[x]

It's not my cult or religion, but I think the record shows that for much of Islam's history most Muslims weren't fighting Holy Wars or trying to spread their religion by force.

Just what "jihad" means or can mean is another problem. Somehow I don't trust Wheeler and his bizarre comparisons of Islam with the Aztecs' religion of human sacrifice on this.

[dennisw]

Jihad is the default position of Islam. Of course there are times and places when Islamics are fat and happy and ignore the Koran imprecations to Jihad. But armed Jihad has a lot more support in Koran/Hadith than does the quietist Islam you're thinking of. When Osama and Al Zawahiri (Egyptian sidekick) rant on about Jihad they have plenty of scriptural support.

[dennisw]

So amusing that you give these "diverse" interpretations of Jihad the time of day. Jihad means how to best subjugate the non-Muslim. That's the only "inner struggle" going on.

Of course many Muslims are lazy these days. Have family commitments. Though they sure liked the attack on 9-11. Think lazy and stupid, while the Jihadists are the true interpreters and actors of Islam. Where is the true Islam? The faithful Muslim emulates Muhammad. Go look at the life of Muhammad and his life of murder, plunder, pederasty, rape and Jihad.

[little jeremiah]

All Muslims east of Arabia (and north of it) are descendents of those who were converted by FORCE. There used to be many Christians in middle eastern countries, including Egypt. What happened? Forced conversion, or many left to avoid it. The entire Indian subcontinent including Pakistan and all points east - as well as Afghanistan - were conquered by Muslims and there was centuries of forced conversions, rapine, looting, torture, enslavement, slaughter, destruction of culture, villages, temples, forts, palaces, and so on.

Why are there any Muslims in East Asia? Descendents of forced converts and invaders. No other reason.