Extremism and narrow mindedness are all around us... so it is ever more important to keep our attention on the goal...working to build ties with people of similar or close beliefs in other religions...

The following article outlines extremism and terrorism in religion... and not just one religion:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_terrorism

- Art:wink

Here's a lits of characteristics for political extremists and i think to an extent many of these can apply to religious extremists as well...


Researcher Laird Wilcox identifies 21 traits of a political extremist in the Hoaxer Project Report:

Character assassination
Name calling and labeling
Irresponsible sweeping generalizations
Inadequate proof for assertions
Advocacy of double standards
View of opponents and critics as essentially evil
Manichean (bipolar) world view
Advocate some degree of censorship and repression of their opponents and critics
Identify themselves in terms of who their enemies are
Tendency toward arguments by intimidation
Widely use slogans, buzzwords and thought-terminating clichés
Claim some kind of moral or other superiority over others
Doomsday thinking
Tendency to believe that it is justified to do bad things in the service of a supposedly "good" cause
Emphasis on emotional response, as opposed to reasoning and logical analysis
Hypersensitivity and vigilance
May claim some kind of supernatural, mystical or divinely-inspired rationale for their beliefs and actions
Inability to tolerate ambiguity and uncertainty
Groupthink
Personalization of hostility
Assumption that the system is defective if they don't win

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extremism

An interesting article on Liberalism in Islam can be found at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberal_movements_within_Islam

This article focuses on liberlism in Islam nad contradicts the common view of Islam as a rigid monolithic fundamentalist religion...

among some of the characteristics of liberal movements in Islam:

Several generally accepted tenets have emerged:

The autonomy of the individual in interpreting the Qur'an and Hadith.

A more critical and diverse examination of religious texts, as well as traditional Islamic precedents.

Complete gender equality in all aspects, including ritual prayer and observance.

A more open view on modern culture in relation to customs, dress, and common practices.

The use of ijtihad (independent interpretation) and the use of fitrah (natural sense of right and wrong) is advocated.

and

Ijtihad (re-interpretation of scriptures)

This means that liberal Muslims often drop traditional interpretations of the Qur'an which they find too conservative, preferring instead readings which are more adaptable to modern society (see ijtihad).

Most liberal Muslims reject derivation of Islamic laws from literal readings of single Qur'anic verses.

They generally claim that a holistic view which takes into account the 7th century Arabian cultural context negates such literal interpretations.

The reliability and applicability of Hadith literature is questioned by liberals, as much of traditional Islamic law derives from it rather than Quranic text because there are immense gaps in legal and family issues.

and so on...

- Art:wink

I think the origins of extremism start when people begin denouncing other religions..

Explore the origins:

"Many believers find it difficult to reconcile deep religious conviction with tolerance of other beliefs. It is tempting to insist that one has discovered the one and only truth and to relegate the remaining masses of humanity, adhering to other beliefs, to the status of apostates or unbelievers, spiritually doomed, deserving pity at best, or outright ridicule and persecution at worst. Throughout history too many sincere people in every part of the world have fallen victim to this thinking."

- The Universal House of Justice

Tolerance of other religions is a beginning to improve mutual respect and begin a true dialogue..

- Art:wink