I wanted to post in honour and shame, however felt my concern lay out of topic. Let me first state in my ignorance of Islam please do not become offended if I am speaking of something I do not know, instead please correct me.
Christianity in the past has been responsible for innumerable acts that today would be considered under the U.N. acts against humanity. In my mind it seems it was as cruel and barbaric as Islam is portrayed to me by the media today. So what is the difference, why has one(Western European) evolved and the other(Arabic) not. At one time Islam had spread across the Mediterranean, into Spain and deep into the African Continent. It boasted the finest mathematicians, medicines and art the world knew at that time, but it was surpassed by the West. In the west the development of society had progressed into knew thinking, the hold over the people by the church was slowly assumed by the governments of the day. As the society progressed it still maintained it's faith but, it forced the church to be more tolerant and accepting. Until a better educated public, the public, demanded from their Kings, Leaders and Bishops; respect, justice and liberty. With information becoming so readily available, isn't it only a matter of time before people from all over become better educated and create more tolerant and just societies based on their histories.
thoughts from my igloo
Dave