Betty - misreported is such an apt word for the title of this piece, because that's what your entire argument really is.

You have completely and utterly confused the point of Irfan's post. The irony of this is delightful. The title of this article can be thoroughly applied to you.

When Irfan stated, nasty people like moses, mary and jesus, you actually read it that way. How amusing.

Read the post again. Perhaps twice if you still don't get it.
The sarcasm is palpable, and in mentioning Mary,Joseph and Jesus, Irfan is pointing out that these people all hailed from the middle east.

Such "shameful ancestry." that the "we grew up here types" love hating. Nasty types like moses, mary and jesus.

I've read quite a few of Irfan's articles. All of them have been considered, and none of them have defended extremism - they have condemned the forms of extremism that others like to ignore. CTF being a fine example.

It is interesting you post that you dislike any god being foisted on you. As an agnostic I heartily agree - though I'm just saying, look before you leap. And perhaps there are targets out there that are more worthy of your ire.

Horus,

I didn't realise this thread was still running! What a can of worms has been stirred up here. Horus, you are absolutely correct; we must also understand ourselves. I certainly didn't want to suggest that understanding terrorists was a sufficient condition to defeating them, but it is a necessary condition. Understanding ourselves is also a necessary condition.

West,

I've been having a dream of starting an organisation called Atheists Against Bigotry; want to join?

Can agnostics join?

Actually it's more for agnostics than atheists, but too many people don't know the difference. Really I would have to say that anyone who claims to be an atheist is as deluded as anyone who claims to know there is a god. The bottom line is that no-one knows, and no-one can know. Not until they die, anyway; and I'm quite uncertain about post-death epistemology!

Perhaps there has been a name change - Agnostics Against Bigotry!

Islam is part of the whole Judeo-Christian thing. They all stem from the same source and desire the same outcome. To please One God in order to be admitted to Eternal life on Judgment Day. Actually, Islam is far more tolerant in their belief in that non-Muslims can also be allowed in, unlike the Christians. Muslims actually believe that Jews and Christians have a good chance in pleasing God.

Judaism, Christianity and Islam have given our Western civilization the sciences as we know them today. The numbers we use in maths are Arabic numerals for instance.

Irfan pointed out that when Hilali says something offensive we get bombarded ad nauseam for days, from the morning breakfast show to all newspapers as to what was said and how offensive that was. He is given far too much airtime. My twelve year daughter knows what he has said. Why is that??

He made a very valid point considering all of you know what Hilali has said, but are pretty unclear about the remarks by Israeli. Remember, that the Jewish organisation hosting him were rather unhappy with him.
I know practically every utterance Hilali has made. It is inescapable, but to know what Israeli said I had to do research. I would say I'm not alone in having had to GOOGLE him, but not Hilali.

As for Nazism, read the history books. The number of the population is irrelevant, the modus operandi is the same: the isolation and demonization of a people. In fact, it is even easier to scare people with Muslims, after all there are so MANY of them. That makes them REALLY dangerous.

Betty, darling, may I suggest you read a post of mine from the 27th? Careful reading will give a hint what my opinion is of religion. And dearie, do tie your knickers in a knot, the added support will allow you to relax those shoulders of yours. Supercilliousness causes a stiff neck.

Dear Yvonne.. I'm concerned about you in 2 areas.

1/ You don't seem to connect the foundation doctrines and example of a religions founder to the attidues of its adherants. Mohammed is described as 'The best of creation'. So, what he 'DID' is regarded as the BEST behavior. Do you believe this ?

http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/misc/best.htm

2/ You appear to see an Islam which has no connection to its own foundations.

Note carefully 'ISLAM' (the faith.. not 'Muslims' the adherants)

We can compare 3 faiths. Buddhism, Christianity and Islam and clearly see differences and implications for the social behaviour of each.

You seem to be looking only at the social phenomenon of "Muslims as a minority in Western countries" and on that basis alone, you are evaluating the religion. Now.. forgive me but that is inadequate.
In that setting... Muslims realize they must be good citizens and cannot enforce Sharia law. Would you like a dose of it ? the real thing ? the real Islam ? i.e. how it IS in some countries where it is established as a majority ? Here is some reading for you.

http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/misc/alshifa/pt4ch1sec2.htm

I'd like your feedback on this if you don't mind. Does this sound like the Islam you are presenting to us here ?
Please read this post of mine for further information.

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=5444#72163

This material is being taught today, not 1400 years ago.
So, it is incorrect to characterize the Muslim community in a homogenous manner. They must be viewed as having various degrees of belief and committment to Sharia so we need to identify those segments which follow the more dangerous (but Quranic) kind.

You seem to be missing totally that Islam is or seeks to establish .. a 'State'. Do you understand this ?