Yusuf Islam, the former Cat Stevens, has been in the news lately, after a long hiatus, during which he created no small controversy by endorsing the Ayatollah Khomeini's fatwa against Salman Rushdie. He later appeared on the public radar when he was refused entry to the US.

I can't say I'm all that impressed with him, at this point. I've known enough accomplished musicians in my time to understand that they are not necessarily penetrating critical thinkers. Stevens' music made a big impression on me in his heyday, as I had ambitions of becoming a singer/songwriter. I knew and played all of his popular tunes.

When he converted to Islam, I was reminded of a Redd Foxx line in a '70's-era blaxploitation flick about a character who had coverted for love (paraphrased); "Must be some mean [loving] to make a man change gods!" It was funny at the time; might have had something to do with cannabis.

When he was interviewed about the Rushdie fatwa, though, I thought "what a tool". Brainwashed, I figured, and what a damned shame, but it could have been worse; he could have ended up like Jimi Hendrix. Or Ted Nugent. Just another addled has-been hero, sedulously devouring some feckless spiritual junk food. At least he didn't choke to death on his own vomit.

So now he reappears with a new record, a contrite if cautious persona, and a media blitz. I'm just cynical enough to suspect that he's driven to try to rehab Islam's image in the West. "It's a religion of peace, I'm just interested in peace, all you need is love" etc.

And he may well be sincere. There are billions of Muslims who are not murderous criminal fanatics, who simply find serenity in solemn contemplation of the verses of the Prophet, and who are, in Douglas Adams' excellent description of humankind, Mostly Harmless. So if he can manage to create a little goodwill for his fellow believers, reduce the tensions between neighbors, and maybe dial back the simmering hostility directed towards innocent people who've done nothing more than believe a comforting fairy tale, it's probably a net gain for society. And if he can make a few bucks at it, well, we all gotta eat.

But I still think he's a tool. Islam, notwithstanding my earlier observation that the vast majority of adherents are basically decent people, is a fat load of rubbish. I hasten to add that Christianity, and the theological dimension of Judaism, are part and parcel of that same load of rubbish. No one need boast discriminating cognitive faculties to write or perform entertaining music. If his music entertains, may a thousand flowers bloom and all that. But make no mistake, the core articles of faith in all of the various denominations of the Yahweh Cult are fundamentally wicked, even when invoked benignantly. As Sam Harris persuasively argues in his books, faith is the devil's masterpiece.

What I've heard of his music in his various media appearances does not interest me. He sounds like he always did, but his message is banal, smug, and sanctimonious, and I'm over it. No blame, perseverance furthers, may his tribe increase and all the rest, but I say it's spinach, and I say to hell with it.