Is Religion a stumbling block to the freedom of Expression?

[sambasivam2000]

if THIS BE HIS POSITION THE KIND OF SPEACH HE HAS MADE ABOUT BUSH HAS NO PROOF AND HE HAS BEEN VARY CLANDISTIC IN HIS REMARKS. I AM NOT SURE IF DR IS REALLY CONFUSED AND HIS LOGIC OF PROOF WILL BE THAT WHICH IS THERE IN ISLAM I THINK HE IS NOT GETTING HIS BARING CORRECT

[madina55]

Subhanallah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Islam is in such a BEAUTIFUL balance!!!!!! I love Islam!!! Allah Akbar! May Allah guide this ummah!

[USfan101]

How is this a balance? Dr. Naik seems to believe he is absolutely correct and that anyone who says anything that goes against his interpretation of Islam is spreading falsehoods and is harming others. Absolute religious certainty has fueled many brutal conflicts throughout history, so let's not continue down this path. Everyone should be able to fully express their religious beliefs (should be allowed to build temples, try to convert others, etc.). It is a fundamental human freedom.

[RachZi]

The two bloodiest wars, which claimed more lives than all previous wars in history, livestock, and saw the complete destruction of whole cities , had nothing to do with religion...

I believe that it's ingenuous to lay blame on religion in this regard.

Moreover, under the Islamic caliphates, there was, as in Islamic law, acceptance of non-Muslims. For example, there are 10 million Arab Christians coexisting in the East today, as such they are living proof of tolerance.

[USfan101]

I said religious certainty. Believing you are absolutely right as Dr. Naik seems to advocate is not the proper position. Tolerance isn't acceptance or equality before the law. Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran clearly give more rights to Muslims than non-muslims, which just isn't right. Christians, Buddhists, Bahai, atheists, etc. deserve to have the same rights as muslims in Islamic countries.

[RachZi]

Saudi Arabia, the Gulf States... Actually, there is NO country that properly incorporates Islamic law.

The idea that a family can rule a land (Saudis) is completely contradictory to Islamic law.

Iran carries rights for Jews which are enshrined in their constitution. A Jew in Iran has nothing to fear, if the Iranians so wished, they could have crushed that community.

[USfan101]

All religious minorities should have equal rights. Also, the Jewish population in Iran has declined substantially (from like 150,000 to 25,000) since 1948. High offices are reserved only for muslims in Iran. Here's a useful link about religious minorities in Iran: fidh(dot)org/IMG/pdf/ir0108a(d­ot)pdf

[RachZi]

Iran is no angel state, and I believe they have a lot to realize too.

Discrimination will always be in the world, regardless of a constitution. What I see with some Western "democracies" is that they present an illusion of freedom where in reality, it may be supressed.

For example, the Frech government. It endorses freedom of religious practice, then sought to ban the headscarf. What sense is this? That is a direct violation to one's freedom, yet the West says nothing.

[USfan101]

If a women wants to wear a headscarf then she should be allowed to, but this is relatively minor compared to SA's and the IRI's treatment of religious minorities. Yes, although I do believe constitutions should affirm fundamental human rights, which the IRI and SA constitution don't do imo. All nations should sign the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and strive to act according to its principles.

[bobnos]

"tolerance is not acceptance or equality"

agreed. but if you believe something is the truth.. why except what they believe is a lie. therefore they just have tolerance for it.

in us there is a devious of church and state. which i am glad as i dont grasp concept of god and need no religious influence of that of ANY kind. but i understand what arabs are doing. there aint a division of church and state thats why it aint "accepted" but tolerated for the 10 million odd arab christians to be there

[USfan101]

I understand this, but we must speak out when minorities are being restricted and/or oppressed. The rights of minorities are just as important as the rights of the majority.

[bobnos]

i guess i can agree on that.. come to america! lool. ant say nothing in a country run buy its church..

should go to a "dont give a damn about religion" country lool.. dont make a diff over here. ill be going back to US soon. god bless us.

[peredebeeste]

i have actually seen a documentury about how tolerant muslims are to those christians! if treating people like dirt abusing and torturing them,taking away all their rights,then indeed they are very tolerant! all religions are equal in their stupidity!(and i don't understand a word of what this guy is saying)