[dpwiener]

If we as a nation fail to recognize that Islam is not merely a religion, but rather a sociopolitical ideology then it will only be to our own peril. Islam is the antithesis of Democracy and despite our nation's valiant attempt to introduce Democracy to countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq, it will never be able to take root.

The same charge could just as easily been made against Christianity in previous centuries. It was a proselytizing, conquering religion which was ruled by a rigid, undemocratic hierarchy headed by the Pope and which imposed its beliefs on others through such institutions as the Holy Inquisition. But it moderated and adapted itself to modern, pluralistic society and emerging views about religious tolerance.

The same charge could just as easily been made against the Japanese Emperor-worshipping society. Many people thought that was the antithesis of democracy, and that democracy would never be able to take root in Japan. That view also turned out to be wrong.

I think freedom and democracy will indeed take root in Iraq and Afghanistan and other Muslim countries. The number of Islamofacists will decline and their ideas will be discredited. Islam will again begin to moderate, as it was doing earlier in the last century (e.g., in Turkey) before Saudi Wahabi fanaticism and Palestinian anti-Semitism and the more virulent strands of Shiite and Sunni fundamentalism began kicking up anti-Western hatred and terrorism.

[expatguy]

You will find all of your answers here.

http://www.faithfreedom.org/

[usa1776]

Your statement is entirely wrong, unless you define Catholicism as Christianity (I'll have to grant you that).

Christianity is not Catholicism. In the most basic terms the difference is that Christians believe God's word is absolute, and Catholics believe that tradition is on equal ground with God's word (that is that God's word is not absolute and can be changed by man).

Please do not use "Christianity" when you mean to say "the Catholic Church", not only are they not the same, they are complete opposites.

Has everybody forgotten about that little event know as the Reformation?

[cloud8]

> Christianity in previous centuries...was a proselytizing, conquering religion which was ruled by a rigid, undemocratic hierarchy...which imposed its beliefs on others... But it moderated and adapted itself to modern, pluralistic society and emerging views about religious tolerance.

Don't hold your breath waiting for a Moslem Martin Luther to come along and bring about a Reformation.