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?

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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.

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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/

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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.

[SheetWise]

I hardly know where to begin--
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I have absolutely no clue what you mean by protections.

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We assume that places of worship are cornerstones of our society, and we give them a lot of protected status. There are many businesses that cannot be licensed in the vicinity of a church. We don't tax them. We recognize a higher degree of confidentiality between a religious leader and followers. We recognize churches as a sanctuary and have different standards before we interfere in their activities.

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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.

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That was easy -- you didn't even have to look below the fold --

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/007162.php#comments

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We have declared war on terrorist what more are you looking for?

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Maybe fighting the war we have declared, and winning it.

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Timimi was found guilty of "soliciting" and "inducing" American Muslims to go to war against the US, to use firearms and carry explosives, among a total of 10 charges.

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do you mean that one? thats what was one the link

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Maybe fighting the war we have declared, and winning it.

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What causes you to believe that we the US is not?