[Antoninus]

The clash we are witnessing around the world is not a clash of religions, or a clash of civilizations.... It is a clash between a mentality that belongs to the Middle Ages and another mentality that belongs to the 21st century.

It's a small-minded mistake to condemn 21st century radical Islam as a throwback to the "Middle Ages". It's nothing of the kind. It's an extremist zeitgeist running counter to the equally radical secularist void generated by a materialist Western world. Indeed, one could argue that radical Islam has sprung forth specifically to fill that void. Nature abhors a vacuum.

If the battle is between secularism and Islam, I opt out. Both sides represent an evil philosophy and I want neither to win.

[Albion Wilde]

It's a small-minded mistake to condemn 21st century radical Islam as a throwback to the "Middle Ages". It's nothing of the kind. It's an extremist zeitgeist running counter to the equally radical secularist void generated by a materialist Western world. I

Interesting theory, if you believe that the West can or should impose a theocracy here. Clearly, mankind is not yet converted as a whole to God or to Christ, and only by choosing can the conversion be genuine.

She is defending the individual freedom to worship -- or not to worship -- as a hallmark of civilization, one which the Islamists are determined to stifle. Only freedom gives people the chance to choose salvation. Without that choice, we are not truly equipped to "endure to the end."

[steve-b]

It's a small-minded mistake to condemn 21st century radical Islam as a throwback to the "Middle Ages".

Nope. It's the truth.

I opt out.

Better men than you will defend your sorry butt.

[Ditto]

It's nothing of the kind. It's an extremist zeitgeist running counter to the equally radical secularist void generated by a materialist Western world. Indeed, one could argue that radical Islam has sprung forth specifically to fill that void. Nature abhors a vacuum.

Sorry, but I have to disagree. Radical Islam is not a recent phenomena as you imply. It is not something that is a reaction to the "Playboy Philosophy", Madonna or any of the other globalized Western perversions and excesses of the last 40 or so years.

Radical Islam is as old as Islam itself and even it's current Whabi leadership dates back two centuries. It is not Western morality that is causing them to strike at us, but Western technology which has given the means to "reach-out" and touch us. They would have done the same to the 17th Century Puritans if they had the means.