Disclaimer: I was raised a Muslim.

Actually, I almost feel like that's all I have to say on the subject.

What else is there to say? I was raised by parents, who taught me to do good, and treat other people as I wanted to be treated, and to fast during Ramadan. Except for the last part, I was like any other Immigrant/American kid (My father was an immigrant, my mother American).

I think that religion does play a large part in terrorism. But I think that this does not make Islam a violent religion. If the situation were swapped, the "Civilized" Muslim countries would be expressing outrage at how the barbarous Christians were decapitating people.

The problem in Iraq and elsewhere is influenced by religion, and in many ways shaped by it, but it is not caused by it. It was caused by colossally stupid decisions made by a colossally stupid populace, and whenever you have that, bad things happen, no matter what religions are involved.