More on the cartoons for those without broadband

[Blandmum]

Here is a question.

Muslims says that the prophet cannot be protrayed and that for anyone to do so is a basphamy. But how can you blaspheme something you don't belive in?

As I understand it orthodox Jews say that it is a blasphamy for someone to write out the word of god. They would write G*d. Does this mean that Jews have the right to demand that Muslims stop writing the word Allah (since Muslims worship the same god as Christians and Jews)

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"that's not what I am saying snowleopard. I believe that God gave us all this sense of right and wrong because we will all be asked to explain ourselves, regardless of what we believe in this life."

Saadia, that does sound much more tolerant. In which case, why be upset about someone else drawing the prophet, or think that it's imprtant to try to influence non-muslims? We will all be accountable to god, according to you. If you believe him to be all-powerful, why not let him do his work when the time comes?

Polygamy is illegal in this country. What business of yours is it if it is practised elsewhere?

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Conservative candidate (and muslim woman) on newsnight atm is great- says cartoons were offensive and placards worse and we must all reclaim the middle ground.

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Drawing the prophet is presumably illegal under sharia law? (forgive my ignorance, as I'm not actually sure) If so, why is it a problem if it happens in countries that don't have sharia law? I think you've just answered your own question.

OK saadia,what business is it of yours if Mohammed is depicted in a secualr country such as France or Turkey??

Gee thanks bloss.

because snowleopard He has told us how to conduct our lives and he has told us that blasphemy is wrong.

In my ideal world, you would be tried and sentenced.

Saadia's true colours showing.
Bleeding hearts,read and learn......

It is my business because it is mine and every Muslim's duty to defend him from attack wherever it may.

saadia. How can you suggest that the deaths of the people killed during the protests are the responsibility of the cartoonists??? Cartoons may be offensive but they are not killers.

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Can it then be my business to rip the headscarves of each and every woman I see precisely because it offends me then??

Saadia, can't you see that the statement "you are not allowed to do things that I find offensive according to my religion" is a non-starter?

If people start thinking like this, then it becomes impossible for all of us humans to live together on one planet. We will all end up killing each other because we are all so offended that other people do things that are rude according to our beliefs.

bloss I cannot answer that because there are laws governing the trial and sentencing of blasphemy cases which I am not knowledgeable about.

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So (I'm really not being flippant) would Muslims prefer that everyone were dead, rather than a world that has non-Muslims in it?

(After all they believe in an afterlife, so is it OK to just cut out the life on Earth part?)

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But Saadia, the trouble is, those are your beliefs.Other people have different beliefs.

The fact that you know you are right cannot take away from other people that they know they are right too! That is a fundamental fact about religion. Every time you are challenged, you flip from being able to step outside yourself and see this, to stepping back inside and saying "because Allah says so" (or similar).

If you want me to respect your religion to the extent of not drawing the prophet (and you know, I would not do such a thing, actually, out of respect for religious feelings, unless, as per my morality, my actions were harming anyone) - then, how do you think I feel when you tell me I ought to live in an Islamic world where I could be tried and punished? That shows me and my beliefs and feelings no respect at all! Wouldn't it be better if we could all be mutually tolerant? Especially since you think Allah is going to get me in the end, so why do you need to usurp him?

You have taken one issue - blaspheming against the Prophet (pbuh) - and used it to damn an entire religion that has brought civilisation and enlightenment where previously there was none. Arabs used to bury their daughters alive before Islam. Spain under Muslim rule was a haven for artists, scientists and philosophers. Islamic societies have encouraged and promoted the pursuit of knowledge in science and mathematics. Look at the whole picture.

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