Talk in your sleep? Could be bad...

[Dargo]

How many "Islamic Laws" are there anyway? It seems every time I read the news I hear about some new Islamic law either requiring somebody to have their head chopped off, hanged, their hand chopped off etc. Now here is an article Islamic Law that requires a couple to separate and divorce because the husband apparently muttered "divorce" three times in his sleep. Didn't Dorothy have to say something three times...?

 

[Junkman]

They make the rules as it appears to be necessary to keep control of the flock. With religion, any religion, there doesn't have to be any form or logical thought. The problem becomes significant when the religion has no tolerance for other religions and says that all the other religions are wrong and the believers must be killed to stop that religion. That is what made this country great from the beginning. Freedom of religion and freedom from religion. Their beliefs are what fuel the fires of religious wars. Seems that they can't even get along between the different sects of their own religion, and they are killing each other in the name of their religion. We should just let them have their civil war and self destruct till the point until both sides realize that attrition will eventually end the war. That is what happened when Iraq went to war with Iran. Got to the point where children were fighting children. We should have continued to arm both sides until they ended each other...

 

[Dargo]

...and says that all the other religions are wrong and the believers must be killed to stop that religion.

Yeah, I sort of have a problem with that one. In general, I'd say that I don't have any issue with any religion, but if the 'other' religion says that they have to kill me if I don't conform to their religion, I'd have to say that it creates an issue for me. I'd prefer to not have to die because of someone else's religious hang ups.

As I mentioned in another thread, I was naive enough to not realize that some countries have a required religion and, if you simply state that you don't believe, you have to die. When reading about such countries, it makes me even more proud of our country and to be privileged enough to live here. You know, that kind of makes me wonder out loud if a lot of this terrorist stuff actually has to do with the terrorists' leaders wanting to kill us because we don't all believe in their religion? My three closest neighbors are all churches and, all have been kind enough to invite me to join but not threatened to blow up my house if I don't.

 

[beds]

As I mentioned in another thread, I was naive enough to not realize that some countries have a required religion and, if you simply state that you don't believe, you have to die.

What are these countries? I gotta know because we're planning our next vacation . I only knew of the law of if you leave Islam, you are supposed to be put to death. There are some pretty whacked Sharia laws: Homosexual acts and adultery are both punishable by stoning to death and it's okay for a man to beat his wife (as long as he warns her about it, then stops sleeping with her).

 

[DaveNay]

With religion, any religion, there doesn't have to be any form or logical thought.

Actually, I would say that by definition religion is the absence of logical thought.

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines "Religion" as:

Main Entry: re·li·gion
Pronunciation: ri-'li-j&n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English religioun, from Latin religion-, religio supernatural constraint, sanction, religious practice, perhaps from religare to restrain, tie back -- more at [SIZE=-1]RELY[/SIZE]
1 a : the state of a religious <a nun in her 20th year of religion> b (1) : the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2) : commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance
2 : a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices
3 archaic : scrupulous conformity : [SIZE=-1]CONSCIENTIOUSNESS[/SIZE]
4 : a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith
- re·li·gion·less adjective

I have yet to find a religion of any kind that is not based on some principle of Faith. Faith can be better defined as belief without evidence, and is therefore not very logical.

 

[California]

Yeah, I sort of have a problem with that one. In general, I'd say that I don't have any issue with any religion, but if the 'other' religion says that they have to kill me if I don't conform to their religion, I'd have to say that it creates an issue for me. I'd prefer to not have to die because of someone else's religious hang ups.

As I mentioned in another thread, I was naive enough to not realize that some countries have a required religion and, if you simply state that you don't believe, you have to die. When reading about such countries, it makes me even more proud of our country and to be privileged enough to live here.

America is moving in that direction also.

I just discarded a chain email from MIL's brother that said a poll proved 85% of Americans supported the 'under God' that the Founding Fathers included in the Pledge of Allegiance. (Actually it was added during the McCarthy era, 1954, and I think the pledge was written late 19th century.) And prove your patriotism by forwarding this email to six friends immediately because America's values are under attack.

But the next paragraph was chilling: the remaining 15% were defined as heretics not deserving American citizenship. And 'They will just have to look out for themselves'. Direct quote. Talk about driving a wedge between Them and Us!

For generations my family has been members of a church whose creed states each individual may perceive God in his own way, or even question the existence of God, and still remain a member of the church. This sect was central to the freedom of religion that motivated America's earliest arrivals, actually many Founding Fathers were members, and today its churches are some of the oldest and best-established in New England.

I remember gagging on that new mandatory addition to the Pledge when I was a litle kid in school and this email reminded me of that experience.

'They will just have to look out for themselves'. No longer full citizens?

 

[Junkman]

(Actually it was added during the McCarthy era, 1954, and I think the pledge was written late 19th century.)

In 1954, Congress after a campaign by the Knights of Columbus, added the words, 'under God,' to the Pledge. The Pledge was now both a patriotic oath and a public prayer.

Read a short history of the Pledge here.........

Here are two of the most interesting thoughts about the pledge......

If the Pledge's historical pattern repeats, its words will be modified during this decade. Below are two possible changes.

Some prolife advocates recite the following slightly revised Pledge: 'I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all, born and unborn.'

A few liberals recite a slightly revised version of Bellamy's original Pledge: 'I pledge allegiance to my Flag, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with equality, liberty and justice for all.'

Just goes to prove that nothing today is sacred and without some trying to change it to fit their needs and wants.......

 

[jdwilson44]

America is moving in that direction also.

I just discarded a chain email from MIL's brother that said a poll proved 85% of Americans supported the 'under God' that the Founding Fathers included in the Pledge of Allegiance. (Actually it was added during the McCarthy era, 1954, and I think the pledge was written late 19th century.) And prove your patriotism by forwarding this email to six friends immediately because America's values are under attack.

But the next paragraph was chilling: the remaining 15% were defined as heretics not deserving American citizenship. And 'They will just have to look out for themselves'. Direct quote. Talk about driving a wedge between Them and Us!

For generations my family has been members of a church whose creed states each individual may perceive God in his own way, or even question the existence of God, and still remain a member of the church. This sect was central to the freedom of religion that motivated America's earliest arrivals, actually many Founding Fathers were members, and today its churches are some of the oldest and best-established in New England.

I remember gagging on that new mandatory addition to the Pledge when I was a litle kid in school and this email reminded me of that experience.

'They will just have to look out for themselves'. No longer full citizens?

Sounds like you are describing Unitarianism California. My family has also lived in New England for a long time (going back before the Revolution) - I don't know the entire history but when we did visit a church it was Unitarian. When I hear people talk about how much of a role religion played in the founding of this country I like to remind them of the things you just mentioned and then tell them to go see which church sits on the common in many New England towns and which one is the oldest. I read somewhere that the only time that God was mentioned in the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution was a reference to "Nature's God" ( I honestly can't prove this - it has been a long time since I have read thru either document completely) - but if that is true it gives you a good idea of the mindset of the founding fathers.

 

[jdwilson44]

'They will just have to look out for themselves'. No longer full citizens?

Oh yeah - your last sentence points out why I am taking my NRA classes and fully support the second amendment - the right to bear arms.