Tag: Muslim

Egypt and the Islamic world have more growing to do

Egypt and the Islamic world have more growing to do

EGYPT-PROTEST/I am very saddened by the political happenings in Egypt right now. I was hoping the secular leaning people of Egypt could make Egypt a true democracy. I now think more pain and frustration is needed.

Muslims are very much about follow the rules and you go to Paradise when you die.  The religion is designed to be rule followers. Mohammed was the political, military, and religious leader of his time so there was no separation and that non-separation has continued.

In Christianity, it is about choice.  Granted some sects have veered from that over the centuries but for the most part it is a personal choice to believe.  In fact, New Testament actually says you cannot believe for someone else.  Therefore western culture evolved to independent choice with a respect to the 10 commandment laws.

Democracy gets along much better with independent christian-like thought processes.  Muslim thought processes are about obeying the rules set down by others and being deferential to the leader who is often ruling at the discretion of the religious leadership. It is hard for people that have been raised for centuries to do what they are told to now act independently.  This will happen over time but the birthing process is painful.

I don’t think that Islam and democracy are 100% at odds but I do believe that the separation of state must be allowed. The religious community cannot dictate to the political community. The reverse of this is true. One person cannot believe for another therefore laws and processes that dictate belief are ultimately doomed to failure.

 

Belgium Bans People Wearing Burqas in Public

Belgium Bans People Wearing Burqas in Public

This is very bad.

I am so happy that I live in the USA where the pursuit of one’s religious belief is supposed to be accepted. I acknowledge that even in the US, it is not always easy to pursue one’s beliefs. I also acknowledge that there is still bigotry and racism, but in general, we are much more free than most places in the world.

Shame on the Belgium Parliament for passing this bill.

From FOXNews:

Belgium is set to become the first ever country in Europe to ban the burqa being worn in public places.

The vote in Parliament for a nationwide ban on Islamic clothes or veils that do not allow the wearer to be fully identified was almost unanimous.

The full-face niqab and burqa worn by some Muslim women are not a mandatory requirements of Islam, but a personal choice.

People found flouting the new law could be given a fine of more than $30 or even be faced with a week in jail.

Vice president of the Muslim Executive of Belgium, Isabelle Praile, warned that the new law could be the start of a slippery slope.

“Today it’s the full-face veil, tomorrow the veil, the day after it will be Sikh turbans and then perhaps it will be mini-skirts.”

She went on to say that “the wearing of a full-face veil is part of the individual freedoms” protected by Belgian, European and international rights laws.