Religion of Peace?

Lately everyone seems to be posting about the ‘cartoon’ issue in the Middle East. It has become a hot topic, so I figure it’s time to make this blog’s position clear. For what it’s worth, here is my 2 cents.

I’ve looked at the cartoons in question, and I must say that I understand if they offend some Muslims. This is, after all, their deity. If Christ were pictured in an offensive manner, I probably wouldn’t be that happy about it either. So I understand if they’re not happy about their religion being characterized in such a way. But that’s where the understanding stops.

To put it in perspective, I am a Christian in what has become a much more secular nation. People are tolerant of just about everything except Christianity. So on more than one occasion I’ve had to point out to someone how and why they’ve misjudged my religion. But I do it in a tactful, civilized manner. For example, you’d never hear this conservation:
“You Christians are nothing but a bunch of damn hypocrites”
“Oh yeah, well you’re going to hell for cursing, you son of a b#$@!”
Not an exactly an intelligent remark. About as intelligent as saying:
“Islam is not a violent religion, and I will kill you for saying that.”
Obviously, that wouldn’t go very far at making the argument. In one statement, the entire position collapses and one sounds like a complete fool, which brings us to the Muslims.

I could argue that these cartoons would never have been drawn if representatives of the Muslim faith weren’t crashing airplanes into buildings, lopping off the heads of journalists or blowing up subway stations. We’re not seeing any cartoons of Buddha because Buddha’s followers have never strapped themselves with dynamite and strolled into a daycare center. So the reason their deity and their religion is being portrayed in a cartoon, and portrayed in a violent manner is because they are violent. There are no ulterior motives here. But the Muslims disagree. They don’t want their deity’s image portrayed at all, much less in such a demeaning way. So how do they express their disagreement? By saying things like: “Death to those who insult Islam.” So by objecting in such a way they pretty much validate the very thing they object to.

At least maybe now the Europeans will eventually realize the vastness of the insanity that possesses these people. I mean, there are riots and calls for war over what? A friggin cartoon? And they call themselves a religion of peace?

Is there anyone out there who agrees that Islam is a religion of peace? Anyone? If so, please explain yourself and explain the actions of these people, because this isn’t a radical faction of fanatics. The people we see calling for death to those who insult Islam appear to be the mainstream. So is this the religion of peace?