Truth or CAIR

The Muslim public-relations group CAIR—Council on American Islamic Relations—has a tough sell in post-9/11 America. But if its goal is simply to promote Islam as a "religion of peace" and to distance American Muslims from terrorism, why can't CAIR begin with a simple acknowledgment that the terrorist threat to America is real? Instead, CAIR's modus operandi has been to attack Christianity with the same, simplistic broad brush it claims is tarring Islam | Bob Jones

After 20 years of teaching a World Religions course at Conservative Theological Seminary in Jacksonville, Fla., Rev. Gene Youngblood thought it was time to take his lessons to the streets. In the wake of 9/11, he had some things to say about Islam, and the marquee outside his church gave him a ready platform.

So instead of posting mundane messages like service times or special speakers, Mr. Youngblood started using the sign to make pointed religious comparisons, such as "God had a Son. His name is Jesus. Allah had no son." A few calls trickled in, both pro and con, but for the most part the messages didn't seem particularly provocative.

Then, in January, Mr. Youngblood fired a verbal shot that reverberated from Washington to Riyadh. "Jesus forbade murder Matthew 26:52," read the sign. "Muhammad approved murder Surah 8:65."