Reply #51: How about this history [View All]

[Marie26]

In Europe about 500 years ago, Muslims were extremely tolerant & respectful of other religions, compared to the fanatical Christians who were creating Inquistions of any non-Catholics. The Moorish occupation of Spain was considered a Golden Age - a pluralistic society in which Muslims, Jews, and Christians were all free to exercise their faith. There were no forced conversions, there was no requirement to believe what the Moors believed. And culture & literature really flourished under Moorish rule. At the same time, in the Christian-ruled area of Spain, Jewish people were being sent into exile. When I compare the historical tolerance of Islamic rulers in Spain long ago, and the fanatical intolerance today, I wonder what the hell happened. How did a culture which had such a tolerance for diversity 500 years ago become one w/such little apparant tolerance in the modern day? I don't understand.