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At the risk of compromising my conservative credentials, I tend to adhere to some components of a Jungian Shadow approach, where as individuals, the part of ourselves that we've repressed come back at us as our worst nightmares until we accept it again. If you look at how this country has turned its back on spirituality, repressed it, then islam is our Shadow, our repressed spiritual life knocking hard on our door.

In the individual Shadow model, once we re-integrate the part of ourselves we left behind, the Shadow loses its "dark side" (yes, this idea was co-opted for Star Wars).

Just a quick overview. Fire away.

"islam is our Shadow, our repressed spiritual life knocking hard on our door."

Some would say that Islam is the hornet's nest we obsessively insist on poking with a stick.

Thank you for your comments. Indeed, they illustrate my point: everyone has to form their own ideas, come to their own conclusions and accept responsibility for the consequences.

We can allow other people to tell us what to believe. We can find ourselves in a Ummah that forbids any free thought or ideas contrary to the norm. Indeed, what a hell it would be to live in a country where leaving the public religion is a capital offense. That is the case in about a dozen Islamic countries today. Even a few hundred years ago that was also the case in too many areas controlled by Christians.

I accept the claims made by the God of the Bible. It would be inappropriate for me to go into my reasons on this forum in any depth. But happily I know that all readers will allow me the freedom to make my own informed choice, just as I must allow them the same freedom. That is the precious nature of our present society.

Islam does not allow anyone that freedom. It cannot and never will.