Would we get along a lot better with Islam.......

[R1Geezer]

If they could take a joke?
http://tinyurl.com/y872ebf

[Seadragon]

No I don't really think so. I don't think most religions consider mockery of their religion a joke - there was Jerry Springer's play as well that didn't go down well with some. I watched it on tele and did think it was in bad taste. The joke about Mohammed with a bullet shaped turban or something I think is bordering on offensive, it's a political joke.

[R1Geezer]

they made a whole film mocking christianity and not much happenned.

[Mr Veritas]

No Religion can take any kind of joke,that's the problem with them.
Islam is not alone in this.

[Seadragon]

But with the growing tensions towards Islam I don't think political jokes like with the one referred to in the article is a good idea? I do condemn the reaction to it though. There's no need to resort to violence and thus fuel more tension?

[rov1200]

You have to feel sorry for the cartoonist involved. His life just like Simon Rushtie is continually under threat. If Muslims are so hurt by the depiction of one person's view they should challenge it and show what a stupid thing it is.
The trouble is the cartoon has some ring of truth. Instead of putting a bomb inside a turban they actually put them in their underpants. What's the difference?

[Seadragon]

The difference is that not all Islamists are terrorists, (if I spelt that correctly?) only the fundamentalists. So why should the cartoonist use the image of Mohammed or holy leader? unless he is targeting the whole of Islam. Besides I think this particular article here is inciting racial hatred disguished under the cloak of humour. Still condemn the reaction though as you say the opposition should have challenged this verbally through the media. And I would say this in respect of all religions.

[LazyGun]

It is interesting to note that as of the first of January 2010, Ireland have introduced a blasphemy law, to protect religious ideas and offer redress to those faithful offended - and of course, the predominant religion in Ireland is Christianity.
All religions automatically favour blasphemy laws, to protect their bronze age ideas from modern day thinking. Censorship in this manner, in this day and age, should never be an option, and all religions should grow a pair. After all , by the faithfuls own lights, their own God is omnipotent, so why should they take offence at what someone says, or draws?

[MarkRae]

One of the biggest problems facing Islam at the moment is one of perception. It's true that most Western people don't think that all Muslims are terrorists - the problem is that, for the moment anyway, most people in the West think that all terrorists are Muslims...

[brionon]

Where are the Muslims with banners saying Not in my Name ? Er--just one or two willl do .

[Sqad]

Mark:

/////most people in the West think that all terrorists are Muslims...////well they are mostly.......aren't they?

[Teleph0ne]

When have they ever needed an excuse to kill people?

[123everton]

Brionon there were several Muslims who said just that over that teddy bear nonsense in Sudan, in Hitler's Germany it was an offence to joke about the Fuhrer, Stalin and Mao too, try ridiculing Darwin or Dawkins and see the reaction off some others.
Although I tend to think things would be better if a modicom of calm was used, one has to remember many of the Islamic states are brand new and are undergoing the growing pains of all nations as they strive to formulate their identity.
We've had several hundred years to form our western cultures, they've had fifty or so.
As a civilisation, we in the west are quick to forget that seventy years ago we were all at each others throats.

[ORANGEANDPROUD]

Islam does not have a head in the same way that the Roman Catholics have the Pope so comparisons are difficult but with regards to terrorists and their support, how many members of Sinn Fein/IRA have been excommunicated?

[Ankou]

bishop cohalan of cork issued a decree of excommunication against those who perpetrated violence.

"anyone who shall, within the diocese of cork, organise or take part in an ambush or in kidnapping or otherwise, shall be guilty of murder or attempted murder and shall incur by the very fact the censure of excommunication".

and the pope excommunicated the fenians priot to that in 1870 something. similarly this has happened in the whole of ireland in 1922 and america and other such places since. as you wil imagine, this is largley ineffective, so what purpose would it serve now ?