Is religious extremism fading?
I think so.
We hear and see the most violent results of religious extremism - whether they be acts of an individual or an organized group. They make news. Here in the US, in Indonesia, in the Mid East, in Europe.
For some groups making news is often the point.
Sometimes a singular act seems just tangentially related to religion and more about an individual's personal situation.
Yet what doesn't make news, imo, is the growing middle ground. Using the same tech tools as extremists, they are a growing voice.
The difference - news is geared toward disaster, death, mayhem and conflict. It's part and parcel of the business. And it's become increasingly an infotainment part of public media.
The explosion of global public access via cell phone connections worldwide is largely overlooked by the media reports. In many parts of the world that cell phone access *is* the media.
It works both ways. Context counts. Extremism is by definition a minority cutting edge movement in many countries. I include the US in that statement. And the trend is clear.
Extremists can no longer count on an insular anonymity. And a larger rational majority will prevail. I really think it's only a matter of time.
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And offers you the opportunity to play... 
to facts / results.
Religion has long been the gateway for extremists of all types to justify their behavior, and I don't think that is going to change.
The rise of the "nones" or religiously unaffiliated is a good sign, imo, but recent polls have shown that this group is the least likely to become politically active.
There will always be that element, I think. The unaffiliated, if motivated to act, would help secularists across the political and religious spectrum to marginalize extremism. That would be a win in my book. Limit their influence not their presence. One's doable, imo, one's probably unrealistic.
And I remain an optimist.
marginalize the extremists. I think that is the best weapon we have.
