Pointing out basic facts (like that Syria's dictatorship is secular, not religious) is not an injection of bs.
Roo sters chart is hard to argue. The problem is that when you dig into the cause, it's impossible to deny the role of Saudi cash in bringing about that state of affairs in the Muslim world.
The answer to the question "why are many religious Muslims practicing extremism?" Isn't "because that's islam." The answer is "because extremists control all the cash in Muslim hands, and they do so specifically because of their alliance with the United States and Britain."
Your tax dollars are paying for people to learn this.
That is a significant cause, but insufficient to explain it. It is also part and parcel of the old anti-colonialist view that swarthy and brown and black people have no agency and can only
re-act to the actions of America or the West.
Factors, in estimated order of significance.
1. "Extreme" Islam is orthodox Islam.The art and statue-destroying, infidel raping, and head-chopping muslims have the better argument that their reading and application of the Koran, Hadith and such are closer than those of muslims who are not queer-defenestrating head-choppers. Without Islam, there is no Islam of
any sort, from butterflies-and-korandy-canes Islam to crucify the infidels Islam. You can see the power of this in the figures above. Mayeb only a small number of muslims will act, but they have broad support by those who agree with them.
2. Contemporary commo both electronic and physical Seeing how Islam is done in Mecca and actually doing it while visiting has a profound, homogenizing influence on Islam. Quirky heterodox Islam that developed over the last 1300 years in particular locations out from under the influence of the guardians of muslim orthodoxy is fading relative to the real deal as muslims can see the real deal on their screens or in person.
3. PetrodollarsSaudis and such do not need the gov't of the USA & UK to make gigabucks selling Texas Tea. Along with those discretionary dollars comes the desire to spend some on one's religion.
4. The Saudi / Petro-Muslim ExampleSaudis and wildly rich petromuslims live the life many muslims think they ought: a life of leisure on top with their lessers--especially non-muslims--doing all the heavy lifting.
5. US, UK, and Western (Im)Moral SupportClose ties with petromuslims has given them legitimacy and cover. And has likely kept many, many attempts at their replacement stillborn.
6. US, UK, and Western Monetary SupportYep, our tax dollars have been spent in support of the Saudi and Gulf Arab regimes. I think this less significant than the above, to include the gassy words and actions in support of petromuslims. Main reason is that the huge military subsidies and access to western military tech are wasted on Arabs organized into state armies.
