Are we at war with Islam?

[JHD]

Originally Posted by Trapper John

To change "their way of thinking and basic fundamentals of the their beliefs" is an exercise in futility, IMO. You simply cannot change who a person is or any group of people's core beliefs. To fight this battle ("war") from the point of view of Christianity v Islam is a trap and is a no win argument for the reasons that Sigaba and others have pointed out.

The objective (again my opinion) is to find the groups or a demographic that already aspire to personal liberty and reject the subjugation of Islam. The Pew report that 98G references seems to identify possible demographic groups that are aspiring to that. Malala is a case in point and the women under the age of 25 may be the target assets. And the more I think about it, the better I like MR2s idea of a Phoenix Program Redux as a means.

Pete, to your point, I hadn't thought about it, but I don't recall NOW getting their panties in a knot over the subjugation of women under Islam either. Hmmmm!

I don't disagree with anything you said. I was simply contrasting Christianity and Islam. I agree it shouldn't the "war" shouldn't be fought that way. If the Muslims want to be Muslim, I have no wish to talk them out of it. But I do like, as I mentioned, working from the inside, such as using the Malala's in Islam to aide in making a change. Women can influence their children's way of thinking, and if the mindset of the children can be changed, there is hope.

As a woman (raised as Southern Baptist, but not subscribing to all of the beliefs), I have supported the womens' movement (also not subscribing to all of their beliefs) in things such as equal pay for equal work, but have never subscribed to the fact that men and women are equal. Both sexes have different strengths and weaknesses and excel at different things. In things in which we are equal, the business world for example, there should be equality. I am saying this to say that in this regard, I have always supported charities that assist women in this manner, helping them to become more self-sufficient, and in fighting mysogony in their cultures. There are many women's organizations fighting these atrocities, including under age marriage, the rape issues, female circumcision, and other utterly barbaric acts committed in the name of the Islamic religion.