Is Islam a threat to the West?

[Franzl]

No, of course not, but some muslims are (a quite small minority overall).

[Franzl]

If we are going to assign blame for our problems to a religion, it ought to be Christianity.  Christians commit far more crimes in the US every year than Muslims.  But that's stupid.

Big difference though, they don't commit the crimes in the name of their religion.

[Franzl]

If we are going to assign blame for our problems to a religion, it ought to be Christianity.  Christians commit far more crimes in the US every year than Muslims.  But that's stupid.

Big difference though, they don't commit the crimes in the name of their religion.

Many did in the past, and some do today. Any religion had crimes committed in its name.

The past is irrelevant to the current discussion. Yes, crimes were committed in the name of Christianity, and yes, they were awful terrible crimes, but that in no way justifies or explains what is going on today.

And how many crimes committed in the name of religion by Christians can you name in recent times? Sure, you might find the occassional idiot....but to equate it to organized Islamic terrorism (i.e. people being recruited to blow up airplanes) is very dishonest.

[Franzl]

Historically, sure, but not presently.  How long do the rest of us have to wait before it's ok to say it's a bad thing to do now?

Strawman again. It's pretty annoying to have to discuss that way each time we talk about certain subjects.

He's right though....the present is relevant, and Islam most certainly has far more people willing to kill people for their religion. It's just a conclusion, nothing more. Doesn't mean Islam itself is necessarily a problem.....but you get the picture.

[Franzl]

So, what do you want to demonstrate by saying Islam has more people killed in its name today ? There are many economical, sociological and geopolitical factor that could explain that, and I don't know where you'd find any ideological explanation which is inherent to Islam.

There might be no ideological reasons, but as deadman says, there is certainly a strong corelation. Poor people in Haiti don't blow people up...poor people in China don't either.

[Franzl]

Not in the slightest, they have their crazies, but we all do.

The problem is the MODERATES are doing NOTHING to stop the radicals. Their silence is a form of approval.

What do you suggest they do? I've heard several groups condemn acts of terrorism. What more can peaceful (the vast majority of) Muslims do?