[Kt-viagra]

Since faith is adherence to every letter of God's law, why would you favor those who are apostates?

Also known as infidels.

What good is religion without wholehearted adherence, i.e. unquestioning faith?

I don't like Fundamentalists whatever religion they pretend to represent.

Fundamentslists are dangerous people who use very old texts like the Bible and Koran, which are open to widely varying interpretation in order to justify their actions.

The world would be a better place without such dangerous small minded intolerant religous fanatics.

Just because somebody does not share your religion or views does not mean they should be labelled as infidels or any other such derogatory term. We live in the 21st Century an age of scientific enlightenment and not the middle ages, although religous fundamentalists would like to take us back to the middle ages.

[gardenerextraordinaire]

The world would be a better place without such dangerous small minded intolerant religous fanatics.

^ And so said Etienne as he left the voting booth.

[broksaksaak]

^ Talk to Sarah Palin.

Palin is not most people.

Why have religion at all if folks regard its pronouncements as optional? I'm not talking about some abstract philosophical validation of religion, but how the majority who identify with a religion act in the real world.

[Gskdmidd]

Ban on minarets? Did they also ban Goobers?

[ansarigf]

^ And so said Etienne as he left the voting booth.

And so said Richard Dawkins and many other people including myself.

As for Muslims very few are fundamentalist, just as very few Christians are fundementalist, and very few Jews.

It should be noted that Ultra Orthodox Fundamentalist Jews are widely disliked in Israel by the larger Jewish population.

[robstamps]

Codex: it would be interesting to know which of us has more Muslim friends.... there is really not much you have to explain to me. The fear in Europe.... as well as the UK... is over fundamentalist Muslims. And you know that. Not over secularised Muslims. And not over fundamentalist Christians and Jews... and there are good reasons for that: take a look at human rights issues in Islamic Republics. Please don't tell me, "yes, but what about fundamentalist Christians who...." As I said, take a look at human rights issues in Islamic Republics. And also read the article I posted above. Any comments on it?


--

[ulw7A8Po]

It doesn't matter as to who has the most Muslim friends, and lots of non muslim nations have appauling human rights records including countries in South America, Africa and countries such as China. It is only a few Muslim fundamentalist in the west who support fundamentalist Islamic religous laws and the human rights violations such laws bring.

Europe is secular and needs to remain so, and the vast majority of westernised Muslims except this, it is only a minority of fundamentalists and radicals who are the problem, and singling Muslims out (from other religions) in respect of national laws plays directly in to these peoples hands.

Once a minority feel opressed they are much more susceptible to radicalisation.

[baskentt]

What is your feeling about Sharia law in the UK?:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/com...cle4749183.ece

What if: If the UK had a referendum system like the Swiss of direct democracy... with referendums that could overturn Parliment decisions... I wonder how the Brits would vote on such a decision as the Swiss did. Any opinions?

And just wondering: your view on the article posted above? (the one by the women's rights activist)

[Uttephabeta]

What is your feeling about Sharia law in the UK?:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/com...cle4749183.ece

What if: If the UK had a referendum system like the Swiss of direct democracy... with referendums that could overturn Parliment decisions... I wonder how the Brits would vote on such a decision as the Swiss did. Any opinions?

And just wondering: your view on the article posted above? (the one by the women's rights activist)

Religous Laws has no place in Western Democracies, as I have already stated the UK Muslim population is very small, and the vast majority are westernised.

As for a vote, the British people do not agree with mass immigration nor do they wish for their culture to be swamped, however we are tolerant of the religion and beliefs of others providing that is that they respect our freedoms, religion and culture.

We are now entering an age of scientific advancement beyond anything seen in the past, by the end of the century we could be colonising other planets and could have made scientific breakthroughs far beyond our current expectations. We should not let petty religous beliefs which are more akin to the middle ages hold humanity back.

[metrocartockasur]

So from your first sentence I see that you feel the Sharia courts in Britain is wrong. Am I correct?

From the article: "Rulings issued by a network of five sharia courts are enforceable with the full power of the judicial system, through the county courts or High Court."

----------------------------------------------------

I understand this means speculating but... let me ask you again: "What if: If the UK had a referendum system like the Swiss of direct democracy... with referendums that could overturn Parliment decisions... I wonder how the Brits would vote on such a decision as the Swiss did. Any opinions?" (on what the outcome would be?)


--

[Stengapsept]

So from your first sentence I see that you feel the Sharia courts in Britain is wrong. Am I correct?

From the article: "Rulings issued by a network of five sharia courts are enforceable with the full power of the judicial system, through the county courts or High Court."

Muslims can settle their own civil disputes using Sharia Law if they wish in the same way the Jewish Courts (Beth Din) rule on such issues. However such Laws should only be in respect of those who hold such beliefs and should only apply to minor civil disputes.

http://www.theus.org.uk/the_united_s..._din/about_us/

http://www.bethdin.org/

http://www.europeanmasortibetdin.org/

[FetMiddle]

About Sharia law... from the article: "Rulings issued by a network of five sharia courts are enforceable with the full power of the judicial system, through the county courts or High Court."

I don't see anything about only applying "to minor civil disputes".

Personally I would be against the UK's inclusion of Sharia Law, as well as special laws for Jews as well.

But your original statement was: "Religous Laws has no place in Western Democracies,"

And I agree. Not the Sharia laws ...or the Jewish laws.

But would voting against such laws be discimatory? Would it be marginalizing Muslims? Jews?

Following your reasoning: I think it would be.

----------------------------------------------------

I understand this means speculating but... let me ask you again: "What if: If the UK had a referendum system like the Swiss of direct democracy... with referendums that could overturn Parliment decisions... I wonder how the Brits would vote on such a decision as the Swiss did. Any opinions?" (on what the outcome would be?)

[investmentonlinev2006x]

^ Every thread eventually turns into a branch of the UK forum.

[imictiorume]

Getting back to Switzerland: do they still make Yodels? Loved them as a kid.

[irrehoobe]

Sharia Laws and the Beth Din (Jewish) are used within their respective communities the world over in respect of minor civil cases, they have no bearing on the national civil or indeed criminal laws of westernised democracies and nor should they.

[EmpaccalGah]

This is a Muslim woman, a women's rights advocate offering her opion on the Minaret ban. I wonder if the women shown in Codex's post would agree with her? I don't know but my bet is that most would:

Swiss ban on minarets was a vote for tolerance and inclusion

The Swiss vote highlights the debate on Islam as a set of political and collectivist ideas, not a rejection of Muslims.

By Ayaan Hirsi Ali
from the December 5, 2009 edition

http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/1205/p09s01-coop.html

Ayaan Hirsi Ali is the Somali woman who co-authored the script for Submission (2004), a film by Theo Van Gogh. (Van Gogh, most will recall, was brutally murdered by an Islamic extremist in Amsterdam who was enraged by the film.) She is an ardent anti-Muslim, anti-religious activist, and an outspoken atheist.

This does not invalidate her right to express these views in the Christian Science Monitor, of course, but just to be clear she is an opponent of all things Muslim, so her characterization of the ban on minarets as "a vote for tolerance" must be seen in this light. I don't think she is at all representative of the "average" European Muslim, secular or religious (whoever might fit that profile).

I don't see what the big deal is with the minarets. If people advocate, plan, and carry out violent attacks it becomes a police matter. I don't think religious Islam in Europe is extremist, in my experience. (I lived in the UK most of 1998-2001, 2003-2006.)

I'd also leave the secular Muslims out of this discussion since I assume they are not building minarets for a religion they don't actively follow.

[appleiphoneees]

^ Every thread eventually turns into a branch of the UK forum.

I've noticed this too, but it doesn't bother me. Seems a lot of Brits here love NY and many NY-area residents feel an affinity to the UK, especially London. C'est la vie, as we say in New Jersey.

[ElcinBoris]

...and many NY-area residents feel an affinity to the UK, especially London.

(But we all know NYC is better)

[Scfdglkn]

^ Every thread eventually turns into a branch of the UK forum.

I was asked my views with regard to Britain, however prior to this I gave my opinion with regard to a more general international perspective.

It should be noted that 9/10th of this forum is just about NYC, and that of the rest only a handful of threads are in respect of the UK within the world skyscraper and architecture, news and politics and any thing goes sections of this forum, as well as a few UK pics on the photography section, other than that 90% of this forum is NYC.

[euylvaygdq]

...but just to be clear she is an opponent of all things Muslim

Judging from what she writes she sounds against fundamentalist Islam. But let's talk about what she has written. Sounds reasonable to me. Passages you don't agree with?