You can call yourself anything you like, dear. This is America the Internet, regardless of what Wozzeck every single american on the internet appears to think it is.

Are we American's so impressive that we even completely own being assholes on the Internet?

I doubt that.

U S A!
U S A!
U S A!

It's down to interpretation. How come our domestic Muslims are so well behaved? Is it because they're secretly Jews? Give me a break.
It's popular to hate on Islam these days because of 9/11 and national pride. You're confusing emotion for logic.

Islam is a framework from which religious scholars describe what ought to be. Scholars are human and they are bound up in their cultural norms. So American Muslims emphasize the religious tolerance in the Qur'an (there are many verses that explicitly say that Muslims are entitled to befriend the Kuffar). Taliban Muslims emphasize the xenophobic aspects of the religion. The religion is not the problem anymore than Christianity is the problem with Abortion-Doctor-murderers and Creationists.

The bottom line is Islam's holy books themselves specificly say that it's a Muslim's job to fight the non-believers, AND Muslim leaders uphold this point. End of story.

I'll tell you what though, the second you post scripture that specificly instructs Christians to kill abortion doctors I'll totally concede this point. How did Creationists get involved in this though? All they do is say that the Dinosaurs died a few thousand years ago, did they start blowing people up over it now?

I'll tell you what though, the second you post scripture that specificly instructs Christians to kill abortion doctors I'll totally concede this point.

Romans 13:1
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
13:2
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
13:3
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
13:4
For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

The question is what is meant by "evil." If, as the Spanish monarchs of the 15th century, you equate non-belief with evil then the bible commands you, as "a revenger" to "execute wrath upon him that doeth evil." I don't style myself as an interpreter of the Bible or the Qur'an, or any other religion for that matter, but the existence of horrendous acts under the condonation of an organized religion is absolute proof that the potential for evil exists within the text of the scriptures when interpreted by evil people. To think otherwise is to narrow one's mind and to embrace fear and bigotry.
The bible commands many things that are completely ignored by the followers. Look at the dietary restrictions of Deuteronomy. Christians who hold this text central to their religion throw these commands joyously to the winds in favor of more rational portions of the bible. That commandments within a text exist is not reason enough to call for the eradication of the religion using the text. It's down to the interpretation of the followers. If an interpreter is intent on finding something - anything - within a text he can find it. If the interpreter wants to make the believers fight the USA, he interprets the scripture this way. If he wants to emphasize love and respect then he emphasizes it this way. I mean the proof is all around us.

 What Muhammad instructed his followers not to do was bother with coitus interuptus. Whether or not they had the right to rape their female slaves was not even an issue.

Not to bring up how shades of interpretation lead to wildly different results again, but... That's hard to interpret stripped as it is here of context.

Well then, thank you for interpreting the Quran for us! Obviously you're an expert. What ever would we do without you?

Here are some quotations from the Koran:

   1. 2:190-193 Fight in the cause of God, those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for God loveth not transgressors. And slay them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out: For tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter; But fight them not at the sacred Mosque unless they first fight you there; But if they fight you, Slay them. Such is the reward of those who suppress faith. But if they cease, God is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in God; but if they cease, Let there be no hostility except to those who practise oppression."
  
2. 2:216-217 Fighting is prescribed for you, and ye dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But God knoweth, and ye know not. They ask thee concerning fighting in the Prohibited Month. Say: "Fighting therein is a grave (offense); but graver is it in the sight of God to prevent access to the path of God, to deny Him, to prevent access to the Sacred Mosque, and drive out its members. Tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter. Nor will they cease fighting you until they turn you back from your faith if they can. And if any of you turn back from their faith and die in unbelief, their works will bear no fruit in this life and in the Hereafter; they will be Companions of the Fire and will abide therein.
  
3. 2:244-245 Then fight in the cause of God, and know that God heareth and knoweth all things. Who is he that will loan to God a beautiful loan, which God will double unto his credit and multiply many times? It is God that giveth (you) want or plenty, and to Him shall be your return.
  
4. 4:74-77 Let those fight in the cause of God who sell the life of this world for the Hereafter, to him who fighteth in the cause of God, whether he is slain or gets victory, soon shall We give him a reward of great (value). And why should ye not fight in the cause of God and of those who, being weak, are ill-treated (and oppressed)? Men, women, and children whose cry is: "Our Lord! rescue us from this town, whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from Thee one who will protect; and raise for us from Thee one who will help!" Those who believe fight in the cause of God, and those who reject faith fight in the cause of evil: so fight ye against the friends of Satan: feeble indeed is the cunning of Satan. Hast thou not turned thy vision to those who were told to hold back their hands (form fight) but establish regular prayers and spend in regular charity? When (at length) the order for fighting was issued to them, behold! a section of them feared men as, or even more than, they should have feared God: they say: "Our Lord! why hast Thou ordered us to fight? Wouldst Thou not grant us respite to our (natural) term, near (enough)?" Say: "Short is the enjoyment of this world: the Hereafter is the best for those who do right: never will ye be dealt with unjustly in the very least!
  
5. 4:95-96 Not equal are those believers who sit (at home) and receive no hurt, and those who strive and fight in the cause of God with their goods and their persons. God hath granted a grade higher to those who strive and fight with their goods and persons than to those who sit (at home). Unto all (in Faith) Hath God promised good: But those who strive and fight Hath He distinguished above those who sit (at home) by a special reward: Ranks specially bestowed by Him, and Forgiveness and Mercy. For God is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
  
6. 5:51 O ye who believe! take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors: They are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them. Verily God guideth not a people unjust.
  
7. 5:72-73: They do blaspheme who say: "God is Christ the son of Mary." But said Christ: "O Children of Israel! worship God, my Lord and your Lord." Whoever joins other gods with God, - God will forbid him the garden, and the Fire will be his abode. There will for the wrongdoers be no one to help. They do blaspheme who say: God is one of three in a Trinity: for there is no god except One God. If they desist not from their word (of blasphemy), verily a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemers among them.
  
8. 8:12-15 Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message): "I am with you: give firmness to the Believers: I will instil terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them." This because they contended against God and His Apostle: If any contend against God and His Apostle, God is strict in punishment. Thus (will it be said): "Taste ye then of the (punishment): for those who resist God, is the penalty of the Fire." O ye who believe! when ye meet the Unbelievers in hostile array, never turn your backs to them.
  
9. 8:37-39: In order that God may separate the impure from the pure, put the impure, one on another, heap them together, and cast them into Hell. They will be the ones to have lost. Say to the Unbelievers, if (now) they desist (from Unbelief), their past would be forgiven them; but if they persist, the punishment of those before them is already (a matter of warning for them). And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in God altogether and everywhere; but if they cease, verily God doth see all that they do.
  
10. 9:5 But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (trick in war for deceiving and outwitting the enemy); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practice regular charity, then open the way for them: for God is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
  
11. 9:14 Fight them, and God will punish them by your hands, cover them with shame, help you (to victory) over them, heal the breasts of Believers
  
12. 9:20 Those who believe, and suffer exile and fight with might and main, in God's cause, with their goods and their persons, have the highest rank in the sight of God: they are the people who will achieve (salvation).
  
13. 9:29 "Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the last day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and his apostle nor acknowledge the religion of truth of the people of the Book (the Jews and the Christians) until they pay the Jizya [tax on non-Muslims] with willing submission and feel themselves subdued."
  
14. 9:41 Go ye forth, (whether equipped) lightly or heavily, and strive and struggle [fight in war], with your goods and your persons, in the cause of God. That is best for you, if ye (but) knew.
  
15. 9:73 O Prophet! strive hard [wage war] against the unbelievers and the Hypocrites, and be firm against them. Their abode is Hell, - an evil refuge indeed.
  
16. 9:123: O ye who believe! fight the unbelievers who gird you about, and let them find firmness in you: and know that God is with those who fear Him.
  
17. 22:38-39 Verily God will defend (from ill) those who believe: verily, God loveth not any that is a traitor to faith, or shows ingratitude. To those against whom war is made, permission is given (to fight) because they are wronged-and verily, God is Most powerful for their aid
  
18. 25:52 So obey not the unbelievers and fight strenuously with them in many a strenuous fight.
  
19. 47:4 Therefore, when ye meet the Unbelievers (in fight), smite at their necks; At length, when ye have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly (on them): thereafter (is the time for) either generosity or ransom: Until the war lays down its burdens. Thus (are ye commanded): but if it had been God's Will, He could certainly have exacted retribution from them (Himself); but (He lets you fight) in order to test you, some with others. But those who are slain in the Way of God, - He will never let their deeds be lost.
  
20. 48:29: "Those who follow Muhammad are merciless for the unbelievers but kind to each other."
 
21. 60:4: We have renounced you; and enmity and hatred is begun between us and you for ever, until ye believe in Allah alone
  
22. 61:9-11 It is He Who has sent His Apostle with Guidance and the Religion of Truth, that he may proclaim it over all religion, even though the Pagans may detest (it). O ye who believe! shall I lead you to a bargain that will save you from a grievous Penalty?- That ye believe in God and His Apostle, and that ye strive (fight) in the Cause of God, with your property and your persons: that will be best for you, if ye but knew!

66:9 O Prophet! make war on the infidels and hypocrites, and deal rigorously with them. Hell shall be their abode! and wretched the passage to it!

The Hadith:

1. Hadith 1:13-- "I have been ordered by Allah to fight with people till they bear testimony to the fact that there is no God but Allah."

2. Hadith 1.24 "Narrated Ibn `Umar: Allah's Apostle said: "I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight against the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah's Apostle, and offer the prayers"
   
3. Hadith 1.25"Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle was asked, "What is the best deed?" He replied, "To believe in Allah and His Apostle (Muhammad). The questioner then asked, "What is the next (in goodness)? He replied, "To participate in Jihad (religious fighting) in Allah's Cause."
   
4. Hadith 19:4294 "Fight against those who disbelieve in Allah. Make a holy war."
   
5. Hadith 1:35 "The person who participates in Allah's cause (namely, in battle). . will be recompensed by Allah either with reward or booty or will be admitted to Paradise."
   
6. Hadith 9:4 "Wherever you find infidels kill them; for whoever kills them shall have reward on the Day of Resurrection."
   
7. Hadith 9:50, 57 "No Umma (a member of Muslim community) should be killed for killing a Kafir (an infidel). . Whoever changes his Islamic religion, kill him."
   
8. Sahih Muslim 4363: "You (the Jews) should know that the earth belongs to Allah and His Apostle and I wish to expel you from this land (Arabia)
   
9. Sahih Muslim 4366 Narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattab. Umar heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: I will expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula and will not leave any but Muslims

Words of Muslim leaders:

1. "Those who know nothing about Islam pretend that Islam counsels against war. Those people are witless. Islam says: 'Kill all the unbelievers just as they would kill you all!' Does this mean that Muslims should sit back until they are devoured by the infidel? Islam says: 'Kill them, put them to the sword and scatter them.' Islam says: 'Whatever good there is exists thanks to the sword.' The sword is the key to Paradise, which can be opened only for the Holy Warriors! Does all this mean that Islam is a religion that prevents men from waging war? I spit upon those foolish souls who make such a claim." (Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini)
   
2. "In the Muslim community, the holy war is a religious duty, because of the universalism of the Muslim mission and the obligation to convert everybody to Islam either by persuasion or force. The other religious groups (Christianity and Judaism) did not have a universal mission, and the holy war was not a religious duty to them, save only for purposes of defense. (Ibn Khaldun, The Muqadimmah: Ail Introduction to History, Islamic historian, 1377 AD)
 
 3. "Islam makes it incumbent on all adult males to prepare themselves for the conquest of countries so that the writ of Islam is obeyed in every country in the world." Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Iranian Shiite mullah)
   
4. "the religion of Islam could be above all, so that all areas of life could be guided by Islam, and so that the earth could be cleansed from unbelief" (The Islamic Council in Chechnya)
 
5. "The foremost duty of Islam is to depose the government and society of unbelievers (jahiliyyah) from the leadership of man." (Sayyid Qutb, Egyptian)
   
6. "Uniting the five pillars of Islam is the principle Jihad (lit. struggle). In Islam a Muslim must struggle against himself and his habits to submit fully to God. He must also struggle to guide his family, relatives, and friends to bring them to Islam and to convey the message of Islam itself. Since Islam is totalistic, Muslims wherever they may be, must struggle and sacrifice their energy, time, and material resources to establish Muslim congregations, mosques, madrassas (religious schools) for the maintenance and spread of Islam. Where Muslims make up a substantial fraction of the population, they must struggle to establish the Islamic Shariah (law) as their rule for living, with the aim to ultimately establish a full Islamic state in which Islam would be the ruling ideology and system. To understand this last point is very important for it is part and parcel of Islam to seek its full manifestation and where Muslims fail politically or economically, they also fail spiritually. It is innate to Islam to be militantly uncompromising with alien systems since all sovereignty and glory belongs to God, to the Prophets (PBUH) and to the believers." (Spirit of Toronto, Ontario, Canada: 1834-1984, Lindsay Holton, 1983 AD, Foreword by David Crombie, MP: Secretary of State and Minister of Multiculturalism, Islam - A Dynamic Stability, by Camel Xerri Abdullah Idris, Islamic Center Toronto Jami Mosque, p282-293)

interesting, and somewhat related!

http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2009/10/finding-the-fear-and-love-of-god-inside-the-brain.ars

 What most people either fail to or refuse to grasp is that Muhammad was not some sort of "Arab Jesus", and that Allah is not God.

 Muhammad was an Arab combination of Jim Jones (kill yourself in my name), Adolf Hitler (kill or subjugate all outsiders), and David Koresh (Allah says I can fuck nine year-olds if I want to).

 Allah was just the sock puppet/imaginary friend he used to reinforce the whims of his pathological narcissism. Take for instance, the occasion upon which one of his wives (most of whom were forced to marry him after he killed off their families and took them as slaves) caught him fucking her maid: He quarrels with her, and the other wives jump in, and he then states he will "punish" them by not sleeping with them. The problem is, at this point in his life Muhammad is in the throes of acromegaly, which causes satyriasis. Before that single night is even over, suddenly Allah appears to instruct Muhammad what a special boy he is, and how he should not deprive himself of any pleasure, etcetera yada yada. The same tired spiel of adoration with which Muhammad always claimed Allah spoke to him, and assured him that he (Muhammad) was the center of the universe.

 Islam is not a religion. Islam is the personality cult of a psychotic tyrant. Like all successful cults, it uses a veneer of spirituality to lend itself an illusion of validity, but that is all it is: an illusion. It is no accident that The state religion of this seventh-century whack job means not "peace", as is so often incorrectly stated, but "submission".

moses tells people to take a shower, stop fucking aound, and for God's sake don't set foot on Mt. Sanai (for fear of death)!

I have no problem with submission as long as I'm not the one submitting.

The world made in the image of Christianity:



The world made in the image of Sikhism:



The world made in the image of Islam:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDpfwuy4v2s&feature=player_embedded



PS- The world made in the image of proselytizing atheist dweebs with tiny imaginations:

iMo Apple

Balor, I haven't read all of this thread and am too drunk right now to do so. But as much as I agree with your opinion that Islam is a particularly dangerous and misguided group of fucks, I have to disagree with this post. The "spanish tiles" that have come to just about represent the ideal of "quaint Mediterranean architecture" are a Moorish invention. Also, I dare anyone to wander around La Alhambra in Granada for a day and not come away with an appreciation for the artistry of those murdering bastards.

As a side note, I honestly believe that the greatest positive contribution made by organized religion in general throughout the ages is all the art and support of artists who would otherwise have been toiling away at other jobs.

What most people either fail to or refuse to grasp is that Muhammad was not some sort of "Arab Jesus", and that Allah is not God.

Muhammad was an Arab combination of Jim Jones (kill yourself in my name), Adolf Hitler (kill or subjugate all outsiders), and David Koresh (Allah says I can fuck nine year-olds if I want to).

Allah was just the sock puppet/imaginary friend he used to reinforce the whims of his pathological narcissism. Take for instance, the occasion upon which one of his wives (most of whom were forced to marry him after he killed off their families and took them as slaves) caught him fucking her maid: He quarrels with her, and the other wives jump in, and he then states he will "punish" them by not sleeping with them. The problem is, at this point in his life Muhammad is in the throes of acromegaly, which causes satyriasis. Before that single night is even over, suddenly Allah appears to instruct Muhammad what a special boy he is, and how he should not deprive himself of any pleasure, etcetera yada yada. The same tired spiel of adoration with which Muhammad always claimed Allah spoke to him, and assured him that he (Muhammad) was the center of the universe.

Islam is not a religion. Islam is the personality cult of a psychotic tyrant. Like all successful cults, it uses a veneer of spirituality to lend itself an illusion of validity, but that is all it is: an illusion. It is no accident that The state religion of this seventh-century whack job means not "peace", as is so often incorrectly stated, but "submission".

This is a perfectly sound albeit slightly melodramatic criticism of religion.
I agree that religion is a fantasy.
It can be useful, it can be dangerous, but at the final tally it's still a fantasy.
What I object to are the self-righteous throngs that claim that their god is better than all others, or at the very least that other gods are inferior to theirs.
It's about the stupidest thing an otherwise intelligent person can do.
It's like arguing - and seriously, forcefully arguing - that your sports mascot could beat the tar out of the sports mascot of a rival team.
I also must confess that it bothers me that people would consider making strong arguments against something they have such limited experience with. The audacity of scouring the internet for dirt on a text without having gone to the trouble of actually reading it oneself is rather staggering.

I read the Koran and did find it to be more troubling than the texts of the other Abrahamic religions.  

I think Christianity is disturbing because evangelical sects are happily divorcing the text from context.

The Romans verse listed above is about submitting to the state.  I think there are a fair number of verses from Paul that suggest Christians should be quiet and not stir up trouble with the state.  It's probably one of the reasons so many writings from Paul were selected for the new testament.

Speaking as an authority then, would you go so far as to say that the trouble the Qur'an gave you was sufficient to justify its eradication as a religion?

Also, as you've implied that you've read the texts of the other Abrahamic religions, have you read the Kitab i Aqdas? I'm curious how it compares to the Qur'an given that Baha'i sprang from Islam. Note: this isn't a point I'm making, I'm genuinely curious.

Speaking as an authority then, would you go so far as to say that the trouble the Qur'an gave you was sufficient to justify its eradication as a religion?

Also, as you've implied that you've read the texts of the other Abrahamic religions, have you read the Kitab i Aqdas? I'm curious how it compares to the Qur'an given that Baha'i sprang from Islam. Note: this isn't a point I'm making, I'm genuinely curious.

I'm not really on the team arguing for it to be eradicated as a religion.  I do agree that cultural elements factor heavily into things.  I am more concerned about pushes for secular nations to recognize Sharia courts and the existence of extremist theocracies.  I think all government should be secular and Islam seems to be making the biggest push against it, therefore it draws more of my ire than any other religion.

I actually have a lot of problems with the Baha'i.  To me, it seemed like Islam in prettier wrapping.  It makes sense, though, since the claim is Muhammad was the most recent previous prophet that he would take the Koran and rewrite it to suit his vision.  And Baha'ullah fancied himself a poet, which generally makes his writings annoying to read.

My problem with the Baha'i though is that they misrepresent themselves somewhat.  They claim to support & accept science, but still claim it's wrong for people to be gay for example.  And they support theocracy as a goal, which is a grievous sin as far as I'm concerned.  Plus they lie about being unified - there are multiple schisms over the years, they just refuse to acknowledge them, sort of like the Church of Scientology.

I also have never had someone try to hard sell me on their religion as when I contacted the local group to ask some questions about their religion (well, except maybe for my experience with having friends who were members of the Boston Church of Christ or International Churches of Christ or whatever that sect was called).  I left having coffee with the guy and he was trying to sign me up as a member and later sent me an email inviting people over to my house to have a study group.  I was afraid I was going to have to show up at the door with a gun and chase them off.

It's funny how acceptance of a religion seems to be so closely linked to the age of the religion.
If we order all the religions discussed here from most ancient to most recent we come up with:
Judaism
Christianity
Islam
Sikhism
Baha'i
Scientology
Apostolic Socialism (i.e. Jim Jonesism)
Koreshian Branch Davidianism

I can think of three different explanations for this seniority-based acceptance:
1-As time progresses religions are modified, molded, and re-interpreted by adherents in such a way as to soften their edges into a more palatable form.
2-As time progresses society develops blind-spots, ingrains quirks, and adapts itself to accommodate new religions.
3-New religions are becoming progressively crazier personality cults of pathological narcissism.

I suspect that all three explanations are correct to a degree. While a religion and the greater society grapple with and modify/accustom themselves to one another, crackpot "pathological narcissist" cults pop in and out of existence at the fringes.

You forgot Church Of Tibor - membership of two cos Mello is a believer

What do you have to do to join this "Church of Tibor"?

And I only ask because you got Geek to join and we all know how gullible she is...

I'll have to think of something different for men to join

It's funny how acceptance of a religion seems to be so closely linked to the age of the religion.
If we order all the religions discussed here from most ancient to most recent we come up with:
Judaism
Christianity
Islam
Sikhism
Baha'i
Scientology
Apostolic Socialism (i.e. Jim Jonesism)
Koreshian Branch Davidianism

I can think of three different explanations for this seniority-based acceptance:
1-As time progresses religions are modified, molded, and re-interpreted by adherents in such a way as to soften their edges into a more palatable form.
2-As time progresses society develops blind-spots, ingrains quirks, and adapts itself to accommodate new religions.
3-New religions are becoming progressively crazier personality cults of pathological narcissism.

I suspect that all three explanations are correct to a degree. While a religion and the greater society grapple with and modify/accustom themselves to one another, crackpot "pathological narcissist" cults pop in and out of existence at the fringes.

I was going to write something similar last night but decided to go to bed instead.  I mostly agree with that assessment.

However, I'd amend the third point a little bit - I don't necessarily think that it's because new religions are getting crazier.  I don't know enough about fringe religions & cults to have an opinion.  I think as far as particular Christian sects go, with which I am slightly more familiar, the crazy personalities just keep coming and have been since the various sects were battling it out at during the founding years.  

I think it owes more to generally having more knowledge of said pathological narcissists.  Modern record keeping, reporting, and the availability of information make it harder for a dude like Elron to hide behind the image he wanted to paint for himself when placed under scrutiny.

I think that definitely plays into it.

As Emp said, one of the greatest dangers of Islam is it's goal of infiltrating societies and then when they feel their numbers are great enough their insistence on Sharia and Theocracy.

3-New religions are becoming progressively crazier personality cults of pathological narcissism.

However, I'd amend the third point a little bit - I don't necessarily think that it's because new religions are getting crazier.

Yeah I think my point was that time seems to weed out the pathological cults of narcissism fairly quickly relegating their tenure strictly to "modern times." The other thing is that the narcissists tend to be greatly disproportionately represented in terms of coverage and discussion.

I think that for the most part if a religion lasts long enough it demonstrates that there is something to it that works. I think, like you're saying, that it only appears that religions are getting crazier. And I definitely agree that the modern availability of information plays an enormous part.

PS: Islam sucks!

Hell yeah.

What I object to are the self-righteous throngs that claim that their god is better than all others, or at the very least that other gods are inferior to theirs.
It's about the stupidest thing an otherwise intelligent person can do.

I object to self righteous atheists who call me a fool for believing in God.
I never push my beliefs onto anyone but apparently it's okay for people to do it to me, because I'm just a stupid little sheep.

People believe all kinds of unreasonable things, but so long as these believers restrict their beliefs to religion and don't try to interfere in politics, law, or science, I think they're entitled to hold their beliefs unmolested. In fact I think their beliefs are objectively fascinating. I think it tells us a lot about the human condition that religion is such a universal concept that like language (or at least written language) it is capable of independent convergent evolution.