How does &quot;it&#x27;s about religion&quot; imply &quot;they&#x27;re trying to spread their religion&quot;? It&#x27;s about cultural dominance. It doesn&#x27;t have to make heretics convert, it just has to make them scared of heresy.<p>Terrorist attacks aren&#x27;t about defeating the enemy, they&#x27;re about terrorizing the enemy and inciting them to make the wrong decisions -- like mistreating peaceful Muslims and thereby supporting the Islamists&#x27; propaganda that this is a jihad in defence of Islam.<p>The easiest way to gain sympathy is to portray yourself as the victim and your attacks as righteous self-defence.