[Downloaded in 2018, but, unfortunately, I did not note the source.
Qhen I search for "how does islam differ from other faiths? (part 1 of 2)",
the "hit" I receive is not the same as the following article, and I have
NOT been able to find a simarially-readable "part 2 of 2" article; ~MAC]

Subject: Re: HOW DOES ISLAM DIFFER FROM OTHER FAITHS? (PART 1 OF 2)

> According to one Robert Spencer, author of "Did Muhammed Exist",
> much of the Koran is indecipherable; what DOES form the basis of
> Islam is the collection of Hadiths - commentary and sayings
> attributed to Mohammed and/or his companions.
>
> Scholarship attributes varying degrees of validity to the (literally)
> thousands of Hadith. Various "denominations" of Islam (Sunni, Shite,
> etc.), revere and are guided by different collections of Hadiths.
>
> Spencer speculates, but cannot prove, the origins of the Hadiths as
> follows:

> During the early stages of Islam formation, various tribal leaders
> vied for influence over unaffiliated groups. To bolster their claims
> to legitimacy, writings were circulated that PURPORTED to originate
> with Mohammed or his companions. If the leader who had the tracts
> authored prevailed, well, then, of course the texts that helped his
> ascendency were likewise elevated to the level of sacred.

So, bringing this back on topic, Islam DOESN'T differ from any other
Faith.  (At least as far as the "Holy Scriptures" go.)

The Christian "New Testament" was doctored over centuries and commisioned 
scribes in Alexandria (2nd and 3rd centuries) added and modified passages 
according to the emerging sect they were being paid by. There are 12
verses at the end of Mark's Gospel, dealing with the actions of the
women who went to the sepulchre, which were added much later.

The Jewish Torah is probably the least modified and most faithfully 
reproduced but there are still discrepancies that different Jewish
sects argue about. And there are arguments about the Talmud which
documents what the other arguments were about :-)

Bhagavad Gita has been changed in translation in a number of passages.

Both the sayings of the Buddha and of Lao Tse and Confucius have
appeared in different forms depending on where, when, and by whom,
they were being transcribed. Even the traditional koans of Zen
Buddhism can vary, depending on when they were transcribed.

As there are NO authentic original documents for ANY of the World's
great religions or beliefs, you can't rely on scripture as the basis
for your faith.

(OK, you can if you are faithful, indoctrinated in the dogma of your 
particular religion over many years and accept that you either choose 
between rational answers or the faith of the spirit and, as the spirit
is all knowing, and rationality isn't, you might consider faith a
better option.) Generally, the writings or sayings of some teacher or
leader have been turned into a very nice little earner by some of the
more entrepreneurial followers.

Then the ensuing centuries have been spent trying to build the business at 
the expense of the competition. Often this has been fierce, with very large 
numbers of people dying in the struggle and Mankind's quest for knowledge 
and understanding being set back thousands of years. (I personally believe 
that if there had never been ANY Religions and we had all been forced to 
work together and take responsibility for our own collective condition, we 
would be colonizing star systems by now...)

Although the adherents get some benefit (security of a like-minded group, 
being able to hand responsibility for the things you can't control to some 
all-powerful deity, the smugness of being "good" and the certainty of a 
better afterlife, etc.), by far the majority of the benefits go to the 
establishment, and Religion, by and large is a pretty good business to be 
in. (As long as you are part of the establishment; the benefits are limited 
for the Faithful and tend to be more "spiritual" and abstract, than actually 
tangible. However, being a cleric, even if you don't aspire to the upper 
levels, is a pretty good living and it is the only way some people could 
ever get any respect from anyone.)

It is absolutely no wonder that as more and more people become able to
read and write they fall away from it when they find it doesn't answer
their basic questions.

Sample questions: Why would a loving and caring deity set up a bunch of 
petty rules to trap people knowing full well they would fail? ("you can
eat what you like in the garden, but not that... Oh, and by-the-way,
every newborn baby is now guilty because you disobeyed.") Why would blood 
sacrifices be required? Thousands of innocent animals (and people) being 
killed to "wash away sin". Why would the annihilation of entire races of 
people, men, women, children, and animals, be sanctioned? Why is there evil 
in the world? If evil is caused by Man's free will, then there was a flaw in 
manufacturing. Why not just create beings with no capacity for evil? Doesn't 
he care about it? Can't he do anything about it? Is it really likely that an 
omnipotent being, capable of creating the Universe in 6 days, is going to 
throw a hissy fit if people don't worship him?  Could such a being be THAT 
insecure?... I could go on, but if you really think about it, you'll find 
your own questions....

Church attendance across all denominations (apart from fanatical Religious 
states) is declining but it will be with us for a thousand years or so yet.

We are slow learners.

(Maybe because of centuries of religion stifling any attempt to think
for ourselves... :-))

Pete.