>In the same manner: That many a Muslim has NOT been a >bloodthirsty jihadi maniac has NO BEARING on the actual >content of THEIR holy writ.
My Muslim neighbors (who suprisingly enough are not bloodthirsty) would probably be amused at a Christian lecturing them on the content of THEIR holy writ.
you evidently either cannot read, or have a very short memory.
cast your eye up-thread: I have explicitly stated that I am NOT a Christian.
Now, the next time you have a chummy chat with your Muslim neighbors, ask them how the Koran can say "there is no compulsion in religion" in an early revelation, but then state in later revelations that the penalty for heresy, apostasy or conversion away from Islam, and paganism is DEATH.
I don't need to be a Muslim to read and understand the literal meaning of the Koran and Hadith.
Indeed, I began to read them because a friend, a Persian and lapsed Muslim, was horrified that I (like you, now, it seems) thought the bowdlerized made-for-PR "five pillars/religion of peace" nonsense was a faithful rendition of Islam.
He used very strong language to persuade me to cure my ignorance of the true nature of Islam by reading the source material.
I have done so.
Don't blame me for comprehending the clear denotation of the words attributed to Mohammed.
Blame those who have fooled you into believing a Kumbayaa lie.