[IronJack]

The contributions made by arabs, semites, and middle eastern peoples should not be conflated with those made by muslime. The arabic numeral system existed long before mohammerhead came along, as did the Great Library at Alexandria, which was burned by the muslime Caliph Omar.

And whatever miraculous technological acumen the middle east could boast 2,000 years ago, it hasn't advanced much over that time. It remains mired in a mentality that western civilization overcame at least 500 years ago.

THAT is the "gift" islam has wrought.

The first book published on movable type (a western invention, by the way) was a Bible. Music as we know it today arose from Gregorian chants that praised God. Theater was an offshoot of Passion Plays that depicted various scenes from biblical history. And the triumph of individual dignity over the oppression of tyrants arose because every human is possessed of a spark of the Divine.

THOSE are the gifts of Judeo-Christianity.

Equivalency denied.

[jd777]

Nobody else will reply - and you are perhaps the brightest poster I saw on this thread _and I respect you - so I’ll ask you a question. Who were the Cathars and why were they killed?

[Biggirl]

Also in Alexandra Egypt, there is a new Great Library and as a matter of fact, there are young people who are guarding it against any possible trouble.