[Cronos]

you want to read something even more fun, read about the Qarmatians -- these guys were Mazdaists or Ibadis who ruled over what is now Bahrain (and which was a Persian satrapy for millenia), they sacked Mecca in the 8th century and carried off the black stone in the Ka'aba. They then shattered it and sent back the fragments, which are now kept in a silver box which the Moos worship.

Read too about Yazdegerd III

[bert]

Very interesting. The more things change, the more they are the same.

My view is that the coming battle will be between groups with common business interests. Cooperation among multistate businesses will influence politics more than the religion. Blood and money will have the power.

Ages old tribal animosities have been covered over as wealth blooms from business. Saudi companies have offices in Dubai. A causeway connects the sinners of Bahrain with the superfaithful of Al Khober.There are roads moving goods across the desert as never before. The tallest building the world is being attempted.