>>It troubles me also in that my daughter has had an RE school book at home, about Mohammed, as a way of making christians aware of other religions, to foster toleration and understanding. This book features "cartoons" (in the original sense of the word) depicting stages of the Prophet's life. Obviously not oil paintings or photographs. Does this mean that a child's picture story book is an offence to Islam also?
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>What is an RE school book?

RE = Religeous Education - it covers all the major religions. My younger is off on a school trip to a synagogue next week for example.
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>I don't have any problem with the history of religions being taught in school. In fact even religion being taught in school. Just as long as they don't disguise religion as science ala intelligent design.
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The point is that Islam does not permit any depiction of Mohammed. In fact, AFAIK, Islam doesn't permit ANY depiction of life, there are very few examples of any, and that's the reason there is such richness of geometric design and patterns on their buildings.

>The cartooons bother me in the sense that they could be racist or intolerant.

No more than having a depiction of Jesus with a m/cgun would be. It's the knee-jerk reaction to depiction of "their" prophet being a slur on the whole of Islam that bugs me. Have you ever seen the French cartoonist Siné? He did many "funny" cartoons of Jesus on the Cross. One had a girl in underwear on the Cross, with the sign above: "INRIette". I don't remember death threats against him.

No, I know it's an impossible dream but I wish Islam would just lighten up a bit.