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Is Islam is at a crossroads? The events of 9-11 and the reaction of much of the Muslim world gives rise to several observations/quetions:
1. What kind of god, Allah(?) proclaims the mass murder of defenseless people a "righteous" act? What authority in the Koran are these acts based on?
2. Why does the "paradise" that martyrs are promised appear to appeal to the most BASE of male EARTHLY desires (you know the 70 virgins or little boys)?
3. If Islam is a religion of peace why were so many celebrating this mass slaughter in the Middle East?
4. Why does this aggressive intolerant version of Islam appear to be dominant in the Islamic schools we’ve been hearing about? And…
5. Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t at one time Islam teach respect and tolerance for other “people of the Book” (Christians and Jews) who are descended from the covenant of Abraham?
And lastly,
6. Why does Islam seem to promote and encourage any two-bit self-proclaimed "holy man" to sentence half the world's population to death! With the blessings of ALLAH?
Help me here????

Excellant questions.

From my experience in the Middle East, I suspect that much of the conflict stems from the fact that Muslims are taught that everything Muslim is superior to everything infidel.

It is almost impossible for an infidel to teach a true believer, because they do not believe that a an infidel could possibly know anything that a true believer does not already know.

Every superior achievement of the West is a blatant affront to their religion and thus must be the work of the devil. The World Trade Towers were a standing insult to their god and thus they had to be destroyed.

I was in Turkey when we first set foot on the Moon. Muslims were either in shock or in denial. It was not a happy time in the nation of Islam.

I found this paragraph from Dr. Wheeler's article very valuable: We don't know about the Myth of Mecca because we are afraid to. We, Americans and Westerners and participants of civilization, have been intimidated and frightened into examining the historical truth regarding Islam. Dare to criticize Islam and some crazed ayatollah will issue a fatwah calling for your death. Well, if there is one thing that we must learn from The Atrocity is that we cannot, we dare not be afraid any longer. The Atrocity was committed exclusively by Moslems in the name of Islam. True enough, President Bush, in his magnificent speech to Congress, said their actions blaspheme and insult Islam. But throughout the Arab world, from cafes in Beirut and Cairo to the streets of Nablus and Gaza, people laughed and celebrated their religion's slaughter of thousands of Americans. So we should feel no need to refrain from exposing that this slaughter was committed in the name of a make-believe myth.

I'm not Muslim, but similar curiousity has led me to do some research. NOTE - This is strictly my interpretations of what I've read. Much is based off "recognized" translations of the Qur'an, but add lots of implied IMHO's:

1. What kind of god, Allah(?) proclaims the mass murder of defenseless people a "righteous" act? What authority in the Koran are these acts based on?

- The Qur'an, much like the Old Testiment, is really fire and brimstone oriented...believe or else! Also, the Qur'an, which is supposed to be God's word delivered straight to Mohammed, included things like don't make Jews and Christians your friends and confidants. I have heard that Mohammed's life can be seen in two stages....early on (before he had much power), it was more peaceful...later, as he gained power, it was more militaristic. And it does explicitly state that whenever Jihad is called, all Muslims are bound to comply. Key Note: There are three types of Jihad: 1. Most common - An individuals own battle against evil in themselves. 2. Verbal - Spreading the word of Islam. 3. Combat - The more recognized (in the west) version of war against non-believers.

2. Why does the "paradise" that martyrs are promised appear to appeal to the most BASE of male EARTHLY desires (you know the 70 virgins or little boys)?

- Just guesses here. Islam itself, preaches against Hedonism, and weakness of the flesh. Avoid alcohol, fornication, adultry. It teachs to care for the poor, disabled and orphaned. Perhaps, the thought is that if you abstain from this stuff on earth, an eternity of it is your reward. In my personal research, I haven't yet come to the heavenly goodies.

3. If Islam is a religion of peace why were so many celebrating this mass slaughter in the Middle East?

- This is likely more a political question than a religious one (although it is difficult at best to separate the two in their cultures, especially in Afghanistan). Most of the Muslim world feel that western culture has erroded a number of the core beliefs outlined above. Additionally, they also largely believe that western culture is out to ruin their religion and purity.

4. Why does this aggressive intolerant version of Islam appear to be dominant in the Islamic schools we’ve been hearing about?

- Islam, in general, is a very traditional type religion. Add this to the above.

5. Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t at one time Islam teach respect and tolerance for other “people of the Book” (Christians and Jews) who are descended from the covenant of Abraham?

- From what I understand, they do have a greater tolerance for Christianity, since they recognize Jesus as a prophet. My understanding is that this "tolerance" was to the extent of basically, if those other religions agree to be subjegated (sp?) and agree to pay an additional tax, they will be tolerated. I think this is a more moderate stance than some Muslims take, obviously.

6. Why does Islam seem to promote and encourage any two-bit self-proclaimed "holy man" to sentence half the world's population to death! With the blessings of ALLAH?

- Still looking for the full answer to this. Islam, unlike Christianity, doesn't have any type of hierarchy (ie, Pope, Cardinal, Bishop, Priest), just Imam's or holy men. I get the impression that ANY true believer of the faith can call Jihad.

Like I said, I don't have the answers, merely some semi-educated guesses from what I've read. And in looking at it, it seems to get more complicated as I go. It seems like Mohammed himself united the Arabs, but it was a successor a hundred years or so after he died that actually started on conquest outside of the Arab penninsula.