@cofty
regarding your second post, which I didn't see until mine posted - sorry:
its a matter of not taking the context into account. The Quran, like the Bible, stresses that any who do not accept gods messengers (I.e., Moses, Jesus, Muhammed), and turn to God will likely die, unless God shows them mercy. But it is nowhere proscribed for the Muslims to take action against anyone. They are only to defend themselves when attacked, but stop of they assailants stop and be forgiving (see previous post). All judgement, as in the bible, is left up to God. They are forbidden from violence except in defending themselves. It is these latter verses, which are clear in their meaning, that are twisted by radical Islam as well as guys who misunderstand like that one, to mean offensive violence.
the social and cultural context of the Quran must be considered, and in all the verses where defending oneself against assailants is sanctioned it is specifically referring to a certain people at that time on particular. It was not a sanction for on going violence against people who attacked you 100 or 1000 years ago, it was saying that IN THE INSTANCE OF ATTACK, you may defend yourself. But, as the previous verse I quoted clearly shows, if the attacker stopped they were to cease all hostilities and be merciful as God is merciful.
