Quote Originally Posted by noddin0ff
Again, I'm no scholar, but European Monarchies were a Christian example of the union of Church and State- many wars were conducted on the basis of religious hatred. The Inquisition was a period where 'heretics' were condemned to death or worse. Iraq was a secularly governed Islamic society under Hussien. I suppose Egypt and Turkey are other examples. The US managed to separate church and state, but it's quite clear that our own Christian far right would like to merge the two again. So, like I said, nothings permanent.

I think it's close-minded to expect a culture to transform overnight into the Western style democracy we miraculously managed to create under entirely different circumstances. I believe the Taliban stepped into the power void left by an invading USSR tried to occupy the country. Culturally, Afghanistan from what I read was a beautiful, open, and progressive society and of the more pro-women’s rights Islamic nations. Just because extremist, fundamentalist groups are successful doesn’t mean that it was everyone’s first choice.

Let’s not label the whole of the Islamic world fundamental extremists and Jihadists. It just ain’t so, any more than we’re a nation of recovered addicts and born again Christians with Presidential aspirations.

Your first paragraph,that all took place in a more uncilvilized time.