Is it a Religion?

[SheetWise]

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Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;

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I don't read into this that governments (as opposed to Congress) can't interfere with religion. If that were true, any criminal could simply arrange their affairs as a church. Is Islam a religion or a political belief? And why do we tolerate a religious belief that we would not tolerate if it was a political belief? I think we are a little too sensitive about interfering in peoples religion.

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exactly what political beliefs are we not tolerating and what exactly would you do about them?

[SheetWise]

There are both politcal and religious beliefs we don't tolerate. For example, it is a crime to threaten or incite violence against many public officials -- which comes pretty close to a thought crime. We don't allow polygamy or marriage to children -- no matter what position your religion takes.

I find it interesting that we tolerate mosques where muslims publicly advocate death to infidels. I'm trying not to paint with a broad brush -- and I don't have a solution. I'm wondering where religion ends and politics begins. Should it be legal to support and promote a religion that calls for the death of others? Are we being a little too tolerant?

[[censored]]

my question was POLITICAL beliefs we are not tolerating? You answered with religious beliefs which actually disprove your case not help it.

Also where are these mosques you speak of?

No I don't think we are being too tolerant.

[SheetWise]

I don't think calling for the death of political leaders or waring with their armies are religious beliefs. I am not making a 'case' -- I am coming to a personal conclusion that Islam is not a religion, it is a political force -- and doesn't deserve a lot of the protections we give to religions.

Here's the best source I've found that monitors Islamic teachings --

http://www.jihadwatch.org/
http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/

[lastchance]

We give the same protections to followers of Radical Islam as we do to the Neo-Nazi's, as scary as both of them are.

Everyone has freedom to speech.

[[censored]]

[ QUOTE ]
I don't think calling for the death of political leaders or waring with their armies are religious beliefs. I am not making a 'case' -- I am coming to a personal conclusion that Islam is not a religion, it is a political force -- and doesn't deserve a lot of the protections we give to religions.

Here's the best source I've found that monitors Islamic teachings --

http://www.jihadwatch.org/
http://www.jihadwatch.org/dhimmiwatch/

[/ QUOTE ]

From those links it again doesn't look like you have any examples of this happening in the US. If I am wrong point it out.

So again what you are saying doesn't bear out in reality. We have declared war on terrorist what more are you looking for?

I have absolutely no clue what you mean by protections.

[coffeecrazy1]

Okay...is Christianity a religion or a political belief?

There are thousands of faithful Muslims who are peaceful, full-blooded, patriotic Americans. They serve in our military, they vote, and do everything that other Americans do. They were killed in the WTC collapses. They have been killed fighting on our side in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Many people vote the way they worship. So...either all religions are political beliefs, or none are. The strains of Islam that are fighting against us are more like the KKK for Christianity than anything else.

A blanket statement like "Is Islam a religion?" is a rash overgeneralization, but I do see the point you were trying to make...I just don't think it works that way.

And, I'm disappointed. I thought this was going to be about Scientology. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[[censored]]

[ QUOTE ]
And why do we tolerate a religious belief that we would not tolerate if it was a political belief?

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You have yet to provide an example where this was the case.

To do this you need to provide a religious belief that was tolerated and a similar polictical belief that was not.

I seriously doubt you can do that.

[SheetWise]

[ QUOTE ]
To do this you need to provide a religious belief that was tolerated and a similar polictical belief that was not.

I seriously doubt you can do that.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'll try.

If a priest hears a confession, and refuses to testify in court claiming it is a priviledged communication -- it will probably be tolerated. It is a religious belief.

If a reporter refuses to testify, based on their political belief of protection -- it will usually not be tolerated. They will be held in contempt.

We do give special consideration to religious beliefs. I am begining to believe that we shouldn't when the religion has purely political aims.