observable behavior traits

Submitted by trans-parere (Canada), Apr 22, 2008 at 22:39

Dear Taj.

"I also disagree here...Islam is a religion that stands on its own merits. Whether an individual follows it or not is subjective. Whether you or I percieve that people follow it - or attempt to quantify adherence is also a subjective matter and one we can hardly be qualified to ascertain"

Wouldn't one be able to offer a subjective opinion based on observable behavior and some knowledge [however limited] of the subjects motivation. If some one says "I have organised an army of Moslem's and have taken it as a right to kill innocent civilians in the name of advancing religious supremacy."

Can not one then say, "These people are religious terrorist and bad people". If some one says, "Moslem's must have separate and exclusive swim hours in publicly [taxed] funded pools, that work places must offer time out of work for Muslim prayer with out loss of pay and also provide the prayer room itself, that Moslem's shouldn't have to carry passengers in public vehicles if they carry alcohol or pork products or women uncovered and unaccompanied by a male relative, that everyone should show reverence for Islam while calling Jesus "the slave of Muhammad" and referring to non-Moslem's as pigs and monkeys, that Moslem's should be governed by Sharia law and not answerable to the Civil and Criminal Courts of the land and be exempt from other institutions that are not based on Sharia, that etc., etc...

Can not one suggest that under these conditions of flexing and imposing a religious domination in a free society that Islam and Moslem's need to initiate at least some level of dialogue on the expression of Islam in a free society and not expect that such behavior will not attract any attention. And then blame the people for noticing the blatant manipulation of the laws and especially the spirit of a free society? Can not one make a subjective opinion based on such events?

We certainly do with other religions that exceed the law and spirit of our society. Please note the recent raid on the Mormon Polygamist in Texas, U.S.A. Not only was their behavior debatable many believers of that faith question that groups interpretation of the spiritual direction of Mormonism.

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