[katana]

I was once asked by a muslim acquaintance (in Saudi Arabia) how I could have possible read the Quran and not converted to Islam. I gave the fellow a song and dance answer about being a part of the "Peoples of the Book" (Ahl-ul-Kitaab) and therefore (under his own set of rules) did not require conversion.

But a more truthful reply would have been to tell him that I found the Quran to be unreadable and contradictory nonsense. I didn't tell him this because I didn't want my throat cut, but he eventually got around to confirming my point by saying that, yes being a Christian was ok since "according to the Quran" when Judgenment Day arrives Christ will lead the muslims and the Christians as they slaughter all the Jews.

Sorry, I've seen this religion close up and first hand and have no doubt about its fundamental nature, in or out of "context".