To be angry that parents won't allow their children to go on school visit to local mosque?

[ptangyangkipperbang]

DS2 is going on a school trip to the local mosque. However, the school nearly cancelled it because so many parents have refused to let their children go. I have only spoken to one parent who won't allow her child to go but she said "I'm not racist but...why should they visit a mosque when we daren't get a plane or go to a shopping centre because of that lot". Not racist .

In very early churches it was common to have men on one side and women on the other, but I don't think the practice continued. Although of course you do have vowed religious who are male or female only. And there is that Greek Island monastery where women aren't een allowed on the island.

/waffle

Then you are in the wrong place...

Smallwhitecat

Men and women can actually pray in the same room in a mosque - the women just have to be behind the men.

It isn't obligatory for women to pray in a mosque whereas it is obligatory for men, so if a mosque is being built and size is an issue, than the priorty is prayer space for men because of the fact it is obligatory for them

Mrsyoshi - Islam is a religion of peace - it is the interpretation of it by some radicals that isn't peaceful and is by no means a reflection of the majority of Muslims. Why not check out Islamic sites on the web- you may learn something that surprises you

I'm peaceful by the way......

Actually Islam is very much a religion of peace, if correctly applied. Furthermore it is the only world religion that formally recognises the right of women to own anything or divorce or be their own person. Most of the negative information about Islam comes from misinterpretation of its teachings, rather than genuine faith. It is a shame people who know little about something want to keep it that way, and encourage their children to be blinkered as well, instead of actually informing themselves properly. Smacks of blinkered thinking in my view.

if its violence you object to, I don't think christianity has a great rep either...

If you don't want a discussion don;t share your views.

I dont mind a disscussion, i dont want to end up bickering.

It is the amount of violence that has occured all in the name of Islam and to compare it to Christianity still dosnt make it right.

There's what seems to be an excellent ad informative site on Islam here.

Hmmm.

The Crusades? Just because they happened 1000 years ago don't make them any less unpleasant.

The Inquisition?

Witch hunts?

Shall I continue?

You should watch the documentary, dispatched - undercover mosque.

Seems very strange to post such anti-Islamic views without being prepareed to discuss- another word for that is Bigot I believe?

'Marks of a Destructive Cult

1. Mind control (undue influence)?Manipulation by use of coercive persuasion or behavior modification techniques without informed consent.

2. Charismatic leadership?claiming divinity or special knowledge and demanding unquestioning obedience with power and privilege.

3. Deception?recruiting and fund raising with hidden objectives and without full disclosure of the use of mind controlling techniques; use of front groups.

4. Exclusivity: Secretiveness or vagueness by followers regarding activities and beliefs.

5. Alienation: Separation from family, friends and society, a change in values and substitution of the cult as the new family; evidence of subtle or abrupt personality changes.

6. Exploitation: Can be financial, physical, or psychological.

7. Totalitarian World view (we/they syndrome): Effecting dependence, promoting goals of the group over the individual and approving unethical behavior while claiming goodness.'

Now, for me the idea of my children becoming involved with a grup that meet those critria is qute scary and as such I can't accept cults are on a par to the major world religions. Indeed, I would argue that the aprallels between cults activites and extremist groups MO's are high; yet we do not accept Islamist groups.

If my boys don't get to go to a Mosque through school I will tkae them 9and to other sacred places). I want them to be educated- and that means knowing the full picture, not just as election of theories they have never had any eprsonal iteraction with. However, Ia ccept that my boys live in ana rea where Muslims (or any religious group bar CofW) are not enocuntered regularly, whereas other children will ahve a different life experience. I dont want my boys going to Uni or work or wherever without an understanding of world cultures. Thsi includes btw Humanism, my own inclination.

why is you stating your opinion OK but my challenging it "bickering"?

And you should get your information from more than one single-idea 40 mn audiovisual source. That would be more rational and less emotive. Documentary makers have an agenda. They have to. It isn't The Gospel (so to speak...)

Have not read all of these (no doubt it has kicked off ) but I would be interested in visiting a mosque/synagogue/church from a purely architectural view point

I very much doubt my 4 year old would wow at intricate ceiling carvings etc

The mosques near me are converted houses from what I can see, so I wouldn't be interested. A huge one with a wow factor, yes

You may carry on your argueing

Duchesse - I could put forward George Bush as an argument for violent chriostianity but wouldn;t want anyone to bicker about it

I can't see how anyone who has read the Old Testament could even attemopt to argue that islam is less violent than christianity; variations may occur over time of course.

Taht site linked to is a good one (thanks Duchesse) but MrsYoshi should you wish I am happy to lend you the introductory text from the Islam section of my degree, written btww by an Agnostic Professor not anyone witha faith- based interest.

I think that the shaved ape may be a justification for quite a lot of violence, Kewcumber, whether faith-induced or not...

olicveoil you should see the Mosque we visited on our Honeymoon for architecural interst- wow!

The Reform Synagogue in cardiff is rather interestingly a converted Church. makes it doubly stunning to visit, imo.

Message withdrawn

out of interest - do we consider the IRA to be a christian terrorist group or was their religion subsidairy to their aim of a united Ireland and therefore not relevant? Genuine question, don;t think I know enough about the use of the bible to "justify" their armed struggle.

that is what I mean Peachy, that looks amazing

not some converted terrace with grey net curtains

I don't think Mrs Yoshi was denying that Christianity has justified violence.
neither Islam or Christianity has clean hands in this respect.
both are inherently misogynist.
both religions have a long and brutal history
and present
I don't really see why criticism of Islam is automatically a defence of Christianity

Message withdrawn

Personally i think they are group hwose religion was secondary to their aim; after all they were called the Irish republican Army, rather than the Irish Catholic Army. Plus they were involved in a 'war' with other Christians, albeit Protestants, so to call etiehr side Christian Army would be very confusing.

yes, the IRA was carrying out a holy struggle. their aims were explicitly on religious grounds.
and of course the Loyalists.