DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Call to prayer

**acceraStoof** · 12-28-2007, 02:35 AM

I am not comfortable with the "only when we have bells ringing on Churches in Muslim countries" argument: it seems to run contrary to Christ's teachings of love for ones neighbour and turning the other cheek. Personally, I do not want an Islamic call to pray issued out of loud-speakers but I am not in favour of them being flatly denied based on prejudice.

With love in Christ

Alex

I don't think objections to this practice are based on prejudice Alex. If a minaret were built near my home and the call to prayer 5 times a day was heard loudly via loudspeakers then I would consider this to be a violation of my right to religious freedom. Why is religious freedom only the right of Muslims? When church bells ring, Muslims do not hear Christian priests and pastors urging them to praise God, rather the bells ring to inform Christians that the liturgy or service has begun. I believe there is a huge difference between an imam urging Muslims to worship Allah 5 times a day, and church bells ringing once on Sunday.

Here in Greece, of course, church bells rings once in the morning and once in the evening, not just once on Sunday, but it is still only the ringing of bells. Once a church in our area set up a loudspeaker system and every Sunday the whole liturgy was broadcast over a large area. This was stopped though because it was felt that if people wanted to hear the liturgy they would go to church to hear it. This happened in a country where 98% of the population profess to be Orthodox Christians (this percentage is changing though as more people migrate to my country).

Religious freedom is for everyone.

Effie

12-28-2007, 02:35 AM	#6
acceraStoof Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 516 Senior Member	I am not comfortable with the "only when we have bells ringing on Churches in Muslim countries" argument: it seems to run contrary to Christ's teachings of love for ones neighbour and turning the other cheek. Personally, I do not want an Islamic call to pray issued out of loud-speakers but I am not in favour of them being flatly denied based on prejudice. With love in Christ Alex I don't think objections to this practice are based on prejudice Alex. If a minaret were built near my home and the call to prayer 5 times a day was heard loudly via loudspeakers then I would consider this to be a violation of my right to religious freedom. Why is religious freedom only the right of Muslims? When church bells ring, Muslims do not hear Christian priests and pastors urging them to praise God, rather the bells ring to inform Christians that the liturgy or service has begun. I believe there is a huge difference between an imam urging Muslims to worship Allah 5 times a day, and church bells ringing once on Sunday. Here in Greece, of course, church bells rings once in the morning and once in the evening, not just once on Sunday, but it is still only the ringing of bells. Once a church in our area set up a loudspeaker system and every Sunday the whole liturgy was broadcast over a large area. This was stopped though because it was felt that if people wanted to hear the liturgy they would go to church to hear it. This happened in a country where 98% of the population profess to be Orthodox Christians (this percentage is changing though as more people migrate to my country). Religious freedom is for everyone. Effie
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