[jw74]

"Are the viewpoints based upon a reading of the documents in their original languages or weretranslated versions used? This is a vitally important question. Translating a document is a form of editing. Editors make editorial decisions. Editorial decisions change the nature of a work."

With respect, this is a cop out to me. It is saying that, you can't comment on Islam because you don't read Arabic. What naturally follow is that you can't understand the Arabic you read unless you understand Arab culture and you can't REALLY understand Arab culture unless you are Arab. Therefor no one but an Arab can comment on Islam. Nice position to be in.

However, regarding translator word choices, I would agree that the original language is important for scholarly understanding, but the English lang version of the Qu'ran that I have was translated with the intention of spreading Islam to the non-Arab, and yet it says the things that WM mentioned. So if it was edited to cast Islam in a favorable light.... it is an epic fail.