Political Forum - View Single Post - Can Muslim citizens be loyal to a non-Muslim government?

concheet · #35 (**permalink**) 03-19-2008, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sickntiredofliblies

How can I overgeneralize those that base their faith on generalizations? Anybody who does not think like they do, is going to hell according to them. People being unable to understand things is how religion was started. As we learn more, religion must adjust. This has been the case throughout the history of religion, no matter which one we discuss.

I think you are talking about a real minority of Christians who feel like that today. Religion (at least Christianity and Judaism) has already adjusted. Even the Catholic Church with its rigorous authoritarianism...while the Church itself may still be authoritative, its members forgive themselves a lot of sins. Or take Judaism for example, they Bible says that parents must consider their children dead if they marry outside the religion, and that they must follow the practice of tearing their clothes in mourning. This is only done by the tiniest minority of fanatics if at all. The intermarriage rate among Jews and Christians or Jews and atheists is phenomenal! Again, the faiths have adjusted.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sickntiredofliblies

Ever notice that as the elections get closer, religion becomes such a popular topic among our politicians? No atheist could be elected today, not yet.

I think this is true these days in particular because of the huge influence of religion in the rest of the world today. Take a look at the interesting chart here: http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sickntiredofliblies

Muslims would be more likely to think that Obama is muslim simply because of his name. He could just as easily be considered catholic since he attended a catholic school also when he was young. But you don't see that bit of info in those emails that christians are sending out.

I have not seen the emails about Islam and Obama. Which Christians are sending them out? I agree that people should considered whatever they consider themselves. Apparently Obama does consider himself Christian as he goes to a Christian Church. I guess he considers himself Black too even though he is half-white.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sickntiredofliblies

The same could be said about christianity. In fact this was the case several hundred years ago. Religion is very much a governing body that passes judgment and enforces laws. The only reason religion plays less of a role in governing in western/christian countries is because christians now have better education through the benefit of wealth and prosperity. Christianity has liberalized. That's the only difference between it and Islam.

Now that's a giant over-generalisation if I ever heard one. First of all, regarding wealth and prosperity and liberality and secularism. You will have to write a thesis on that to convince me. Actually I think the American experiment was the first to demand freedom of religion for itself and to (ostensibly) insist that there be no "State" religion, as there is in most "Islamic" countries. From that humble beginning we have continued to be enlightened.

I for one am not against aethists (and by the way I did not mean to leave the impression that I was a Christian, as I am not. I do have tremendous respect for the believers however) or agnostics. I just hope that they do not throw out the baby with the bathwater. The Judaic-Christian tradition of laws is what has helped our country become educated, wealthy and prosperous.

Your last statement that wealth and prosperity and education are the only difference between Islam and Christianity is a breathtakingly amazing overgeneralisation. Perhaps you got carried away?