I am not a big fan of either Islam or Christianity. Both are responsible for untold bloodshed throughout human history. Yet in the 21st Century, Christians are largely peaceful and secular, and Islam is beset by violence and intolerance of other religions. Why is that?
Christianity experienced its dark ages, but finally emerged with the Enlightenment and the notion that religion and governance should be kept separate.
Islam is in its dark ages now, and with modern technology (none of which was invented by Muslims) linking the entire world together, they have the ability to take the rest of us down with them.
Islam must reform. They must have an Enlightenment, as their Christian brothers did. We can help; progress and elections in Iraq gives me hope that at least part of the Muslim world is ready and capable. But if reform in the Middle East is a failure, and Islam continues to threaten us, then we will have no choice but to destroy them.
Tags: barbarians, Islam