There is a very good article on Salon.com by Richard Connerney today on Islam, the meaning of the term Jihad as it is defined by the Q'uran, and how the religion may very well be incompatible with democratic principles. This had been discussed onlist a bit a few days back (I can't remember the name of the thread!)
The article is part of Salon Premium (I know, this is the second time in as many days that I've referenced an article on there. *sigh*) If anyone wants a copy let me know and I'll send it on offlist (since I do believe that it is way over 10K). Original URL: http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2001/10/11/sword/index.html Excerpt: "This furthermore explains the inability of Islamic culture to adapt and accept ideas of modernity and secular government. It is no secret that representative democracy does not take well in the Muslim world. Liberal democracy of the American variety requires the embrace of tolerance over truth, the relinquishment of any binding central religious truth or ideology in government. The very idea of our country arises out of a weariness of the religious wars of Europe. This idea, of a government without a religious vision of absolute truth, is contrary to the Muslim community's very conception of religious community." Jon
