Questions

Submitted by Mark D. (United States), Nov 18, 2010 at 22:53

Hi –

I would really appreciate it if Dr. Pipes or any of you could answer my questions:

1) Sharia – does the Roman Catholic Church or Protestants or Judaism have something equivalent to this?

2) Seems to me that, like everybody has noted pointedly, Islam is more than a religion. It wants to be the law, the financial practices (Yes there is such a thing as Islamic Law of Finance), the way to govern societies. It seems it has an overarching goal. Can we say the same thing with other religions, that they also want to be the law, etcetera?

3) Why are most terrorists Muslims?

4) Why are we, the government, characteristically concerned about Islam. We don't have the same issue with Christians, do we, and why? Or should I say we are characteristically concerned about Islamism, not Islam, and we don't have the same level of concern with Christianism?

5) Shaira is part of radical Islam or simply Islam? Because I do know distinctions, listening closely to Dr. Pipe's, are being made?

6) Who wants Sharia implemented in government, etcetera, Islamism only or moderate Muslims as well?

7) Where is the Christian or Judaism equivalent of Islamic Law Of Finance?

8) Would you say Catholism, Judaism, or Protestants do not get in the way of the law or government? If it does, why is Islam markedly less cooperative in separation of church and state than the other religions?

9) Should we really give equal treatment to all religions? It seems to me that is stark simplicity. We do make exceptions in all walks of life. There is for example, a concept of outliers in finance or statistical studies in many disciplines in which something is in the extreme and as such there is compelling reason it must be treated differently, not be blithely looked.

10) Why can't the Palestinians just relax and stop terrorist practices on Israel – Hamas, etc. I don't see Israel terrorizing them, unless one counts a military response to the other side's terrorism, terrorism itself.

11) Why are we, the USA, so concerned about human rights in China and other countries for example (which of course is valid) and I don't see any complaints on say a premier example Saudi Arabia human rights practices such as treatment of women?

12) How does Islamism differ from Moderate Islam exactly – a critical theme in the articles?

13) It has been said that Shaira is a problem, wholly unacceptable, in fact, the enemy. Do moderate Muslims fervently believe or ardent proponents of that or it's only the Islamists (radical Islam as I understand it)

Thanks!

- Mark D.

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