Islam

As Pope Benedict XVI heads a religious "bridge building" effort in Turkey this week, we hear about a fatwa being issued by a cleric against a journalist in Iraq and more Mohammad image protests.

Like Christianity, over five hundred years ago, Islam is in its adolescent stage. Although, Christianity is still far from maturity, it has become more encompassing and accepting as the years have worn on over the centuries. Like Christianity's burning of witches in Salem and heretics in Spain, Islam is in this same stage. It is about getting revenge and holding on to the power that they so believe they have inherited, from Allah or Mohammad; either of which seem synonymous.

In addition to the fatwa, we have the exposed nerves over the images of Mohammad, which seem to become more and more present. We see images of Christ in mass media, such as movies. Many of which are parodies, in fact; however, I don't see Christians burning Muslims in the streets with kerosene. Yes, it is a bit juvenile. From a historical standpoint, Mohammad was a boozing womanizer, who received revelations of prophecy in a cave. What is the point of defending a single, flesh-and-blood man? He is not God, according to Islam. He is, at the very most, a vehicle of prophecy.

It's like today, I tried to explain to an overwrought student, "That kid doesn't know your mother." Instead of using a bit of common sense, the student continued to lash out, "But he is talking about my mom! I don't allow people to speak about my mom." We all have moms, but I don't know your mother personally, or anything about her really; therefore, how can I speak knowingly about her sexual practices? It's bogus, to say the least. We must listen and reason.

In four or five hundred years, Islam will have progressed to the point of seeming maturity. They will acquire acceptance as a benign world faith. There will be no more fatwas or public executions in the streets of innocent by-standers.

One day...