I was hoping you wouldn't ask ;).

Well, I think Islam is quite explicit about a Muslims duty to defend their religion and their religious brethren. This IMHO means that Muslims are more likely to not merely be "outraged" but more likely to also undertake action. And while I most certainly don't believe Islam to be a violent religion, it isn't pacifist either. Fighting in the cause of Allah is widely seen as a noble enterprise and that may include violent means. It's the only explanation why there are, for example, Dutch Muslims of Moroccan decent who take a train to Chechnya to join the fight there, despite them not having any kind of Chechen links. It is something they believe Islam asks them to do. They believe Allah will reward them for it. Had they not gotten that impression from studying Islam they would probably not have that zeal to join a fight half a world away.

This is not unique to Islam of course. I think the situation is very much reminiscent of, for example, the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s, when communist volunteers from all of the Western world flocked to Spain to help their comrades in the fight against the fascists. IMHO that is an example of the same kind of ideological zeal as we see in more fundamentalist Islamic circles. Nationalism can also awaken such fervor and willingness to take up arms, but it is by definition limited to a more narrow view of who are "brothers" worth fighting for. You will find Americans who will be willing to fight for fellow Americans, but at the same time, in current Christianity you will be hard pressed to find Christians who are willing to take up arms to defend their brethren in, say, Africa. It simply doesn't have this internationalist zeal IMHO, not anymore at least.

I hope that made some sense .

I know the feeling.

It certainly did make sense to me. I thought you meant that Islam can, to a degree, influence Muslims to respond using terrorism. In this regard, I would say that Islam can do so insofar as the verses of the Qur'an can be misinterpreted.

Its not Islam then is it if the verses have been misinterpreted!. Allah says in the Quran : "..and this day I have perfected for you your Religion - Islam..." (paraphrased). Islam will never influence any person to do injustices ever. Its the Muslims at fault who try to then 'pin it' on Islam not the other way round!.

Yeah, that's true.

Well, from my non-Muslim perspective it seems that Islamic scriptures might just be too easy to misinterpret! Mind you, I obviously don't believe the Qu'ran or the Hadith are without faults and without contradictions. I understand Muslims wouldn't agree with that.

I can understand it from your point of view, but I disagree (unsurprisingly!).

Each verse in the Qur'an was revealed in a certain context and situation. Therefore, each verse must be understood within that context. This requires in-depth historical knowledge as well as Arabic knowledge. That is knowledge that you and I both lack. One needs to be well qualified to interpret the verses of the Qur'an. The problem arises when people start making their own interpretations willy nilly (if you will pardon the expression).

killing is not a nice thing to do and it's against the islamic religion ....