Judaism went through proselyte, intellectual, militant, schismatic, ecumenical and finally (for lack of a better word) "cultural" stages. Christianity, as a later religion, went through the same stages later. Islam has (so far) gone through the first three or four (it kind of got a jump start on its schismatic phase under Ali.) Note that each religions entrance to one phase often occurred alongside that of another into a different one (e.g. Christianity was born amid Judaisms transition from militant to schismatic, while Islam was born amid Christianitys transition from intellectual to militant.) Also, I concede those categories are general and in some cases somewhat artificial (there is a good argument Judaisms final militant phase was partly CAUSED by the schism between Babylonian and Alexandrian Judaism.)

Point being, I often wonder if militant Islam is not simply a natural religious progression adherents will grow out of (after appalling bloodshed) just as Christians and Jews before them, and, if so, how long it will take. Future Muslims may well regard todays Islamic terrorists as todays Christians do Inquisitors and Crusaders—or as todays Jews regard the Maccabees.