http://breakingnews.nypost.com/dynamic/stories/S/SUDAN_BRITISH_TEACHER?SITE=NYNYP&SECTION=HOME
So, I wonder how many people would be jailed for fifteen days for naming a teddy bear John the Baptist, or Isaiah? And who would be calling for their execution?
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Actually, to be honest, I think this was pretty well-handled. Granted, the teacher was completely well-intentioned, and probably is only being used as an example; however, examples are important. The fact is, the government of Sudan has sent a message that they have no tolerance for anything that could even approach blaspheming their prophet, while still not giving the teacher a very harsh sentence. I think this nonviolent yet hard-line approach is rather admirable.
But my point was not so much how the Sudanese government handled the situation, as how the situation itself is yet another indicator of the bigotry and belligerence of Islam.
I think I disagree; at least, I disagree that this is an indicator of bigotry and belligerence in Islam. This seems to me like a just law given the context.
Unity of Church and State is a central tenet of Islam. (I've seen good and intelligent people argue both ways on this one for Christianity, and I still haven't made up my mind.) Islam also believes in punishing offenses whether they directly and physically harm other people or not: this is something that we have in the United States: prostitution, for example, is outlawed in almost every state, which I think is a very good thing.
Another thing to note is that Islam holds Mohammed in much higher esteem than Christians do their prophets. While I do think their definition of blasphemy is overkill, I think that that's their own affair. It's what their religion dictates, and while Westerners are in their country, unless they're trying to convert Muslims, they need to follow their laws.
So again, if you understand the unity of Church and State Islam has, and the temporal punishment of religious crimes that goes with that (which, again, are both issues debated even in Christian circles), there is nothing bigoted or belligerent about this law.
Cosmo, I still don't think you're getting what Connor is trying to say. He's (I think) trying to expose what is wrong with Islam, as it compares to the Truth, and giving this incident as an example of that.
Islam is (supposedly) a "religion of peace," (though many of its adherents disagree with this), and the reaction of the angry mobs to this woman shows that this just isn't true. This, again, is what I think Connor was attempting to point out. Here again, is the relevant quote:
"Concern for the teacher's safety grew Friday after thousands of Sudanese, many armed with clubs and swords and beating drums, burned pictures of her and demanded her execution at a rally in Khartoum."
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