Quote Originally Posted by Grumpy View Post
Roadtoad, thank you, I have not had that good a belly laugh in years. A professed agnostic wanting to debate theology—what a hoot!!
Yeah, I suppose that is pretty ironic. But please understand, the reason I read all I can on the subject of religion is because I believe that the questions religions try to answer - "Why are we here? How did we get here? What happens after we die?" - are the most important questions in the universe.

Quote Originally Posted by Grumpy View Post
I think that a short study of the history of Islam, and its desire, aim and attempts for the subjugation of all non-Muslims would show that your limited version and understanding of “convert them or kill them” is the one that is erroneous.
I have done more than a "short study," thank you very much. And it's only fair that if you're going to make such a sweeping, condemnatory statement, that one of the tenets of Islam is "convert them or kill them," you should be ready to provide at least some shred of evidence that what you say is true, which apparently you're unwilling, or unable, to do.

Quote Originally Posted by Grumpy View Post
That being said, I have no disagreement with you. Anything that is written, or spoken, including and especially the contents of the Bible and the Koran, is open to interpretation.
So true. No two Muslims interpret the Koran the same way, so why would we agree?

Quote Originally Posted by Grumpy View Post
Why else can a Republican and a Democrat listen to a speech by Obama (or any other person) and come away with two very divergent opinions of what was said and/or ment by the exact same words.

Grumpy
For the exact same reason that a UofL fan and a UK fan watching the same basketball game will each believe that the other team committed more fouls. It's called "cognitive bias," and it afflicts all us humans, try as we may to overcome it.