[Moneyguy1]

Sorry if I sounded a bit severe above, but let's review the basic tenets of the Islamic faith. Although the Quoran states that Jews and Christians are "brothers in the book" and should be respected and protected, it also claims that there are only three stages that can be acceptable to a non believer: conversion, submission, or death. It is also written that a Muslim must treat other Muslims honestly, but that does not necessarily apply to non believers. Islam also says, to new converts, that any and all previous sins are forgiven upon conversion. Possibly this explains in part the popularity in prisons.

I had said that all organized religions have been at one time in their existence either guilty of or capable of great evil. I also implied that, as a religion matures and becomes more mainstream, it discovers that it has to be a bit more tolerant or face both internal and external revolt. Since some Arabic countries still treat women as possessions (not allowed to go out in public unless covered head to toe, unescorted, or drive), it seems to me that Islam has a long way to go before it can claim that it treats even its own followers with equal dignity. This is a religion that, in its early days was a bastion of knowledge, preserving records of the ancients while the Christian world was thrashing around in a self inflicted dark age. What happened? I have no answer to that. It will take considerable effort on the part of moderate believers to purge the Middle East of its radical religious leaders and enter into the modern world. If it does not, then there will never be peace in that part of the world and the rest of us will continue to be the recipients of their unrest, hatred and anger. Say goodbye to civilization.

Spend some time in the M.E. and then come back and tell us how peaceful it is.

There is a great degree of difference between faith and religion. Faith is internal; the product of hope and a belief in certain elements that one holds to be internally consistent and true. Religion is a code of conduct created by and large as a measure of control. Do good, as defined by the code and you will be rewarded. Do bad as defined by the code and you will be severely punished. As such, religion is not divinely inspired, it is a product of man. Moses, J.C. and Mohammed would not recognize what man has done to their original ideas and concepts.

'Nuff said.