Mosque Opposition

Just like in Europe, there is currently widespread opposition to mosque construction all over the country. There are also some people who criticize this as being unfair to the Muslim religion.

These people say that a church or synagogue expansion might get some opposition because of potential traffic or parking problems, but feel that the opposition to mosques is very different. It infringes upon the basic American concept of freedom of religion.

What I think is missing is context, perspective, and a little bit of reason. Of course a church would not be allowed which openly supports neo-Nazis, Hitler, and advocates the mass killing Jews. If a church wanted to incorporate its beliefs in lynching black people and the inherent inferiority of dark skinned people, society would not stand for it.

We make value judgments all the time. It is expected that any civilized society would do so. If society thinks that the Muslim religion is openly trying to impose sharia law above and controlling secular democratic civil law, then they have every right, even the moral obligation, to oppose the Muslims.

Religious freedom is part of America's heritage. It is what guarantees me the right to not believe in talking snakes or guys surviving while living inside of big fishes. But religious freedom does not allow civil laws to be broken or superseded. It says sexual harassment and female genital mutilation is not permissible in America, regardless of what some so-called religion says.

From my perspective all organized religions seem to be harmful and dangerous, but the Muslim faith is clearly worse than most. I have no problem with Muslim being banned, along with the KKK and the Nazis.



LINK: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/08/us/08mosque.html?ref=us

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