tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33424426.post2114707018863558659..comments2023-09-01T07:04:13.381-07:00Comments on Reflections on Faith and Culture: An Overdue Discussion . . . Part IIGil Bailiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04481878663941134090noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33424426.post-90916134941853431142010-03-11T14:09:07.262-08:002010-03-11T14:09:07.262-08:00After seeing Part II, I find more problems with Wi...After seeing Part II, I find more problems with Wilders' proposals.<br /><br />First, to stop immigration from Moslem countries would be a big problem for Christians living in those countries. The main example is Egypt. A lot of Copts have come to Austria and made new lives here because the persecution in Egypt has made living there increasingly difficult and dangerous.<br /><br />Second, calling Islam a totalitarian ideology and not a religion is simply false. When serious, fervent Moslems pray to God, also freely spoken prayers, also when they fast and conduct their so-called "inner jihads" for self-betterment, and make their pilgrimages to Mecca, they are practicing a religion.<br /><br />I'm not denying that there is an imperialistic totalitarianism in Islam, but that's not all it is. I wish things were that simple, but they aren't.<br /><br />Third, I don't see how one can demand of Muslims that they live without sharia if they want to stay in the west. If you fast for Ramadan, you're following a part of sharia. If you pray five times a day, you follow sharia. If a Moslem takes the religion seriously, he should do these things. This demand of Wilders has to be reformulated or modified.<br /><br />Fourth the claim that Moslems come to Europe to colonize it and bring it into dar-al-islam is not true in all cases, and probably not even in most cases. I'm sure most Moslems come to Europe because they are seeking better lives for themselves and their children.<br /><br />There's a lot more to say, but I'll stop here.ignatiushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06799372896063968528noreply@blogger.com