Not long ago, the Online Think Tank began a short discussion on the need for more Inter-Faith dialogue and opening of communication channels between Jews, Christians and the World of Islam.
In one of my emails, I signed off; "The Infidel!" This of course got a laugh, and I am glad that they got a kick out of my humorous close, but in reality, I think it is kind of funny and tragic too.
It appears that since I am considered an infidel in the Muslim World, that some of their radical elements find me, expendable, worth less than pile of manure.
In discussing this I noted:

It seems that religions try to pick and enemy to build their strength and unite their cause.
Christianity chooses "evil' and Islam chooses "infidel" and those are easy labels to apply to any enemy really.
Should we stop trying? Well, probably not, but if we keep trying and expect different results, then we are fools.
For instance, in the squatter territories over the borders from Israel, talk, talk, talk, periods of peace then all hell breaks loose again, it isn't working.
One side lobs rockets, the other side reciprocates, surgically and strategically trying to stop it.
When they do it is then that is used as a tool to promote the first strikers agenda, by claiming that the attacks were against civilians or that collateral damage occurred.
All this with no mention of the fact that the rockets lobbed into Israel, were fired without consideration of where they would land, only prayers that those rockets would kill jews?

Why again, would anybody think that anything will ever change without a massive program to uplift the education of the masses in that area of Jordan that some have labeled Palestine? Money has been given to build a civilization there, but it just ends up in the hands of radicals? Should we be surprised, I'm not, the warlord mentality is 1000s of years old.
It only takes a reading of the history of Babylon to see that.
Well, I have many Jewish friends and I see some Christian backlash now and again, between those two groups.
Yes, and have had these conversations of Inter-Faith Groups before, been involved in fundraisers on the local level in several cities and see the good that comes of it sometimes, getting everyone talking is good, but you can spend your whole life doing that, and one TV evangelist can come along and wipe out all your hard work, poisoning the minds of 10s of thousands in one shot.
You see, in my observation, the religions are only able to loosely or semi-control their masses, once the mob gets an idea and that synergy moves the group, it just keeps going and the religious leader is trapped into allowing the movement to keep in control.
I ask what if "All Religion Ended Tomorrow?" That would be a great day for humankind.
Think on that.