Derb and Islam

John Deberyshire writes disapprovingly of Islamophobia but I find his reasons somewhat unconvincing. First he lists some very good reasons to think poorly of Islam but then says that despite them, he thinks that Islam is an ancient and respectable religion that gives comfort to millions and the alternative would probably be worse. In reference to the alternative to Islamic civilization he links to a book that describes the horror of the barbarian warfare. However, who says that the alternative to Islamic civilization has to be barbarism? My view is that another civilization arising in the Middle East that was not based on Islam would probably have been an improvement. I sincerely believe that if the Emperor Heraclius had decisively defeated the Arab armies at Yarmouk and perhaps Christianized the Arabian peninsula, the world would be a better place today. Of course, Derbyshire is right that most Muslims are decent people. I just think that their religion tends to create more bloodthirsty fanatics that others do and their civilization would be more advanced if they had another religion that cherished learning other than memorizing one book. Derbyshire says he sees some appeal in Islam's militancy, but I think that militancy in the service of a crazed religion is not very admirable.