Keep up the good work, Passy.

Just read an article from a book by Jonathan Steele, called Ignorance, not Ideals in Iraq.

Naturally gives Tony Blair a hell of a hammering. Reckon without Blair and our Johnny Howard backing Bush, could say commonsense could have found an easier way to get rid of Saddam.

In any case looks like Saddam's Baath Party Sunnis have now been forgiven by Bush, the Washington Post giving insight when a few months ago it described a turnabout action outside Bagdhad with a US gunship buzzing in not to attack the enemy Sunnis but Shia militia part of the present Iraqi defence force.

Yet since that graphic bit of news from the Washington Poat, nothing has been heard or seen from the main media, the intimation about a a public dumbed down by a muzzled main media seems all too true.

One wonders whether our OLO management has also been fed with the bullsh-t that the big problems in Iraq are now over.

Apart from America's main sworn enemy, Iran, of course.

Well put stevenlmeyer.
Muhammed lovers have to keep repeating absurd things over and over to convince themselves and others that Muhammed's message is valid. They are the primary victims of Islam, yet continue to support spread it's insanity. It is mental illness and should be treated that way.

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) sounds progressive. I suspect the direction of this university is more to to with applied science, advancing technology and industry than pure science. This is not necessarily a criticism as it is vital for future world trade.

However, Islam does not recognise evolution. Indeed, this is not unique, as evidenced by Christian creationists and those who embrace intelligent design. Can science really flourish in such an environment. Will KAUST be limited by "acceptable" boundaries, or will this institution be permitted the widest free and open enquiry and research as seen in the west.

Danielle

You are correct. It is intended that KAUST will focus on applied sciences and will steer clear of contentious issues such as evolution. Whether this will prove possible in practice is unclear.

Abdullah will turn 84 this year. Will KAUST continue to enjoy freedom from the Saudi thought police under King Abdullah's successor?

Bassam

According to Encyclopaedia Britannica the five religions with the most adherents are:

Christianity – (2.17 bn adherents of which 1.14 bn Catholic)

Islam – (1.34 bn)

Hinduism (870 mn)

Chinese "Universist" (390 mn)

Buddhism ( 380 mn)

See:

http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9437361/Worldwide-Adherents-of-All-Religions-Mid-2006

Collectively the top 5 account for almost 80% of humanity.

Among the top 5 Islam stands out. Islam, and Islam alone among the top 5 has positive commands to carry out mass slaughter and mayhem under certain rather ill-defined circumstances.

It is important to understand this point. It is not a case of comparing Islam to Western secular values or to Christianity. When it comes to commands to commit violent acts Islam is the stand out from ALL other major religions.

Of course the behaviour of adherents often differs from the teachings of their religion. New Testament Christianity is theoretically a pacific religion. Yet Christians have committed more than their fair share of violence, mayhem and murder in the name of their religion.

It could also be argued that the Hindu caste system has violence built into it by implication.

In practice I would say that Muslims are usually better than their religion and Christians usually worse than theirs.

However when we look at the teachings, Islam stands out.

Can anyone imagine Jesus or the Buddha discussing with their followers when and under what circumstances they should engage in mass slaughter?

Sura 5:33 - "The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His apostle and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned..."

It is not clear what "wage war against Allah" means in this context

Steven,

Your post contradicts itself: once you say progress got nothing to do with religion and then you talk about Jewish scientists.

The point I am making is that religion is neutral. Sometimes it is interpreted in a progressive manner by its followers (like the example I mentioned Islamic science in Bagdad in the 10th century).

In the last 25 years, there was 11 Nobel prize winners by practising muslims who saw no contradiction between their beliefs and innovation in their respective scientific disciplines. Thousands more excel every day with no hope in a nobel prize but they do it anyway.

You will find the same story in your faith or the Christian faith (dark ages interpretation vs modern post enlightment interpretations). There are no new versions of the Quran, Bible or Torah. Just how people read and interpret the same teachings in different times seems to change.

Fellow_Human,

"Just how people read and interpret the same teachings in different times seems to change."

I agree entirely. To be able to interpret the same teachings as eras progress is a necessity for “enlightenment”. I had thought that Islam's teaching was rigid, just for example, the afterlife - a plethora of virgins - a tenet of faith, and could not be challenged. Am I correct in assuming that this can be interpreted as symbolic or allegorical ... or poetic? If so, what is the underlying meaning?

Knowledge of different belief systems provide an insight into modes of thinking ... even their arts.

If Islam is open to challenge and re-interpretation by its adherents, this would go a long way to assuaging fears of non-Muslims - and, indeed, lead to more open dialogue between Islam and other groups. Non-Muslims have the impression that Quranic teaching is not only engraved in stone, but has to be taken literally.

7th century belief systems of Christianity were also dark, however, over time, these have been reinterpreted and modified. Some Christian groups admittedly remain somewhat addled, but for the most part are benign.

Wafa Sultan believes Islam is shackled to the Dark Ages, “"The clash we are witnessing around the world is ... a clash between a mentality that belongs to the Middle Ages and another that belongs to the 21st century," she said. "It is a clash between freedom and oppression."
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1187385,00.html

Obviously, Fellow_Human, you are an enlightened, intelligent and cultured person. What is your perception?

Pax