Nice folks

"Poverty, ignorance, and subjugation make people harder than do education, wealth, and freedom."

I think the issue of Islam vs. Christianity plays a role here as well. Western Civilization is fundamentally Christian, and Christianity is conspicuous for two things: its acceptance of, and gentleness toward, non-Christians; and its intrinsic incompatibility with political authority. (Christianity has sometimes been co-opted by earthly powers, but that is a clear misuse of Christian theology.)

In contrast, Mohammed preached and lived a violent faith, and the Koran and Hadith reflect that. They are a blend of contradictory messages, with a violent and intolerant message gaining ascendancy due to its later occurrence in the texts.

Certainly, in stark contrast to Jesus, the life of Mohammed is a testimony to the pursuit of earthly power.

In light of that, it's reasonable to wonder whether "poverty, ignorance, and subjugation" are, at least in part, either a product of Islam or a consequence of a lack of Christianity...or both.

No disagreement here--the assumption of the claim I was contradicting is that the great mass of people are automatically a particular way and not primarily motivated by ideology. Western converts to Islam (if they are not hot-blooded teenagers or emotionally unstable) are unlikely to be suicide bombers; the emotional structure of downtrodden peoples is different in profound ways, and this is critical to an understanding of why the Middle Eastern world operates the way it does.

Product and consequence, agreed.

"if they are not hot-blooded teenagers or emotionally unstable"

Or, peculiarly, British doctors. -- H.

Yeah, them too.