An interesting look at Islam

As suspected, the trip is providing interesting insight into Turkey and Islam. As I mentioned before, I knew very little about Islam before the trip. Today, the whole day was centered about touring cultural and religious sites. And, as I like to say the culture cannot be seperated from the relgion, the whole day was focused on religion. I learned many things about Islam - many of the tenets are along the same lines as Christianity. I started to wonder if most people could come on a tour such as this if they wouldn't come to a very different idea about what Islam is and isn't. I'm particularly enjoying one of the young men on this trip who is a devout Muslim. He is almost giddy with all the goings on here in Istanbul. He is a great ambassador for the faith. I wonder how people might react to seeing someone like him promoting Islam rather than the images that we see in the media night after night. I know, a young, clean cut, soft-spoken, young man is not what the media want us to see.