Despite lunatics exploiting vague references in their religious texts to oppress and demean people (much like the Religious Right in America), the basis Islam is still very much based on love in many cases. What a lot of people don't realize is that Jesus is in the Koran as well; and although Islam doesn't agree that he was the Son of God, they still consider him a very important prophet and teacher. The same love-based philosophy of Jesus is within the Muslim Religion, too.

The difference, from my albeit limited perspective, is that the people who follow the Muslim religion seem to have learned the Love Thy Neighbour aspect of their teachings in greater numbers than the Western followers ...

Despite lunatics exploiting vague references in their religious texts to oppress and demean people (much like the Religious Right in America), the basis Islam is still very much based on love in many cases. What a lot of people don't realize is that Jesus is in the Koran as well; and although Islam doesn't agree that he was the Son of God, they still consider him a very important prophet and teacher. The same love-based philosophy of Jesus is within the Muslim Religion, too.

The difference, from my albeit limited perspective, is that the people who follow the Muslim religion seem to have learned the Love Thy Neighbour aspect of their teachings in greater numbers than the Western followers of "Christian" religions.

Of course, both "Christianity" and "Islam" have their share of nutbars that have distorted the teachings beyond what they are meant to mean, and used those twisted teachings to advance their own Humanist agendas (whether those agendas are based on hatred, control or greed)