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Now we're starting to split hairs. Now you refuse to find the many guilty of the crimes committed by the few.

But you're still applying the double standard to Muslims I see.

Put up those "mandates" Sauron, let's see them, and tell me about how all 1 billion Muslims are carrying on "bloody horror" for their religion.

If many Christians are murdering babies in defiance of the Christian precepts, then I say to you that many Muslims MUST be NOT conducting bloody horrors in the name of Islam, or the world would be a whole lot bloodier place than it is today.

Religions are distorted, bastardized, and used to inflame the hearts of the believers, and to manipulate them. That’s what’s going on with Islam today, and from the look of a lot of the posts on this forum, we are doing our fair share of it.

Now, let’s see those mandates.

I'm hesitant to add my two cents into this heated debate...but here goes:

I think people that consider this a religious war are wrong. It is not about whose God is the best God, or whose religion is the true one. I have been doing a lot of talking with Muslims, and Islam is not just a religion. It literally is a way of life. Every aspect of life is dominated by Islam--when to cut your nails, what to do while menstruating, financial affairs--hundreds of small, insignificant (to us, anyway) daily activities are regulated by Islam.

What would be more accurate is that this is a cultural war. Muslims do not dislike non Muslims because of their religious affinity (with the exception of Jews), they dislike us for our lifestyle. Even the nice, non violent Muslims (and I have not found one that disagreed yet) dislike our very culture. They don't seem to cotton to democracy, or capitalism, or personal freedom. In a way, they remind me very much of Christian fundamentalists. The only difference is that Christian fundies don't kill over it, or support killers. To me, that is an important distinction.

Islam dictates that Muslims must live under Sharia law. Even the huggy kissy Muslims wouldn't mind seeing Sharia law implemented worldwide--not out of maliciousness, but because they honestly think that would be best for everyone. That is why even the "moderates" are threatening. To what degree would they support global Sharia law?

Personally, I think the "moderate" Muslim ideology is a sham. How would moderate Muslims feel about the Prophet Muhammed in that case, in light of everything he did during his lifetime? Any liberal Muslims in the U.S. would be considered apostates by the others, and that is a crime punishable by death in Islam. So anyone that would speak out is afraid to. Ruling by fear is very effective.

It is a sticky situation. But I think defining what is going on with Islam and Western culture as a "religious war" is simplifying things.

Now, let’s see those mandates.

From my copy of the Koran:

Fight against such of those who have been given the Scripture as believe not in Allah nor the Last Day ... until they pay the tribute readily, being brought low
            Surah IX:29
O ye who believe! Choose not for friends such of those who received the Scriptures before you
        Surah V:57
Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them captive, and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush...
        Surah IX:5
And slay them wherever ye find them ... Such is the reward of disbelievers.
        Surah II:191