CoI – yes, I remember that story. It got a good bit of play in the States since 9/11 was still fresh. More has happened since that is being kept quieter, such as this tale. (You’ll notice that nobody yet knows (as of 2:00 pm EST) how the Korans found their way into that gutter, but that makes no odds…) And then there are the stories (honor killings in Europe, Australian immigrant gangs terrorizing citizens, etc) that are just common enough that people don’t note the reports – they don’t stand out anymore.

You are so correct when you say our philosophical foundations are incompatible. The definition and meaning of intolerance is demonstrated daily as we see and hear these zealots screech “death to ….(your name for any perceived offense goes here.) Apparently, the meaning of the cartoons have been proven true. Radical Islamists today have given their religion the image of a bomb about to explode!

The way I heard it, “One hundred are the pleasures in heaven: 72 virgins and 28 smooth young boys.” For some reason, you never hear about the boys.

I was always taught to hate the sin but love the sinner. It’s often tough to do, but I definitely have always tried. In fact, even though I’m a regular church attendee, I prefer to hang out with sinners. Let’s……

As far as sexuality is concerned, some have theorized that the excessive repression and regulation of sex have led to a fetishizing of the whole thing – according to the theory, heaven is the only place that sex is actually healthy and permissible, the only place where men’s natural wholesomeness can withstand the wicken sirens. (Then again, they call them virgins, which again implies a lack of a certain activity there as well.)

But it does raise other questions. 72. Is that it, or is 72 just the introductory offer? Does one then get 6 more virgins per year at regular club prices? Do the blessed have to stash a few away just in case they find themselves running short after Thanksgiving? Do the women get 72 pool boys in heaven? If one prefers to raise a family and live to a ripe old age instead of detonating in a neighborhood 7-11, is one stuck with one’s beloved wife for all eternity instead? Boggles the mind.