- A = Activating Event
- B = Beliefs
- C = Consequences (Emotional/Behavioral)
"Al-Qaida in Iraq and its allies responded on Monday to Pope Benedict XVI's remarks on Islam and holy war, proclaiming that jihad would continue until Islam takes over the world."[Source: Jerusalem Post]
- The Activating Event: "Pope Benedict XVI's remarks on Islam and holy war"
- Consequences: "Al-Qaida in Iraq and its allies responded on Monday ... proclaiming that jihad would continue until Islam takes over the world."
Ellis would categorize the above Belief as irrational because it leads to the following unhealthy Consequences:
"[Al-Qaida:] ... we will continue our jihad (holy war) and never stop until God avails us to chop your necks and raise the fluttering banner of monotheism ..."[Source: Jerusalem Post]
A rational Belief that Ellis would suggest would be: "It is strongly preferable for everyone to say things about Islam which we agree with, but it is not awful if they don't, just very unfortunate and sad."
After which Ellis would go further into D = Disputing and challenge Al-Qaida's thoughts with the following question: "Where does it say that everyone MUST say nice things about Islam?"
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We see that it is our Beliefs not the Activating Event which caused the Consequences, therefore Ellis concludes that people are primarily responsible for how they feel and the behaviors which result from it.
Therefore, the Pope cannot be held responsible for the feelings of "outrage" / "tensions" and the acts of violence which results.
Besides the Pope Benedict XVI has already made a personal PUBLIC apology. What else should he do?
After which Ellis would go further into D = Disputing and challenge Al-Qaida's thoughts with the following question: "Where does it say that everyone MUST say nice things about Islam?"
---
We see that it is our Beliefs not the Activating Event which caused the Consequences, therefore Ellis concludes that people are primarily responsible for how they feel and the behaviors which result from it.
Therefore, the Pope cannot be held responsible for the feelings of "outrage" / "tensions" and the acts of violence which results.
Besides the Pope Benedict XVI has already made a personal PUBLIC apology. What else should he do?
Don't use the Pope's "remarks" as an excuse - don't be a coward; take responsibility for your actions.


