Fear of democracy in the Jewish community

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Granted, I've never been to a Muslim country, or really even out of USA or Canada, I have to think that Christianity gets more negativity in predominately Muslim countries than Islam. Seems like the amount of negativity is based more on percentage of Christians to Muslims in a particular country than a worldwide mentality. I kinda think all religions can be good or bad depending on "interpretation"

BINGO

I'll bite.

1. As far as I can tell there are no Christian republics of "Enter country here" However, there are many countries that are Islamic republic of "Enter country here" So based on that I assume they set a good bit of their policies based on Islam. Things such as women not being allowed to vote. Requirement to have a male guardian. Clothing restrictions on women. Their judicial policies, legal system etc. etc. So when these countries institute these policies, of course it falls back on the religion itself, because the country claims to be Islamic country of kingdom or whatever.

2. I don't know about other posters. I can only speak for myself.

Seems like some countries are coming around in the Persian Gulf and instituting more modern policies. Saudi Arabia doesn't seem to be one of them at this point. As I've stated before, I think all religions are equally useless and harmful. I don't discriminate there. The world would be a much better place without organized religion.

exactly.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

1. When Run talked about women not being able to vote and get an educations, some folks posted things that debunked that theory. It's true, some places have those restrictions, but that's not the whole picture. WOM even posted a sentence that said SA is different in regards to Islam since they take the word as it is written, rather than a loose interpretation of it.

Well, not exactly. Wahhabism follows a very strict and literal interpretation of Qur'an, following the Hanbali school. (Where is Sofiyya ??? She can explain this much better than me.) Most of the rest of the Muslim world does not follow this interpretation. The Wahhabi movement doesn't even date back to the Prophet; it was developed in the 18th century.

This may shed some light on how it arose, and why:

Wahhabism is a puritanical form of Sunni Islam and is practiced in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, although it is much less rigidly enforced in the latter. The word “Wahhabi” is derived from the name of a Muslim scholar, Muhammad bin Abd al Wahhab, who lived in the Arabian peninsula during the eighteenth century (1703-1791). Today, the term “Wahhabism” is broadly applied outside of the Arabian peninsula to refer to a Sunni Islamic movement that seeks to purify Islam of any innovations or practices that deviate from the seventh-century teachings of the Prophet Muhammad and his companions.

...

History of Wahhabism.

Muhammad bin Abd al Wahhab, whose name is the source of the word “Wahhabi,” founded a religious movement in the Arabian peninsula during the eighteenth century (1703-1791) that sought to reverse what he perceived as the moral decline of his society. In particular, Abd al Wahhab denounced many popular

Islamic beliefs and practices as idolatrous. Ultimately, he encouraged a “return” to the pure and orthodox practice of the “fundamentals” of Islam, as

embodied in the Quran and in the life of the Prophet Muhammad. Muhammad bin Saud, the ancestral founder of themodern-day Al Saud dynasty, partnered with Abd al Wahhab to begin the process of unifying disparate tribes in the Arabian Peninsula. Their partnership formed the basis for a close political relationship between their descendants that continues today.

Since its emergence, Wahhabism’s puritanical and iconoclastic philosophies have resulted in conflict with other Muslim groups. Wahhabism opposes most popular Islamic religious practices such as saint veneration, the celebration of the Prophet’s birthday, most core Shiite traditions, and some practices associated with the mystical teachings of Sufism. In the past, this has brought Wahhabis based in the Arabian peninsula and elsewhere into confrontation with non-Wahhabi Sunni Muslims, Shiite Muslims, and non-Muslims in neighboring areas. The first Saudi kingdom was destroyed by Ottoman forces in the early 19th century after Wahabbi-inspired warriors seized Mecca and Medina and threatened Ottoman dominance. Similarly, during the 1920s, Wahhabi-trained Bedouin warriors allied with the founder of the modern Saudi kingdom, Abd al Aziz ibn Saud, attacked fellow Sunnis in western Arabia and Shiites in southern Iraq, leading to political

confrontations and military engagements with the British empire.

Wahhabism in Saudi Arabia Today.

Since the foundation of the modern kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932, there has been a close relationship between the Saudi ruling family and the Wahhabi religious establishment.3 Wahhabi-trained Bedouin warriors known as the Ikhwan were integral to the Al Saud family’s military campaign to reconquer and unify the Arabian peninsula from 1912 until an Ikhwan rebellion was put down by force in 1930. Thereafter, Wahhabi clerics were integrated into the new kingdom’s religious and political establishment, and Wahhabi ideas formed the basis of the rules and laws adopted to govern social affairs in Saudi Arabia. Wahhabism also shaped the kingdom’s judicial and educational policies. Saudi schoolbooks historically have denounced teachings that do not conform to Wahhabist beliefs, an issue that remains controversial within Saudi Arabia and among outside observers.4

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RS21695.pdf

It's not the mainstream.

And all of this is Off Off Off Topic.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

The Republic of the Philippines is wholly dominated by the Catholic Church.

and boy look at the mess it's caused... Although you have to admit it is greatly influenced not like Saudi and sharia law.

1. When Run talked about women not being able to vote and get an educations, some folks posted things that debunked that theory. It's true, some places have those restrictions, but that's not the whole picture. WOM even posted a sentence that said SA is different in regards to Islam since they take the word as it is written, rather than a loose interpretation of it.

2. That wasn't aimed at you, those folks know who they are. I have no issue when someone asks questions about the religion, if I know the answer I'll tell them, if not I will defer to those who know more than I do. I don't mind debating with you because as some point common ground will be reached and we can either agree or not. But the other ones who have hate in their hearts, who just keep posting garbage to spread ignorance, they need a hug.

Marvin I don't know how many times I have to repeat to you guys I am talking about radical Islam and radical countries like Saudi.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

and boy look at the mess it's caused... Although you have to admit it is greatly influenced not like Saudi and sharia law.

Marvin I don't know how many times I have to repeat to you guys I am talking about radical Islam and radical countries like Saudi.

That's why I posted what WOM said, she's more versed in this than me.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

thread closed for review

[Kathryn41 3,205]

After review, this topic will remain closed as it was derailed from the original post almost immediately. The news article was about a conference hosted by the Jewish community discussing fears felt within that Jewish community. Instead of discussing the conference or the concerns raised at the conference, the topic was completely re-directed by a personal attack to one individuals own fears about Islam - a wide divergence from the original topic.