The third monotheistic religion after Judaism and Christianity.  Originates as revelations to the Prophet Muhammad, recorded in the Qur'an and supplemented with a collection of Islamic traditions and laws, Hadiths.  The religion spread mostly through conversion and military conquests.  Islamic civilization had its Golden Age, but while religious fundamentalists preach return to Sharia law in its purest form in order to restore Islam's past glory, others, including the green quote here, suggest a different basis for the Islamic apogee, namely opening the doors of rational thinking, Ijtihad.  But, as we know, adhering to stifling religious dogma is the way to preserve wealth and power for a few, petro-Wahhabism is eloquent example. 

The Muslims believe that Islam is the best religion, revealed to Muhammad in order to improve upon Judaism and Christianity.  On this basis, inviting into--or, depending on the one's view, imposing--Islam and Sharia law on all people in the world is Muslim's holly duty, sometimes by all means.  This, in my view, goes beyond the missionary reaches of the Christianity. 

Among other religions, I find Islam to be the most self-serving and intolerant one.  Qur'an may say "no compulsion in religion," but Muslims are not open-minded on this.  Leaving Islam or converting to other religion is punishable by death.  All religions belittle women, but in Islamic countries women status is the worst. 

Reading the books listed here (if interested, please, follow the links to go to extensive excerpts), I was looking to see Islam as the tolerant and peaceful religion that all Muslims say it is.  Alas, I do not see this. 

What bothers me most is that moderate Muslims do not have strong voice, they seem silent.  And though explanations are given for this (apparent) silence, including misinformation or even ignorance on Westerners side, still the question remains:  Why Muslims find necessary to come out and protest by thousands against Muhammad cartoons, but do not find necessary to protest the hijacking of their religion by extremists?  By being so passive, moderate Muslims risk the appearance of tacitly sanctioning terror.