

I think my main concern is the institutionalised and usually accepted terrorism that exists within our societies. Tribalism is instinctual, we relate or not, stereotype and learn from experience; keeping an open mind can be a challenge, and some don’t see the value of it. We are social animals, those that don’t feel they belong can get quite ill.

Tribalism often results in mob behaviors and far the fanatics also results in terrorism. They are nto wholly unrelated or acting independent of each other.