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No Way!!!

Reader comment on item: An International Law to Respect Religion?
in response to reader comment: About secularism in this context

Submitted by Peter Herz (United States), Apr 2, 2008 at 19:44

Actually, I tip my hat to the Saudis for being up front and honest about this issue. Too much of what passes for "respect" is simply the shallow smarm of people who know neither the religion they profess nor the one to which they wish to show "respect".

I accept my religion (the Reformed Christian faith as set forth in such documents as the Westminster Standards and Three Forms of Unity), and while I am critical of much that goes on in my community, I see no point in adhering if I think my church's doctrinal standards are full of falsehood. Indeed, I would show myself an intellectual coward and a fool to remain if that were the case. But if I believe that Jesus the Messiah is God's last word to humanity, I must necessarily be critical of Rabbinic Judaism, Islam, Unitarianism, Mormonism, and a lot of other religions. I must also criticize faiths which believe in a "search for truth" when my religion clearly states that "The Truth" came seeking me. Now, this criticism requires that I recognize the image of God in the other guy, and does not permit me to throw bricks, spittle, missiles, or other such things in the course of my theological disputations; but it remains criticism nonetheless.

I can live with the Jew who sees me as a deluded follower of a false Messiah and the Roman Catholic who sees me as a heretic, and even the Muslim who believes that Jesus did not die on the cross to pay for my sin. But don't tell me that my criticisms are "hate speech" just for being critical--which is probably what our smarmy political elite, diplomatic community, and legal establishment will do with some sort of international law on "respecting religion".

Submitting....

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Reader comments (37) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
The 'race card' by Arab Muslim bigots at the UN (Durban II) [808 words]AlApr 17, 2009 02:16153994
"July 14, 2008" update is ominous [117 words]jennifer solisAug 24, 2008 13:57137264
Building churches in Saudi Arabia [108 words]joeAug 20, 2008 13:42137071
Israel and the Holocaust [216 words]hyman peskinMay 3, 2008 11:42127565
Looks like the Koran, Bible, Torah can all be banned under this "goofball" legislation [77 words]Jon BrooksApr 5, 2008 11:24124742
"Prophet" Mohammed [61 words]Nafata BamagujeApr 2, 2008 06:55124398
"Deviant creeds" [75 words]Lactantius JrMar 27, 2008 09:41123793
What's good for the goose is good for the gander [130 words]Rachel GarberMar 24, 2008 22:04123553
Respect ! [202 words]dfwhite19438Mar 24, 2008 21:38123551
INTERNATIONAL LAW ON TOLERANCE [129 words]RafiMar 24, 2008 12:20123499
How about an international law obligating religions to respect other religions [97 words]rickMar 24, 2008 09:36123488
Intolerance that masquerades as freedom [240 words]Roy WeinbergMar 23, 2008 11:36123355
Islam means Surrender: Discrimination, Repression, Violence [185 words]Michael AltherrMar 23, 2008 10:22123348
Can we criticise a religion respectfully? [51 words]DavidMar 23, 2008 06:05123334
Will this law include respect for Torah, Judaism, and Jewish people ? [14 words]Batya & Ben AmHaAretzMar 23, 2008 00:40123315
About secularism in this context [205 words]G.VishvasMar 22, 2008 22:29123305
No Way!!! [297 words]Peter HerzApr 2, 2008 19:44123305
STRENGTHEN US WITH YOUR PARTICIPATION [42 words]swabhimaanDec 3, 2008 01:24123305
I want to see some light...but Truth is Truth! [321 words]Norma FaresMar 22, 2008 21:24123297
International law to respect religion.. [176 words]Kim SegarMar 22, 2008 19:39123290
No No No [21 words]MelMMar 22, 2008 18:18123281
Cartoons [127 words]KristaMar 22, 2008 17:27123272
An International Law to Respect Religion? [59 words]Richard FinnMar 22, 2008 17:20123271
Respecting religions [207 words]Janusz KowalikMar 22, 2008 17:17123270
Does this include destroying crosses? Isa has problem... [40 words]KayMar 22, 2008 16:56123267
No, the crosses would be destroyed now [67 words]jennifer solisMar 22, 2008 23:23123267
Oh, the irony! [15 words]Michael JoyceMar 22, 2008 16:45123263
Evaluate "Moderate Muslims" by their actions, not their words [128 words]David CampbellMar 22, 2008 16:09123259
What is needed is religious tolerance... [48 words]M.D'SouzaMar 22, 2008 16:09123258
That should never be imposed on us ! [85 words]OracleMar 23, 2008 02:31123258
Hypocrisy Recognized [114 words]Monte GardnerMar 22, 2008 11:51123246
Hypocrisy squared [63 words]jennifer solisMar 22, 2008 23:40123246
Flexibility [113 words]Monte GardnerApr 6, 2008 17:47123246
impossible task [101 words]Rebecca MouldsMar 22, 2008 11:47123245
Very informative [263 words]Amitabh TripathiMar 22, 2008 11:32123240
Kosher koran [134 words]alan stoddartMar 22, 2008 10:52123238
Thank you Allah and very well said [251 words]dhimmi no moreMar 23, 2008 16:55123238

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