This is exactly how all people should believe in their religion. By researching and reading for themselves.

So, before he founded Islam, was Muhammad a christian or a jew?

Idol worshipper with questions about faith and society in general.

he was actually from a Meccan tribe, so he was a polytheist AFAIK

I find all religions fascinating.. a real eyeopener to read the Qur'an, the Bible etc it's beautiful to see the differences and similarities in religion.. I don't believe in them but that won't stop me to learn from them.. I just don't like crazy extremist: islam, christianity, FFVII, etc... people should respect each other and not force their believes on others..

 I understood your point.

And I agree that Christianity is a lot about "rejecting" this life - but in my opinion that makes sence (but not to reject this life as monks do though, it's not supported in the Bible that you should isolate yourself from people and only study and pray).

Christianity acknowledges that this world, this state of existence is fundamentally flawed.

From experience many of the muslim people I know are kind , peaceful people for the most part but they don't tend to respond well to critcisms of islam and have gone on the aggresive verbally or even physically in response.

Like any religion, Islam has both peaceful/tolerant and violent/intolerant passages. If you follow it, you're pretty much free to hold any range of views as some section of the scripture will support you.

So, the Muslims that believe in private and don't force others to convert or obey their religious law are fine; and those that do are not. I do find it funny how both groups think they are right and the scripture 100% supports them.

 Well, I know the area was full of polytheists, but was he and his family? I would think that he already worshiped God before then.