I posted some links (I think) to some radical islamic stuff.. radically critical of fundamentalist islam.

I agree that if we look only at the extremes we have a distorted view. I recently blogged on this that we have to maintain dialogue with those in the middle and not demonize the entire group.

Interesting debate re: living in the community where we are connected and serve. I think we have made it workable to not do so, but I think there are many things we do much less well when we don't live in close proximity.

Let's face it.. we just don't take the physical reality of teh community we serve as seriously when we drive 10, 20 or 30 miles to our home. I assume that we have to know and love the physical community we live in.. get involved in issues critical to its life, and not just the inner llife of the church but the physical life of the community where that church is rooted.

But if there are riots or death in the streets.. and we can drive 30 miles away and forget about it..