I think we need to raise money and build an American Cultural Center in Kabul. Maybe even build a community center honoring American military might, especially air power, in Hiroshima. Maybe even build a School of Cosmetics in Tehran... Oooops. lol
"It also would not be a violation of church-state separation to have a subsidiary entity within the judiciary that employs religious jurists from diverse religious backgrounds to comment on the compliance of certain decisions with their religious views and to provide guidance to their religious communities on how kosher or Shariah compliant these decisions are. ' - Feisal Abdul Rauf
Isn't this the idea of establishing Sharia courts in free countries such as the United States? While I believe that he's sincere about what he believes... I don't think most Americans have a full understanding of his theopolitical leanings.
I don't think he realizes how irrational his ideas are to the American mind. However, similar courts have been instituted in Europe to accomodate Sharia law among Muslim citizens.
I just had a friend ask me if we should build a monument to our military fighter bombers in Hiroshima. I think the point he was trying to make is that this is in very bad taste and will only polarize America, not to mention perhaps even inc...rease outrage against peace loving Muslims throughout the country. It's really a very bad idea. If I were a religious leader seeking peace and healing... I'd certainly not want to take actions that would incite the fear and hatred this has the potential to incite. Not to mention this area isn't a residential area, it's a business district. There isn't a large Muslim community living there. Wouldn't it make sense to relocate to an area where it could serve the Islamic community? Questions like these is what is causing so many to feel like this is a cultural slap in America's face. Why must he push for a location so close to Ground Zero? Why doesn’t he build the mosque in a poor residential area where more Muslim youth and families can enjoy the community center? To me it makes very little sense. What will be the outcome? Peace? Unity? Deepening love and understanding for Islam and Islamic Americans? Or will this incite protests, riots, and perhaps (God forbid) even violence towards Muslims? This could serve to cause the very division and hatred the Imam claims he wants to heal. I don't know. I'm just a concerned American. I don't want any of my Muslim neighbors to face hatred or violence because of this Imam's actions in NYC. It just looks like a bad deal from every way I look at it. But that's just my opinion.
"It also would not be a violation of church-state separation to have a subsidiary entity within the judiciary that employs religious jurists from diverse religious backgrounds to comment on the compliance of certain decisions with their religious views and to provide guidance to their religious communities on how kosher or Shariah compliant these decisions are. ' - Feisal Abdul Rauf
Isn't this the idea of establishing Sharia courts in free countries such as the United States? While I believe that he's sincere about what he believes... I don't think most Americans have a full understanding of his theopolitical leanings.
I don't think he realizes how irrational his ideas are to the American mind. However, similar courts have been instituted in Europe to accomodate Sharia law among Muslim citizens.
Well, yes, if you take that phrase out of context with the rest of the chapter, it does look bad.
However, when taken IN context with the rest of the chapter in that book, you see what the actual message is. He states that separation of church and state is not violated if we establish separate Muslim, Jewish, or Christian personal status courts to render verdicts in, say, family law issues, and have those decisions ratified by secular state courts.
He is making the case that we can allow certain religious groups to judge certain legal cases according to what religion they want to be judged by. In fact, he lists the above three religions when giving examples.
I know, I know, it sounds worse when you just use that one statement than actually using the entire argument.
I guess that is the advantage of taking things out of context.
"Polling done by Family Security Group back in 2008 indicated that only 3% of Americans were even aware of the term Shariah-and an even smaller percentage actually knew what it was."
"So we will begin with a basic description of Shariah."
"Shariah, often referred to as "Islamic Law," is in actuality a legal doctrine based on the Quran and Hadiths (sayings and acts of Mohammed), but one which goes far beyond what Westerners would regard as religious matters or routine legal matters."
"Shariah covers all aspects of life, including criminal law, domestic law, statecraft and warfare (Jihad). Shariah encompasses personal ethics and legal issues, religion and state governance, this world and the afterlife. Shariah is said to enforce the will of Allah, as opposed to the will of humans. Shariah regulates belief, speech and religious practice, criminal and legal matters, and other fields including finance and war. There is no such thing as a separate secular authority or secular law under doctrinal Shariah, since religion and state are not distinct, but are one."