[lehighguy]

Good post. Personally I think all religion has a measure of intolerance as a result of its believe in absolute God given morality. This lends itself the violence.

However, different religous tenants make some religions more prone to it then others. Chiefly, the difference between the tone of the new testament and the tone of the Koran.

I think of Jesus like Gandi and Mohammed like Napolean. I've heard a lot of good things about Napolean. That his reforms were good, that he was good at governance, that he was a brilliant leader. Even if we assume these things to be true, that Napolean had many good ideas that we can learn from, it doesn't change the fact that he was a militarist and imperialist. Similairly, even if we accept the Mohammaed had many good ideas that are useful today, it will never change the fact that he was a militarist and imperialist.