religion is respected

Submitted by person (United States), Oct 20, 2006 at 14:23

That's wonderful. In an Islamic state, a person's religion is respected! Also, a person's right to convert to Islam is protected. However, as I understand it, if a person's religion is anything other than Islam, it is NOT respected. It is not allowed for a person to convert to or to attempt to convert anyone else to a different "religion" other than Islam. (The words "religion" is in quotation marks, because I haven't yet decided if Islam is a religion or if it is a political and military ideology). So, to me, living in an Islamic state sounds just like living under a dictatorship. Actually, it sounds worse, because the end of the life of the leader is not an end to the oppression, as it might be when a dictator dies.

Now, I admit, I once lived in a predominantly Moslem country, and it was delightful. The people who I met And lived among were extremely gentle, non-violent, and just an altogether joy to know. Religion did NOT seem to dominate their lives, however, and it sounds like this was a good thing. I am not sure what tyope of government there was there at that time, but I wouldn't have called it "an Islamic state".

So, as I see it, PEOPLE are not our enemies, no matter where they are from, or what religion(s) they have been versed in. However, if religions are not respected, including atheism and humanism, freedom does not exist. there, and that is a problem.

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