End times - 2012?

Can you imaging the hostility religion causes?

Someone recently sent me an email whinging about the Halal label on Cadbury Milk chocs. "BOYCOTT CADBURY!" she screamed. "Less than 2% of Aussies are Muslims, why do we pander to them, how come they punch above their weight?" Insinuations and accusations of bribery and other devious deeds followed.

How many of the 60%+ Aussie Christian population cares whether there is a Halal, Kosher or even a Heart Foundation Tick on a block of chocolate?

What I find disturbing is that the "militant" Catholic crusaders are coming out of the woodwork. They are making direct attacks on other religions, be it kicking up a ruckus about a Halal label, or calling for Latin masses. Even the Vatican is on a recruitment drive, holding out the olive branch to unhappy Anglicans, inviting them to return to the fold, mobilising its troops so to speak.

What's sad is that there are so few differences, but so many common traits in Christianity, Judaism and Islam. To begin with, there is a common ancestor Abraham. His sons were Ishmael and Issac. Mohammad descended from Ishmael, Moses and Jesus from Issac. All believe in one god, share sacred sites and even the Archangel Gabriel revealing the Qur'an to Mohammad and the Annunciation (to Mary).

So, how about it. Lets merge the three religions and end it all. By the way did you know, the "official" view according to the Catholic Church, the end of the world is when Jews become Christians (Catechism of the Catholic Church 674).