Should Islam be protected by Freedom of Religion?

You must live under a rock if you believe Islam isn't actively attacked in this country. Look at the front page of OT. Turn on the news. Tune into a talk radio station. Listen to the rhetoric by many GOP members. Take a gander at the various religion based youtube section. Finally, look at how often Mosques and Muslims have been targeted in this country.SquatsAreAwesom

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]

[QUOTE="SquatsAreAwesom"] Your post.:|

[QUOTE="SquatsAreAwesom"]

Unfortunately Islam is attacked 24/7 in our country,SquatsAreAwesom

[QUOTE="SquatsAreAwesom"]You must live under a rock if you believe Islam isn't actively attacked in this country. Look at the front page of OT. Turn on the news. Tune into a talk radio station. Listen to the rhetoric by many GOP members. Take a gander at the various religion based youtube section. Finally, look at how often Mosques and Muslims have been targeted in this country.LJS9502_basic

[QUOTE="SquatsAreAwesom"\Please continue to post. I am genuinely intrigued by your religion the more I learn about it.

I had once thought it to be barbaric until I came across this VH1 video on Cat Stevens (now known as Yusuf Islam)... his story touched me so much that it shook my predispositions, and I have since been trying to learn more.

Unfortunately Islam is attacked 24/7 in our country, so it's very very very very difficult to make a clear picture about it without actively going out of your way. The good thing is that youtube is filled with American-Muslim converts who make videos that are very easy to digest since they kind of translate in a very relateable way. Plus there are also American Muslim who've grown up here who do an excellent job as well.

Anyways, please continue posting. This was the most informative post i've read in OT ... ever.

Salaam :)

I should mention i am most definitely not an Imam. (a video-gaming Imam.. that'd be too cool to be true...)

however i did achieve special marks and plaques for Islamic studies when i was in elementary and middle school in Saudi.

I should also mention i was educated in Al-Khobar (probably the second most liberal city in the Saudi kingdom), and i did go through a deprogramming stage while being in America.

it did not shatter my faith but forced myself to re-evaluate how i saw people, saw some quotes from the Quran, and how i now think how governments ought to operate (I personally dream of Saudi being a constitutional monarchy system but one can dream...).

I am not by any means a scholar like any other Imam. i just remember certain quotes from the Quran that really has struck a chord with me since i was little. my personal favorite is this...

"God does not change what is in a people unless they themselves decide to change. God is Hearer, Omniscient." (Quran 8:53)

I must "Live under a Rock" too. Because I don't see Muslims being "Attacked" at all. Just last year they held "Muslim Family Day" at all Six Flags amusement parks for starters. Snipes_2

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[QUOTE="SquatsAreAwesom"]You must live under a rock if you believe Islam isn't actively attacked in this country. Look at the front page of OT. Turn on the news. Tune into a talk radio station. Listen to the rhetoric by many GOP members. Take a gander at the various religion based youtube section. Finally, look at how often Mosques and Muslims have been targeted in this country.SquatsAreAwesom

[QUOTE="Snipes_2"]I must "Live under a Rock" too. Because I don't see Muslims being "Attacked" at all. Just last year they held "Muslim Family Day" at all Six Flags amusement parks for starters. SquatsAreAwesom

This shouldn't be a question. Freedom of religion is one of the most fundamental ideals in this nation. Saying otherwise would be ridiculous and, in my opinion of course, those who believe otherwise do not deserve the right to vote or help in any way to decide the nation's laws.

[QUOTE="Snipes_2"]I must "Live under a Rock" too. Because I don't see Muslims being "Attacked" at all. Just last year they held "Muslim Family Day" at all Six Flags amusement parks for starters. SquatsAreAwesom

[QUOTE="SquatsAreAwesom"]

[QUOTE="Snipes_2"]I must "Live under a Rock" too. Because I don't see Muslims being "Attacked" at all. Just last year they held "Muslim Family Day" at all Six Flags amusement parks for starters. Snipes_2

[QUOTE="Snipes_2"][QUOTE="SquatsAreAwesom"] Of which there was quite an uproar.

SquatsAreAwesom

[QUOTE="Snipes_2"][QUOTE="SquatsAreAwesom"] Of which there was quite an uproar.

SquatsAreAwesom

[QUOTE="SquatsAreAwesom"]

[QUOTE="Snipes_2"]There's an uproar that I live under a rock? :o

I haven't heard any uproars about "Muslim Family Day". Snipes_2

[QUOTE="Pixel-Pirate"]

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]So you assume everyone that replies negatively is from the US? Because I saw several from the UK.:|

LJS9502_basic

As I don't see a way that reveals who voted for what, I must assume the majority of No voters are American. I had directed it toward Americans. Maybe I wasn't clear enough.

I'd say 70+% who replied negatively were from the US.

As much as an assumption as assuming the majority were brits, as implied.

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"][QUOTE="Pixel-Pirate"]

As I don't see a way that reveals who voted for what, I must assume the majority of No voters are American. I had directed it toward Americans. Maybe I wasn't clear enough.

I'd say 70+% who replied negatively were from the US.

Pixel-Pirate

As much as an assumption as assuming the majority were brits, as implied.

[QUOTE="SaudiFury"]

LJS9502_basic

Of course it should! :|

Just because some nutballs do a bad job of giving the religion a bad name. Do you think it's logical to take away someone's freedom because some group gives their beliefs a bad name?

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]

[QUOTE="SaudiFury"]

SaudiFury

[QUOTE="SquatsAreAwesom"]

[QUOTE="Snipes_2"]I must "Live under a Rock" too. Because I don't see Muslims being "Attacked" at all. Just last year they held "Muslim Family Day" at all Six Flags amusement parks for starters. Snipes_2

[QUOTE="SaudiFury"][QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]I'm not going to say you are wrong....but the text shouldn't need extraneous information to get the meaning. Because then it IS open to interpretation. I'm only going by the three verses you quoted. Longer text more informative?

LJS9502_basic

It is. like i said. it's in the Surah. and any Imam worth his salt explains this story during a friday sermon.

It is. like i said. it's in the Surah. and any Imam worth his salt explains this story during a friday sermon.

SaudiFury

Well, several threads and posts have made me curious enough to ask this question out right. Do you believe Islam should be equal with all other religions in the US, and share the same freedoms other religions have? Or should Islam be restrained somewhat in comparison to other major religions in the US?

Pixel-Pirate

I am sorry Pixel but why are you of all people asking this question?

anyway, of course it should be protected...it is a religion like all others, as harmless/harmful as any other in history.

However, with this protection comes the sacrifice of it's "holier than thou" history: I feel if it is protected by freedom of religion, I also feel it needs to accept ridicule and criticisms like any other religion does.

The US is a country of gains and sacrifices, often resulting in borderline bipolar views and situations lol. So yes, your religion might be protected from legal persecution, but the tradeoff is that socially we can condemn it all we want. This is how it is with many things in the US I feel.

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[QUOTE="SquatsAreAwesom"]

Consider, how in the world did you hear about the "Muslim Family Day" in the first place?SquatsAreAwesom

You dont think Six Flags Advertised or anything?

While Islam should be protected under Freedom of Religion, the burden of change should fall on muslim immigrants, not on America. We shouldn't have to change our country to suit the need of a certain religion.

Of course it should... I hope that the 34 people voting no are joking...chessmaster1989

my finger slipped :oops:

still getting used to my new Razer mouse...sooooo sensitive

as long as the events in Dearborn, MI doesn't continue to happen, then sure why not. Silenthps