Khandro - // I find all the Abrahamic religions a bit like the curate's egg, but I don't 'loathe' any outright. //
I would agree with that statement - if you deleted the word 'Abrahmic' - and just made it 'any' religions.
// The main reason I don't dismiss Islam in its entirety is that it contains some very good things, it upholds the rights of animals to kind treatment and justice. It says animals should not be abused or taken for granted, in several places in the Koran, a subject very close to my heart and not really covered in the bible.
A religion which has produced such beautiful calligraphy, architecture and poetry etc. cannot be dismissed entirely by me, but I can see that the atheist may conflate Islam with other religions and wish to reject them all together. //
I can't speak for 'the atheist' since there is no such thing - merely a collection of individuals who don't subscribe to an organised religion - but speaking personally, I don't 'reject' religion, that's far too much like hard work, it simply doesn't exist for me, no 'rejection' required.
//As you know, main great beef with Islam is that instead of staying where it belongs it wants to overrun my patch, - Europe, where it definitely doesn't belong. //
Who says Europe is 'your patch' and what makes you think you can dictate where religions do or do not belong?
The arrogance of fervent Christians marches on - we are extremely tolerant of everyone ... except we are Nimby's at heart, so let them stay up their own end of the pool.