Andrew G. Bostom, Associate Professor of Medicine at Brown University Medical School, is also a prodigious student of Islam and Islamic history, having published last fall his 789 page book, The Legacy of Jihad: Islamic Holy War and the Fate of Non-Muslims in addition to an ever-growing list of articles. His most recent article cites questions raised by Cardinal George Pell, the Archbishop of Sydney, for his Muslim interlocutors wishing to engage in meaningful interfaith dialogue:
1) Do they believe that the peaceful suras of the Koran are abrogated by the verses of the sword? (see here, pp. 67-75)
2) Is the program of military expansion (100 years after Muhammad’s death Muslim armies reached Spain and India) to be resumed when possible?
3) Do they believe that democratic majorities of Muslims in Europe would impose Shari'a (Islamic religious) law? (see here)
4) Can we discuss Islamic history (here and here) -- even the hermeneutical problems around the origins of the Koran (see here, here, here, and here) -- without threats of violence?
These are questions (and Bostom adds two others) that need to be asked and answered. Incidentally, it's wonderful that video has now become so readily available on the internet. Here is Bostom's appearance on The O'Reilly Factor, May 10, 2006.