Would you object to an amplified Muslim Call to Prayer?

[tortoiseSHELL]

Story here - would you mind? Do you mind church bells ringing? What are your reasons?

Don't know what I think - would be interested to hear your thoughts!

I understand the sentiment Moondog and can accept someone saying that we shouldn;t have amplified calls to prayer in a christian country, but I inherently dislike the argument that we shouldn't do something because some-one doesn't do something. We should all try to do what we think is right and reasonable (personally and on a larger level); what anyone else does then ceases to be important.

Do we become better people/country for being as unreasonable as everyone else? And yes I do understand also the argument about it making is look weak, I just don't agree that deciding to do what you think is right can ever be weak.

(My New Years resolution was to be hopelessy idealistic)

all of which smallwhitecat said faster and more succinctly...

Hmm,well your wet wristed liberal points of view is what will lead us to hell in a handbasket.

Message withdrawn

I don't think church bells, calls to prayer or radio 4 or anything else should be broadcast publicly at dawn / 5am.

There are noise laws to deal with this, and they shoud apply equally and fairly to every sort of noise generated.

It should have nothing to do with the religion or culture of the group generating the noise, nor what anyone thinks of 'them' - whichever 'them' that might be, and what happens in other countries. imo.

Does everyone have to go to the mosque to say these prayers? Or is it like a quick smoke break?

I suppose I at least admire your dedication. No way would you find me at church 5 times a day. Once a week tops. Even that's not likely.

Yes I would, I don't want bloody amplified anything. Islam is not part of our heritage.
This whole Islam thing is getting out of hand.

Men absolutely have to pray in congregation, women dont have to, but I find women tendot be more dedicated and do so.

If one cannot then you can pray at home, and pray shortened prayers if you miss the actual prayer times.

I'm used to it, what annoys me is when I get up to do the mornign prayers and my girls think yeay morning and join me, and then refuse to go back to bed, no matter how quietly I get up, there will be at least one bright eyed bushy taled child up before me....and it's the most annoying thing in summer....

I do understand where moondog is coming from. There seems to be a general attitude that it's okay for coutries in the middle ease to be muslim and not acknowlegde Christianity. But then when the west puts Christianity forst, that is some how unjust. One rule for the east and another for the west. I think if it's okay to have muslim countries, then it's okay to have christian coutries, and vice versa. There does come a point, where I want to say okay enough is enough.

As an American, I'm actually quite happy with the idea of separation of church and state. But, that is not currently the arrangement in the United Kingdom.

However, I don't mind the call to prayer (within the the usual noise restrictions). If you are not muslim, don't go. What's the big deal? Especially if it can be broadcast discreetly into houses of those who wish to hear it, through a speaker, text message, whatever.

Thanks, Fuzzy, for the explanation. Why do men have to go together and women can do it their home? Is it because men can't be trusted to do what they say they'll do? (just kidding)

I like hearing our church bells. Admittedly they're 2 miles away so not too loud! And we have a good bell ringing team!

I like hearing the call to prayer when I'm in Muslim countries romantic tourist. I dont think it would bother me in London or other city, in fact it would be quite a good clock.

arf at MrsBadger 'dropped saucepans'!

But Eluesis - in the UK we have established (by and large) an approach to law, tolerance etc that WE want. We expect people to obey OUR laws in this country - not the laws of thier own, whether they be more liberal or more restrictive. A wide diversity of religions have freedom to worship in this country (it would be an anathema any other way), Americans are not allowed to caryy guns here - even though they are in thier own country.

And in any case - and perhaps especially - presumably the vast majority of muslims in this country who would listen to a publicly amplified call to prayer are British. Not Saudi.

because women may have to look after small children, altho some do take children, but I will never forget the terror when I had to break my prayer when some woman had left her toddler to it, and the child had managed to climb on to a water cooler taken the top off and appeared to be contemplating diving headfirst into the watercooler.....[shcok] this was in Saudi.
Nursing mothers and pregnant women may not want to go to congregational prayer because it can be pretty long especially Friday prayers and the prayer after sunset.

Picking up on the debate, I rather like the fact that Britain displays religious tolerance, it is always good to lead by example.

I am not keen on over-zealous officials hiding our Christianity so as not to offend others though. That's just daft.

But then, we're not terribly Christian anymore are we? How many MNers had their Christmas decorations up weeks and weeks ago only to take them down well before 12th night because they were fed up with them? That's not celebrating Christmas, that's just celebrating December.

lol @ 'the whole Islam thing getting out of hand'

[shakes head]

I live up the road from a Cathedral so am used to hearing bells, but the thought of another rings 5 a day is a bit dementing tbh, be it from a Mosque, a Cathedral or a blardy ice-cream van !

it would drive me bonkers 5 times a day

'the whole muslim thing is getting out of hand'

Blimey. It's is not like this would be a threat to our constitution for crying out loud.

Blu, I'm happy with the call to prayer. Can't really see that it would bother me. I probably won't go, but it's not going to hurt me any, so go for it.

I was just saying that I can understand where moondog is coming from. But, I am all for freedom of religeon. And if that involves running to the mosque to pray five times a day then great. You won't find me there. But, for goodness sake, there are a lot worse things people could do with their time. (like chatting away on MN )

Going back to the Brick Lane comment, we have travelled all over the world, in alsorts of place and only ever felt uneasy twice, once in Dehli whilst going to a pharmacist in the middle of the night in the pitch dark (fair enough) and also in a particularrly dodgy part of Narobi. Was very shocked last week, to be in Whitechapel walking upto Brick Lane and feel bloody uncomfortable. I was hissed at twice and deliberatly bumped into. Still feeling a little thrown by the experience.
As for call to prayer, whatever, if people want it then all for it.

baddaughterinlaw
am sad to hear that cause i know bricklane well and for years now and that is not my impression at all..normally..

lol at church bells mosque calls and ice cream vans..

i dont know if i would mind
but

what if
the sally army wanted to go banging and clattering down the street all times of the day..

..bells and jingles from the happy clappies chimed in..

..door bells a'ringing from jehovahs lot..

could turn into a right din cacophony of spiritulism..

what about some quiet time for atheists?

Unless the call to prayer is someone standing on my path 5 times a day, with a megaphone, yelling "OI HECATE, get out here and on your knees you heathen", I really could not care less.

There's so much noise coming from my house, that I doubt I'd notice much on the outside anyway.

Other folks can do what they please as long as they respect my right to ignore the lot of it.

And sorry, but I do have to laugh at the idea that Britain is a 'Christian country'. No it's not. How many people in Britain live the Christian life, according to Christian teachings? Very few. I don't know even one person in (my) rl who is a true Christian.

I think when a lot of people say it's a christian country, they actually are confused and think christianity is when you live the lifestyle and have the values associated with the West, and that makes it Christian.

There are christians in Britain, but mainly it's a 'no-faith-at-all' country, imo.