“Why is it that converts to the Muslim religion tend to gravitate towards the extreme fringes? Think of the Oregon lawyer, or that young kid captured in in Afghanistan.”

The biggest difference is that the Islam we see in the US is a very diluted version of what most of the Arab world actually practices.

"Then again, I find all religion distasteful, because there are representatives in almost every version who have misused its teachings for their own gain or plunder. "

Keep in mind that the term “misused” is relative. If some feel that they are actually following through with what their religion teaches, then it is not actually a ‘misuse’. For example, the suicide bombers – some would say they are mis-using their religion, others would say they are actually following it as required.

Also keep in mind that power abuse, atrocities, genocide, scandals, etc are not a monopoly among religious institutions and fanatics. They are just a part of the world and being human. Those who wish to gain power, money, or other selfish gain will find a way to make it happen. Taking advantage of people via religion is just one way it happens.

“Examples are easily found, at all levels, both historically and currently. Look at the Catholic Church, systematically hiding child molester's activities from the public. This is as bad or worse than Muslim clerics calling for the deaths of those who think differently.”

The cover-ups in the Catholic Church are horrible and intolerable. But one big difference here is that the church and the religion\teachings do not promote\encourage those abuses. They should have dealt with them more directly, quickly, and severely, but to suggest that the recent actions\in-action of the Catholic Church is worse than the Muslim directed\encouraged\required murders of thousands of ‘infidels’ in the name of ‘Allah’ seems pretty irresponsible to me.

”Politics is one thing, but religion is the root of this evil. The Muslims are just as bad as the Christians, with one sect saying that their form is the one true form and that all non-believers are doomed. How utterly ridiculous. “

Hmmm. I see a slight double standard here. What do you believe? That we all face the same death\doom since there is not God or Heaven? The lack of a religious affiliation or belief system does not mean one has a lack of belief of what happens to people after they die. So some religions believe that there is something beyond ‘death’ and other religions\non-religions don’t. I don’t see this as relevant to this discussion really. And just so we are clear, most Christian churches\denominations agree on the core ‘requirements’ of being ‘saved’. Most of the major differences are related to music\worship style, church government structure, etc. The only ‘doom’ in Christian teaching relates to the judgment passed down from God – and for most is an event that happens post-death. The Christian believer is taught peace and love – leaving the act of judgment to be between God and the individual person. The ‘doom’ of the practicing Muslim groups is a real act of aggression here on earth against ‘infidels’. Very big difference. As you can see by looking around the world – Muslims have a hard time living peacefully among their non-Muslim neighbors (and among themselves).

“Their love of their beliefs are bass-tardized as a way to justify the killing another person. “

Again, unless you are an expert teacher of their religion, how would you know the difference between the ba$tardized version and the pure teachings\practices? Some religions in their purest form are violent and in some views ‘evil’. Others are peaceful and in most views “good”. But it does not good to try to change someone’s religious beliefs – unless you are some kind of ‘profit’ and can do so from the ‘inside’…

“Until people realize this, we are doomed to repeat the past.”

History repeats itself. We can’t stop that. We may change certain things, but corruption, selfishness, abuse, and other forms of ‘evil’ will continue. Their never has been ‘world peace’ and it’s clear that without some kind of divine intervention – there never will be.

”Maybe religion needs to be abolished. “

That worked great for Communist China and the USSR didn’t it? LOL. The lack of religion clearly doesn’t abolish ‘evil’ in any way.

“Then we could all concentrate on just trying to be good humans.”

You and I may try, but who defines what is ‘good’? Is it arbitrary? Should we try to establish a level of World Government that defines a set of moral\ethical principles for the global citizens? What happens when the governing group establishes some of those principles that you don’t agree with? What if they go beyond principles and become law? Will you trust those in power to do what is ‘right’? Again, I think that is a nice thought you have, but I just don’t see a way for it to happen given human nature and our history.

“Isn't that the true goal of religion?”

I wasn’t aware that there was a global religion (yet…). Each major religion has it’s own ‘true goals’. To try and make a world\society where that is not true would be in violation of certain rights that most in America agree are basic ‘rights’ and ‘freedoms’ – freedom of religion, freedom of speech, etc.