The extremists are unsavoury. One should try to negotiate, to reason to make peace. One should try to exhaust every possible option before one resorts to violence. But if they are not interested in negotiation or resolution of any kind, force must be applied, for the benefit of all.

Christian conservative fundamentalist evangelicals. Those people live to harm others.

I notice its not christians walking into Isreal, Iraq, and Afghanistan and proceeding to blow themselves up in the nearest marketplace. So, are you going to accuse me of hateing Muslims next?

Depends, are you a Christian conservative fundamentalist evangelical?

People like Falwell, these types of evangelicals are not better than terrorists. They are even worse, they teach our children, corrupt our future and lead crusades to other lands in the name of democracy.

Sorry H-AuB, I was not talking to you. I was referring rather to the naive comments made by jnifw3nloi. I understand your position and your reasoning for what you are saying. However, keep in mind that US and UK troops are responsible for far fewer civillian deaths, and certainly are not targeting civillians on purpose. The insurgency has made it a point to attack when US troops are distributing candy to children, ensureing as many innocent losses as possible while the soldiers try to decide whether or not to fire back.

I agree fully. Every text can be perceived in many different ways, and many have taken the Qu'ran (sp?) to an extreme degree. However, muslim riots breaking out in Turkey (resulting in the death of several people) over a controversial cartoon prove that the extremists are not limited to the mid-east. If Christians, for example, rioted at every controversial cartoon, then the world would be very chaotic indeed. I beleive it is up to the linguists (thoose who specialize in language) to figure out exactly which word(s) in the Qu'ran should be changed. I don't think moderate Muslims would mind that, forgive me if I'm wrong.

Naive? I am far from naive. Please do not try and pass you lack of knowledge as my naevity. Conservative Christians are becoming a thorn in the side of mankind. They always preach about the evils of "alternative" lifestyles and the evils of the pagans and other such peoples. They creat tensions, they creat conflicts. While they may not directly aid the war efforts, they act to inflame public opinion. Their lies, told all too often, have become truths to many.

Perhaps that's true. But, if they're truths say this life matters not, than what have they to lose?

Let them say as they please. But if they force their beliefs on someone else, if they take it upon themselves to disenfranchise others, to abuse their rights it stops being a question about what they have to loose. It becomes a question of what others will loose as a result.

True, but what I meant was: why should these people care if this world is worthless? And how can we stop them without sinking to their level?

In dealing with people, one must try all non-violent posibilities to resolve the problem. Negotiation, compromisation and the lot. If the people are not willing to do this and insist on damaging the wellfare of anyone else, they must be, regretibly, destroyed. If they pose no harm, leave them alone.

Christians are really a pain along with the other two Abrahamic religions. They are trying to convert the earth to a hell and lure people to promises of a better heaven.[/quote]

That isn't necessarily true. I can only speak for my sect of Judaism, but not only is earth considered what will become heaven, heaven is open ALL people whether or not you think it is there. We (my sect) are not trying to convert the earth to a hell & lure people to a promise of a better place. Earth will become that better place & heaven is just a stopping point that you choose to go to or not. As far as most sects of Judaism are concerned, there is no hell so you aren't going to get punished for what you do here (unless you become an axe murdrer or pedophile, in which case your peers will hopefully bring you to justice).

I have nothing against religions that are not instrusive. A religion that tries to convert others by informing them of its existence is perfectly benign. If a religion, however, tries to forcibly convert, tries to inflame public opinion against others, discriminates, destroys and has a general disrespect to anyone of a different faith based on a "holy" text, that is a problem. Such religions contribute nothing, they destroy.
Sadly, it is the current case of the world that the majority of religions are so.... belligerent.

I admit that the same number of people have killed in the name of Christ as have in the name of Allah. However, the mainstream sections of both religons denounce violence and intimidation and work through love. Islam is in the quandry that dissenting voices may find death. I pray that Islam will grow above theese violent dissidents and the sad association with violence and Islam. While the Qua'ran and Bible dissent on many points, I wish the best for any religon that can offer peace. Hopefully, world religons will grow to live in harmony. Perhaps a meeting of worldwide Christian, Muslum, Jewish, Hindu, and Buddhist leaders is in order?