> I wasn't asking rhetorically and I am, in fact, a proud Muslim myself. I appreciate that you used the word 'culture' before your argument but it's still wrong

> I wasn't asking rhetorically and I am, in fact, a proud Muslim myself. I appreciate that you used the word 'culture' before your argument but it's still wrong to use the word 'Islam' before 'culture'. It's just culture. Not Islamic culture. Salaam. I'm not sure exactly what to call it, but yes, it is a culture of some places, not necessarily the religion itself. > If the "West" is incompatible with Islam, then by that same logic it's also incompatible with Christianity and Judaism. Indeed, a lot of modern thought positions itself as incompatible with any traditional religion, and there are conflicts between modern thought and traditional religion. > The practices that you mention are heinous and looked down upon by a lot of people, myself included. I don't think that way, myself - a close friend of mine in London is Muslim, and I've eaten at his home. The men eat in the dining room, just men, then they leave and just the women eat. I ate with my friend, his father, and his two brothers. Then the mother and two wives ate. I don't think this heinous. I also don't think a culture where women cover themselves a bit more than people do in the West is heinous. > I'm Egyptian American myself. I'd invite you to take a look at some of the more modern Arab or Muslim countries. I've spent time in Dubai, I'll probably be in Turkey, Morocco, and Egypt in the next 12 months. I think there's conflict between some modern thought and some traditional thought that's near irreconcilable, though I agree that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have more in common with each other than they do with modern philosophies that replace traditional religion with social causes. But I fear at this point I'm making friends with neither side of the debate - for what it's worth, I respect Islam quite a lot, particularly the hospitality, charity, and sense of duty in Muslims that I've met is rather incredible. Though, some Muslim practices are at perhaps irreconcilable odds with some modern philosophies that seek to replace religion in society. But perhaps not - in any event, I wish you well, and thank you for the discussion.