Ancient Maldivian Buddhas destroyed by Islamists during coup

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The argument is pointless as Salafi fundamentalists are still going to call themselves "true believers" while looking down on the more open minded and spiritually oriented forms of Islam. It's just like the evangelicals here in the US that also think they are the "true believers". I mean, are we going to start arguing that evangelicals are not true Christians because most of them are rabidly anti-homosexual? I think most religions have that type of narrow-minded literalistic strain. It just happens that Islam has the worst brand of it these days.

I read the article, but it didn't seem to address my point. Which of the following are you claiming?

(1.) Mohammed did not destroy idols in the name of Islam.
(2.) Mohammed did do this, but modern Muslims shouldn't do it.

Seems to me that the whole point of destroying 'idols' was to stop people from continuing to worship them.
When the Jews entered the Promised Land, it was full of practicing pantheists, whose temples contained images or standing stones representing local deities. These people were NOT going to hear of a universal invisible spirit, they were not going to turn against their faith(s), so the Israelites destroyed the religions. And the cultures and the people.
My understanding is limited, so PLEASE correct me, but I believe that is the same reason for Muhammad's actions...to make it impossible for the conquered idolaters to continue their practices; to MAKE them turn to and depend upon Allah.
Not arguing that there are nicer ways to spread a religious faith, just sharing my viewpoint of WHY images and temples/sacred sites were destroyed in ancient times.

Buddha figures in a museum were not being worshipped or believed to be avatars of the Buddha, and neither were the Buddhas of Bamiya. The destruction was pointless and completely against the principles for which Aaron's and Muhammad's orders were carried out.
Therefore the actions were against the PRINCIPLE of Muhammad's teaching. I am not aware of any approval of 'Destruction for destruction's sake' in Islamic teaching, correct me if I am wrong.

Sylkat

No great loss. They were just graven images, after all.

So is The 'Pieta', and it would be a great crime and a loss to us all if someone destroyed it because of a violent and misguided hatred of Catholicism or Christianity. So would destroying the Blue Mosque or the Mormon Temple.

Sylkat