"Sharia Law Versus Secular Democracy."

[bindeweede]

In a free and democratic society, Islamists have right to express their point of view, however misguided and backward it may be, providing they don't incite violence. Unless they harm others, they are entitled to live their lives according to their holy dogmas. But they do not have the right to expect the rest of society to accept or facilitate their fundamentalist principles, which echo the Christian authoritarianism of the Dark Ages.

An interesting piece from Peter Tatchell.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/peter-g ... 1423646780

[Croydon13013]

An interesting piece from Peter Tatchell.

He's always worth reading and often correct.

[Dubious Dick]

A pretty good piece, but, as Hitchens and others have oft pointed out, while pointing the finger at the relgious right and the far right, it fails to acknowledge the responsibility of many on the left who have promoted a ludicrous cultural relativism that has lead to the shrill chorus of the charge of islamophobia against anyone who dares challenge ideas e.g. that islam is a religion of peace.

It also fails to delve deep enough into the issue that all faith, however meek and mild, ends up defending all faiths, however dangerous. Witness Rowan Williams, the pope, and other religious leaders waxing weasel like over issues such as the Danish cartoons, or indeed even Charlie Hebdo murders.

Secularists and humanists hopefully want to see an end to religious faith even while, by force of pragmatism, promoting the idea that people are free to hold those beliefs. Otherwise the death of nonsense will be much more lingering, and the damage done greater than it needs to be.