REMCO SAID:

"In many respect Islam is superior to christianity as it showed when Europe was in the dark ages oppressed by the power players in Rome"

Yikes Remy.. I don't find it neccessary to take issue with most of what you said, but when I read this little gem my eyes bulged and that little proverbial vein on the side of my temple began to pulsate wildly :)

HISTORY and FAITHS
If I may offer a perspective, you seem to be confusing some periods of relative prosperity or progress with the essential core of the 2 faiths. Of no doubt there were some periods when the social and scientific aspects of the Islamic community may have outstripped those of 'Christendom' but that is no indication of the relative merits of the faiths.

NO COMPARISON
"God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself" and "He who knew no sin, became sin for us" is far more lofty and divinely final, than the whimsical, sexually indulgent, militarily rampaging and often murderous (check that poem b4 publishing) Mohammed. The faiths should be compared based on the central figures. But then, he who raised the dead, gave sight to the blind, healed the sick, made whole the paralyzed and most of all -forgave sin, should not even be mentioned in the same sentence as he who brutalized, sexually indulged, terrorized, and mass murdered. There is no comparison at all.

LUTHER
Luther, was a strong force for change in the established churches, but was also very anti semitic in his later life.

OPPORTUNISTIC CLERICS
..who stirred up trouble with fake alleged cartoons along with the milder real ones,
yes.. good to see this important point being brought out again.
Lets also realize that there are such people in Australia, who would use any excuse to radicalize nominal muslims.

U.S.A. MUSLIMS ARRESTED.(including citizens)

Preparing for 'Jihad' in Iraq and to assassinate Bush.

-again underlining that the larger the Muslim community, the more of them who are vulnerable to radicalization by extremists influencing them.

About IRFAN and FELLOW HUMAN

All participants on this thread must have noticed how garrulous both Irfan and Fellow Human were at the start of this forum. Irfan, within twelve minutes had posted two comments. The more laggard Fellow Human, within just over two hours, also, posted two comments. However, after the factual and derisive reply of Ted Lapkin, and my humble exposure of them as being fundamentalists in their thinking, both Irfan and Fellow... all of a sudden disappeared from the screen of this forum.

One would have expected them to respond immediately and to have had the courage to defend their position or to have attacked their "bigoted traducers". But no, they did the opposite. Like poltroons they ran away from the "battlefield" of the discussion on this forum. Was it because they were bereft of arguments?

Themistocles, It is more likely they haven't responded because they are only allowed 2 posts on any one article in each 24 hours.
Regards
Susan Prior - editor

Robert,

Thanks for that. I also read recently that historians had yet to make up their minds on whether or not Hilter thought of himself as a true Christian. He could have had his tongue firmly in his cheek, of course, as he made his religious pronouncements.

There is one thing we can say,though: it was people who did think of themselves as Christians who got rid of Adolf. The Muslims don't seem to be too keen on ridding the world of their renegades.

Leigh, are you suggesting Josef Stalin was a Christian? And has Recep Erdogan (the Muslim PM of Turkey, a NATO member) suddenly sworn allegience to the Pope?

See you all in 24 hours!

SusanP,

Thanks for clarifying to Themistocles.

Coach, (Leigh & Francis)

You missed my point: persecution of Jews over centuries was by fundies in the Christian camp (even before the Spanish conquest). There were Nazi sympathisers among Arabs (Muslims and Christians) mainly due to British colonialism. It was more of the ‘enemy of my enemy is my friend’ type of thing.
Re-read Robert comment on Hitler: he was a devout Christian and all his quotes were Biblical. Go to the German government archives website and re-read his speeches since April 1922. Leigh argument whether he was true or untrue Christian is irrelevant because it’s valid to all religions.

Francis,

In previous postings I refer to growing up in a Muslims majority country where religious freedom was the society backbone. I believe all people should be free to believe or practice what they want.
I publish what I am for or against on OLO & my blog: www.musliminsight.blogspot.com

Themistocles,

Re Mrs Vale article, I pointed you to factual statistics on the ABS website that Australia likely to become Buddhist then Hindu. If you have facts supporting your opinions please share them.
Fundies are those who do not accept others for who they are and what they are. Myself and other posters like Irfan have never attacked or commented on anyone else faith or beliefs. Even the more Orthodox Muslim posters like Dawood just comment on misrepresentations of Islam.
If your definition of a Muslim is an ex-Muslim or a non-practising Muslim, there is little point in dialogue.

Can you explain how do you view a nation-building dialogue with Australian Muslims?

Kaktuz and Boaz,

Does it make sense that the Quran set standards on ethics, morals and values and the prophet character is what you described? Why credible historians like Muir, Sale (and Bernard Shaw) find him as a great character?
Check his farewell sermon on www.wikipedia.com
Anyway, lets just say, that our truth is different than what you were told. I don't judge you or your faith, can you do the same?

Peace,