Yes, the two are absolutely on a par with each other.

This isn't even apples and oranges. It's one apple and a herd of buffalo.

burndtdan: even though i'm not particularly up at arms about either, that is comparing apples to dragons.

Clearly I wasted too much time coming up with my lame analogy ;-)

absoluteparanoia: They kicked the Muslim women out because its improper for them to sit behind the head muslim cleric.

Even in jest I don't think that's true. Women are always to be behind the men.

I went to Ramadan dinner that the Muslims at work hosted. I noticed that when they knelt to pray that all the women were at the back of the group. I asked a Muslim friend of mine at the event if he could understand how some people could perceive that as sexist. He said it was not - not at all. He said it would be improper during prayer to put a woman's posterior in front of a man - that it would distract from worship.

I think it highlights a subtle difference between Islam and Christianity. In Islam, avoidance of temptation is pious. In Christianity, resistance to temptation is pious. Of course I'm oversimplifying, but it was interesting food for thought.