Is it fair to tar an entire group with the same broad brush when it's only a few "bad apples" that are causing the problem? This seems to be an apt question as it relates to religious extremism. That label itself is somewhat nebulous in application - how would you apply it? How about someone who is willing to knowingly break the law because their beliefs compel them too?.. No? How about someone who hurts another person because their beliefs compel them too?

One of the most recent notorious examples is Scott Roeder, the killer of Dr. George Tiller, a women's health provider. His religious beliefs compelled him to kill another human being. Would you consider that religious extremism?

The President spoke at a prayer breakfast yesterday. The Fellowship Foundation is rooted in a house on C St. in DC, home to several Republican senators. This foundation and several senators have worked with lawmakers in Uganda to create an anti-gay bill for that country. The President criticized the bill yesterday, and for good reason. The bill imposes a death penalty for being gay. Would you say that putting someone to death for being gay - based on your religious beliefs - is religious extremism?

Another story that's been developing is the missionary group that went to Haiti to "rescue orphans". Most people saw them in a sympathetic light when they got arrested for trying to enter the Dominican Republic with numerous children. Some interesting facts have come to light, however:

It also turns out that not all of the children were orphans, and some are being returned to their parent(s). So - would you consider this (trying to traffic children out of their country) religious extremism, when the leader of the group knew it was against the law?

Some people might say "no" because they believe their hearts were in the right place. Sure they broke the law, but they were just trying to help, right? That was certainly Scott Roeder's defense at his trial - he was just trying to save the fetuses.

More importantly - would you judge all Christians and Christianity in general by the actions of these extremists? Would you be leery of letting any Christian near your child lest they try to kidnap them and deliver them to a "better life"? Would you require anyone that "looks Christian" to get checked for guns before letting them get near a women's health doctor or gay person?

If that all seems ludicrous, consider the way Muslims have been treated for the last 9 years. Considering that there are over 1.5 billion people that adhere to the Islam religion, is it really possible that they are all as dangerous they're portrayed? Or is it more likely that - like the Christian religion - there are sociopaths and psychopaths that use their religion as a moral "get out of hell free" card to act upon their hate, fears, and ego?

Don't throw out the whole bushel because of one or two bad apples... Food for thought.