I have been wondering for some time why the religious folk on both sides don't get together at some level. Both are adamently opposed to the permissiveness of western society. If they could tone that down they would accomplish something to all our benefit.

pat, nisswa, USA

We Christian were not at war with anyone. It is the Muslims that are disturbing the peace.

They sent their letter to the wrong address. Try this. Substitute Pope for Mullah, and mail it Syria, Palestine, and Iran. If they listen you will have peace.

Ray Bochman, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Tis is just another way the islamic community deflects responsibility and blames others. They are NOT interested in anything but global domination, period. Another reader had it right, when a church of any denomination is build in Saudia Arabia the letter might be worth reading!!

bill smith, orlando, florida, USA

Thanks, Dave Livingston for responding the Muslim letter in the spirit of peace and reconciliation in which it was offered.

Was Jesus not "The Prince of Peace"? To be a true Christian, must you not proceed in peace rather than contributing to a climate of distrust and recriminations. Just a thought.

But the facts of your argument are incorrect as well. There are 200+ million people in majority Muslim Indonesia - the fourth largest country in the world. There are 150 million Muslims in India. There are many millions more in Pakistan, Iran, China, throughout the Middle East and Africa. Perhaps you should check your facts before you make wild assertions. But I imagine that you never let facts and evidence get in the way of a good argument.

In any event, the letter from the Muslim leaders seeks not to respond to people like you but to transcend you. And, in that goal, I hope they succeed.

Lawrence DeBakey, New York, NY

These are the statistics about muslim population in the world. If you account for the rapid growth rate (from conversion and birth), the share if muslim in the world will near 27 to 29% today.
Refer to the website below for further details.

http://www.hajinformation.com/main/d21g.htm

Madou, Lubbock, Texas

When Christians are allowed to build churches in Saudi Arabia I'll read the letter.

And that a Saudi scholar has signed this letter is massive hypocrisy bordering on outright lying. Tell me again where there is a lack of dialog and understanding in the world, Mr. Scholar?

Give me a break. I can't and won't take seriously anyone from Saudi who does not reject such a policy on the part of the Saudi government.

I'm an athiest. But I believe in religious freedom.

Victor Purinton, Cambridge, MA, USA

The gap, as I see it, between the islamic world and the west is that my religion is a personal matter, not a national or political identity. I believe liberal democracy to be the institution that protects my right to worship as I choose, just as it protects the right of others to choose to worship or not. Sometimes this means I must be tolerant of those who may not agree with my take on morality, or who may openly mock my beliefs. But my religious beliefs are not compromised by supporting a free and open society, they are in fact strengthened. Islam has yet to learn this, and therefore feels threatened by a world view that it believes undermines its moral authority. Freedom can be messy and discordant but I will stand shoulder to shoulder with buddhists, jews, christians, muslims, pagans, and atheists to protect their right to be free in this world. I will leave it to God to judge us in the next. When islam learns this we can start a real dialogue of peace.

Joseph Thornton, Warrenton VA, USA

There are not nearly as many Muslims in the world as is commonly claimed.

For one thing, look at the countries they dominate, large in area, but mostly empty wasteland as in Arabia, Algeria, Mali, Niger, Afghanistan.

It is empowering for Moslems to lay claim to a far larger population than they indeed have. But the claim to a quarter of Mankind is more Islamic humbug!

Dave Livingston, El Paso County, Colorado, USA