Israel bombs Gaza Hospital ?, page-1610

That's an interesting perspective. I'm not suggesting their history or culture in not without merit rather it seems to be possibly incompatible with how societies are now progressing that increasingly requires treating all your citizens fairly and equally. You don't for one minute think women and young girls wouldn't prefer greater opportunities to work and study at school do you? Do you think the wave of protests that have occurred in Arab states are possible indicative of this change ? The is no religious basis for any man imposing their will on their women despite what the counsel of elders interpret from the Koran. The only way they can maintain control is to murder protestors seeking change and making their women subservient via have no rights to education past a certain age. No society can flourish socially and economically when 50% of you population is left to rot at home.

I'm not for one minute suggesting Christianity has a glorious history or benefit to society. You correctly point out what is happening in US and the far right wanting to now track medical records of all women. In fact the more I think about why some people connect themselves to such ideologies the more I think religion is just another cult. Human beings are insecure by nature so look to form tribes that become fallible to falling for a good narrative.

Islam practices are particularly interesting to me given it expects the majority of its following to make extreme commitments. Most of which they can't followed in modern society - sex to procreation only, praying 5 times a day, a god (prophet Allah) that doesn't care for non believers and therefore must then be converted etc.

Yes other religions have just as extreme followers which also no doubt gives them a feeling of comfort and solidarity but again in reality it just controlling them to act in incongruent way to universal human rights.