Allan,Just a reminder. I am not supporting Islam over Christianity because for my purposes religion would be better kept a non-state issue. Now, that topic gets some individuals really angry, so for the sake of civil debate I have avoided it. I think since you seem to give Catholicism some credit for the advancement of western civilization in the last 1/2 millenia the topic may be necessary again. I think the Catholic church unfortunately carries political weight in the world and that maybe it is good for some individuals but I would like to see where it has actually contributed to the advancement of western civilization or for peace, by efforts free of motive for fortification of its power.It is better by virtue of having been rendered less powerful and less oppressive. I thought is was the marginalization of religion in favor of other forms of creativity free of dogma that gave the Renaissance and western civilization wings. Now, if you want to argue that the near and middle east might benefit by having more freedom from religion that is a different topic. However I don’t think the U.S would be treating the region any better at this time if it were entirely secular and it continued to possess and threaten to politicize resources that satisfy our interest as Iraq and Iran have done. Again my issue is that we are using Islam as an excuse to vilify an enemy that we have to a large part created and to justify our nefarious foriegn policy towards .It is not which religion is better. It is about wether or not we are justified,or behaving in a christian manner if you wish, in man handling the governments ,seas, oil and economies and in killing innocent people while doing so. I will respond to your post later. It looks like there is a little possibility to philosophize a bit.
THANKS to all the book link posters. Honestly they won’t all get read by your’s truly but I “surfed” each and everyone out and that in itself was relevant and edifying.
