To me, the basic point in this discussion seems to be - some of us find it offensive when all members of a group are condemned by the actions of a few, and some find this reasonable.

I condemn terrorists, and abhor their actions. I'm not really worried about what brand of terrorists they are.

Does it matter, Sat? (And a case could probably be made for it already having been carried beyond our borders, what with our conservative-Christian controlled government wanting to go about "instigating democracy" all over the place, but that is also another thread.)

I did say that the difference is that the Muslim terrorists are more organized. But they are STILL NOT REPRESENTATIVE of Islam, any more than the Christian terrorists are representative of Christianity. My point has never been to defend the terrorists, to downplay their danger. My point has never been to compare the extent of Christian terrorism with that of Muslim terrorism in an attempt to minimize Muslim terrorism. My intent has been to compare Christianity as a whole with Islam as a whole, to point out that the vast majority of Muslims, like the vast majority of Christians, are peace-loving and law-abiding and that it is an insult to them to judge them by the actions of the terrorists of their faith, regardless of the extent to which those terrorists take their actions.

It would be a mistake for me to judge all Christians by the actions of Benjamin Williams. Just because he's only killed a few Jews and gay men and Osama bin Laden has been responsible, directly or indirectly, for countless thousands of deaths and more to come I'm sure, doesn't mean that it would be any more acceptable for me to judge other Muslims by the actions of Osama bin Laden, who is realistically just a much better organized religious lunatic.

Just because the extent to which Christian terrorist take their actions is less than the extent to which Muslim terrorists take their actions doesn't mean Islam is inherintly more violent, more evil, doesn't mean it is more acceptable to judge Islam by the extremists and lunatics. Christianity and Islam have more in common than a few looneys.

I just wrote about 10 paragraphs in response to several of the reponses here. Then I changed my mind, why bother. No one is going to change anyone's mind here or anywhere. As one of those dangerous brainwashing Christians I have decided to look for another topic to respond to.

I think I might start my Christmas shopping.. OH sorry, forgive me ..that should have said " Holiday Shopping ". Don't want to be accused of forcing my religion on anyone.

Oh and by the way, please don't try to silence me by telling me what comparisons I can and cannot make. That seems a bit pushy to me . You are damn right I will say that any acts committed by Christians in recent history are far less savage than flying planes into buildings and killing thousands in the name of their religion.

It appears that the opinions of a few here are more important than that of others.

And now in my opinion, this topic is CLOSED. At least for me.

It is the moderators who say when a topic is closed but since this has turned into a controversial isssue it is closed.

In future please remember we got rid of the Controversial Issues forum so lets not get steamed up. Thanks.