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I suspect how much respect is accorded Islam, broadly speaking, will depend entirely on how Islam, broadly speaking, engages the modern world. (Very difficult to talk in such generalities, as there is an enormous difference between an Indonesian Sunni and a Syrian Sunni, particularly in cultural applications of Q'urannic [sp?] teachings.)

There are nutty excesses in every faith and non-faith; we're all susceptible. The questions come down to how we handle that as a culture. Here in the U.S., we've dealt with the likes of Fred Phelps by collectively rolling our eyes and criticizing him and Westboro Baptist every time they announce another demonstration. The Mormons handled their excesses by changing or reinterpreting teachings regarding plural marriage and other issues to accord with American standards, in part that Utah could be admitted to the union. There's always a tension for us between faith and accommodation, but it can be a very good tension.

Regardless of numbers, Islam can begin to increase respect by stepping into the global community; through loud and continuing renouncements of terrorism and anti-Semitism (regardless of one's position on the Israel-Palestine issue, portraying Jews as bloodsuckers and urging their annihilation, as Hamas, Hezbollah, et al., routinely do will not augur for growing international respect); permitting dissent and even tolerating other faiths within the borders of Islamic nations; and standing as strong advocates for international efforts at peacekeeping and respecting human rights will go a long, long way toward creating respect.

Until then ...

Until then . . . we must view Islam with great caution and suspicion; because repsect is not numerically determined. If that were the case we should "respect" Chinese Communism - or credit card users. The sheer number of Muslims is therefore a non-issue as far as respect is concerned.

If, by respect, you mean like respecting (fearing) the big strong bully on the playground, then perhaps we can "respect" Al Qaeda; but if by repsect you mean admiring its spiriutal truth quotient or grace orientation then - no. Islam, no matter how nice individual Muslims may be, is by its very nature a false, legalistic religious system that enslaves millions and keeps them from the grace and truth of the Gospel.

Again, if by respect you mean respecting Muslims as persons, on a one-on-one basis, then we are obligated by the Scriptures to show the respect of Christ-like love and forbearance for the sake of their eternal salvation - that is, unless they are trying to commit mass murder. I have had numerous cordial and fruitful relations with Muslims, who were most definitely not muderous terrorists.

Respect for other human beings who are also interested in being respectful and civil, yes. But NOT just because they proliferate at a higher rate than Catholics. That's "so silly" as my 3-1/2 -year-old grandson is want to say.

Catholocism is not a religion. It is a branch or denomination of the religion known as Christianity, which includes denominations known as Protestatants (i.e. Baptists, Methodists, Anglicans, Pentacostals, etc.) and Orthodox Christians (i.e., Russian, Greek, etc.) It is important that when we say things about religion, especially comparing the size of religions, that we be clear about our terms and understand them.

Put in its proper perspective, Christianity, including Catholocism, has about 2 billion adherents world-wide, which is a much higher number than the 1.3 billion muslims.

Having said this, the growth of Islam is a frightening phenomenon given the increasingly radical bent of its most outspoken and influental adherents. Unfortunately, we in the West tend not to take seriously threats until it is too late. At this rate, and absent urgent action, Europe will soon become unrecognizable as part of the West, and its democratic institutions will cease to exist, having served their purpose of allowing Muslims to undermine and subvert Europe to their ends.

Let's be clear, Muslims historically have no interest in democracy. They see it as decadent. This is not a new phenomenum. Over the course of history one is hard pressed to name more than a handful of countries where Muslims predominate where individual rights have been respected. Given the history of the past thirteen hundred year, we are foolish to believe that somehow Muslims will chose to live in a secular society.

Ditto, anonymous!

The thing about Islam is that it has a very high view of religious law. Modern Christians, especially liberal varieties, tend to look askance at biblical law - even the Decalogue. We would rather create our own "law" or norms (gay marriage, free sex, no death sentences, etc.) since we know better than God.

Unfortunately most of these "new" laws are either sin themselves or promote sin, which in turn causes chaos and dissolution. There will inevitably, and eventually, be a reation to the dgradation and chaos created by sin, and a swing back to law - which can take positive as well as negative forms - eihter free, representative order, or Nazi-line fascism.

I believe the interest in Europe, and even America, in Islam is along these lines. Christianity in general offers little substantive response to the issue of lawlessness today, having reverted to emotionalism (charismatics), theological unbelief and compromise (liberalism) and irrelevance (dead religionism).

The answer of Islam to the disastrous effects of immorality in a society is to execute all offenders. While this, and other punitive measure, may also be a Biblical option in some cases (rape, for one), it is not the entire biblical solution. The essence of the NT solution is the Gospel, which provides a transformative New Birth through trusting in Messiah's atonement on the Cross. It is postive and preventive for starters.

We should, nevertheless, institute biblical standards regarding extramarital sex, perversion and and ohter crimes in our legal system. Though this may seem extreme at this point in history, such used to be the case here in America and throughout Europe. But without the grace and power of the Gospel it can become oppressive and ineffective. On a societal level, however, to neglect the suppression of sin and evil always results in the horrific scenes of massacre, murder, and ethical corruption splashed across our TV screens every day.

My fear is that the situation in the West will become so chaotic and debased that we will opt for the grace-less legalism of Islam. We need a return to a Gospel-based transformation of our culture, with a respect for, and application of biblical law for the incorrigible, corrupt and lawless. Otherwise, we will continue our current downward slide into a fate worse than death.

The thing about Islam is that it has a very high view of religious law. Modern Christians, especially liberal varieties, tend to look askance at biblical law - even the Decalogue. We would rather create our own "law" or norms (gay marriage, free sex, no death sentences, etc.) since we know better than God.

Unfortunately most of these "new" laws are either sin themselves or promote sin, which in turn causes chaos and dissolution. There will inevitably, and eventually, be a reaction to the degradation and chaos created by sin, and a swing back to law - which can take positive as well as negative forms - either free, representative order, or Nazi-line fascism.

I believe the interest in Europe, and even America, in Islam is along these lines. Christianity in general offers little substantive response to the issue of lawlessness today, having reverted to emotionalism (charismatics), theological unbelief and compromise (liberalism) and irrelevance (dead religionism).

The answer of Islam to the disastrous effects of immorality in a society is to execute all offenders. While this, and other punitive measure, may also be a Biblical option in some cases (rape, for one), it is not the entire biblical solution. The essence of the NT solution is the Gospel, which provides a transformative New Birth through trusting in Messiah's atonement on the Cross. It is positive and preventive for starters.

We should, nevertheless, institute biblical standards regarding extramarital sex, perversion and and other crimes in our legal system. Though this may seem extreme at this point in history, such used to be the case here in America and throughout Europe. But without the grace and power of the Gospel it can become oppressive and ineffective. On a societal level, however, to neglect the suppression of sin and evil always results in the horrific scenes of massacre, murder, and ethical corruption splashed across our TV screens every day.

My fear is that the situation in the West will become so chaotic and debased that we will opt for the grace-less legalism of Islam. We need a return to a Gospel-based transformation of our culture, with a respect for, and application of biblical law for the incorrigible, corrupt and lawless. Otherwise, we will continue our current downward slide into a fate worse than death.