Sharia Law

[oldspice]

I am amazed no one has started a thread about the storm the poor old Archbishop has whipped up.

 

I was practically hounded off another forum for trying to explain that he did not want to replace British law with Muslim law - just provide the opportunity for Muslims to consult a religious council on civil matters such as propery disputes and financial disagreements.  (Jews in this country already have this option).

 

A lot of the contributors on the other forum seemed to want to be an injured party and would not accept that he doesn't want  to introduce stonings or hand amputations. 

 

Does anyone here think he should have keep quiet or has he made a fair point?

[MayRae]

I think he makes a fair point.

I truly think that no-one understands the rules of life for any group of people as well as the people involved.

And if something like a High Council of Elders or something like that could fix such 'in house' disputes and civil matters surely that could take some of the pressure off our already overloaded judicial system?

I also cannot believe that the human rights movement would sit still for the addition of stoning or amputation to the Laws in Britain so we are fairly safe in that respect I think.

I think he should be given credit for trying to do his job to the best of his ability by even including in his thoughts and prayers those who would never under ordinary circumstances look to an Archbishop for support, comfort or guidance.

I am not religious, but I admire this man, and I think his thoughtfulness and dedication to his job and the residents of his parish deserve a better response than this.

You can thank Bush and Blair for having won our hearts and minds.

 

What reaction would  an Imam have recieved saying the opposite in a Muslim country?

Not saying he did anything wrong. Just think the masses are mindless morons who will find something to "jump on".

Religion doesn't help. It is by its very nature devisive. (You are one of us or you are not).

[MayRae]

Ahh Religion.

One of the many personal choices we make in order to make it easier for total strangers to judge us.

[smurfboy]

I think he should have kept quiet. I feel any concessions to Sharia law in the UK would be wide open to abuse by extremists - and as much as the majority of Muslims simply want to practice their religion in peace, let's not pretend these extremists don't exist.

The Church of England is meaningless to me; therefore the views of a cleric are pretty meaningless to me too. However, to a hell of a lot of people he is a powerful man and his views will be highly influential. It worries me that he is using that power in this way.

I will comment when I have read his speech in full.

Huh! Some journalist you will make.

Well, to say that was hard going is an understatement.  I doubt that many tabloid journalsits and their mono-syllabic readers would understand much of it.  Frankly I can't make out what the fuss is about.  The essay is measured and thoughtful.  Nowhere, as was reported, does he state that adoption of some form of Sharia law in the UK is inevitable.  He 'merely' questions the role and relevance of law for the whole community and that it should take account of other belief systems and not just the majority one, even though our judicial system is a secular one.

 

He puts Islam and Sharia law into perspective, making the point that there is no definitive Sharia law but an interpretation of what is disclosed in the Q'aran.  He also makes the point that forced marriages and other sources of popular misgivings are more bound more by cultural beliefs than religious ones.

 

I would say that the anti-Islamic lobby have taken the opportunity to misinform the public or at least the gutter press have willfully misinterpreted it.

 

 

[goldencup]

Sounds about right to me.