Respect for all creeds, OK?

[solvitquick]

Many of us claim they respect others irrespective of race, colour or creed. Sure I'm happy with race and colour plus other additions e.g. sex. But I can think of so many creeds which vary from the intolerant, through money-making schemes to pure evil. Examples: (a) "christians" who will not tolerate any contradiction to the literal translation of the King James bible - so no teaching of Darwinism, no abortion, no blood-transfusion; (b) sects which have led to mass suicide; {c) Islamic death fatwahs against critics of the Koran and chopping off hands of thieves; (d) Pagans and others who believe(d) in human or animal sacrifice.
This is a simple question because its validity seems questionable to me, wot say you?

[naomi24]

//Respect for all creeds, OK?//

No - not ok - that's wot I say.

[DTCwordfan]

Could we start by putting the question in simple English?

Nothing wrong with chopping a few hands off - you don't see too many wealthy one-handed folk in Saudi Arabia......

I enjoy a bit of a good old-fashioned sacrifice too.

[naomi24]

I know it's barbeque season, but steady on there DT old chap. ;o)

[DTCwordfan]

some excellent sausages here, naomi. Don't know if they are halal or kosher though - and I don't care.......lol

[naomi24]

Haaaaaaa! Neither would I. :o)

[Duncer]

Respect is a two way thing, and that's what a lot of these groups fail to recognise. It is also earned.

[DTCwordfan]

"And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, These are the living things that you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth. Whatever parts the hoof and is cloven-footed and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat. Nevertheless, among those that chew the cud or part the hoof, you shall not eat these: The camel, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. And the rock badger, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. ..."

Leviticus 11:1-47

Well, I guess they were not Badger or Camel so I am pure, though I have eaten camel's paw in China (as did the Emperor apparently, as it was one of the Tian Men Palace restaurants).

[naomi24]

Who needs toothpicks when built in toenails are provided with the meal? Sorry - I'll get my coat. :o)

[DTCwordfan]

that's what the camel said, naomi.

[naomi24]

You like your meat extremely rare then? :o)

[beso]

God loves the smell of burning flesh. He would be a big fan of a barbeque.

[beso]

There is a PC notion that all cultures are equal and we should not criticise their ways. Primal cultures get a special reverence.

When any set of cultural values is put beyond reproach it inevitably becomes an absurd anachronism. Across the planet, sexism seems rampant in any culture that has drawn a line under their philosophical foundations and elected to live by the perceived "eternal truths" of ancient people who had no concept of the world we find ourselves in today.

[keyplus90]

Being a Muslim I will only speak about {C}. There has been so many critics of the Quran over the history and perhaps handful of Fatwas and even those not acted upon. So perhaps you need to understand the real meanings of this Arabic word "FATWA". It means opinion and that's all. For anything there can be thousands if not millions opinions. For the second part of your question, Chopping of hands of thieves. Again I will not say it’s not Islamic as it is very clearly in Quran but unfortunately is only practised in Saudi Arabia. Without going into long debate into the legal and social requirements before acting upon this punishment one just needs to go to Saudi Arabia and see the effects of that law. Once I made an offer to one very regular poster to come with me for one month on my expense (although I am not a rich person) and show me how many people would he find in that country with one hand missing? But due to the deterrence of that law, even Jewellery shops are wide open (with only half shutter down) when people go for prayer and no one steals. Ask this same from a Jewellery shops owner here with time delayed locks and in few countries with gunmen guarding and still they are raided. And then ask all of those people who have been robbed that how they felt afterward.

[Duncer]

Keyplus - why "unfortunately"? Are you suggesting the UK should adpot this barbaric practice?

Furthermore, are you a Saudi national? I understand that non-nationals need a work permit to get a visa for Saudia, as I did, unless they are going on a pilgramage.

[jomifl]

Keyplus, If the koran says you should chop hands off is it not going against the will of god to not do so? If Saudi Arabia that fine example of the one true islam chops of heads and hands with abandon, does that mean that muslims elswhere are not true servants of god or does it mean that Saudi Arabia (most devout muslim state) has a higher level of criminality?

[Khandro]

'Theft for stealing anything over 5 pence resulted in hanging - a terrible price to pay for poor people who were starving. Even such small crimes such as stealing birds eggs could result in the death sentence. Punishment for poaching crimes differed according to when the crime was committed - Poaching at night resulted in the punishment by death, whereas poaching during the day time did not. Begging was a serious crime during the Elizabethan era. The Elizabethan government made begging a crime and therefore illegal and 'poor beggars' As their punishment 'poor beggars' would be beaten until they reached the stones that marked the town parish boundary. The beatings given as punishment were bloody and merciless and those who were caught continually begging could be sent to prison and even hanged as their punishment.' Ahh, Merry England!

[jomifl]

Khandro, that was a while ago in a society dominated by christianity.Most of the world has moved on since then.

[naomi24]

Duncer, Keyplus is Pakistani.

Khandro, Just one snag with your analogy between Islamic barbarism and the merry England of 500 years ago. We’ve recognised the error of our ways and moved on – Islam hasn’t. Actually, when I hear excuses like that, it makes me sick. If these acts were committed by groups other than the religious, the apologists would be incensed – but because it’s religion, which appears in some people’s estimation to be beyond criticism regardless of what it does, they attempt to justify it. I really don’t know what planet the defenders of this ‘faith’ are living on.

[solvitquick]

Oh dear did not mean question to start a specific debate about ONE particular religion. I think anti-islamic arguments are overdone on AB. Sure it's a stupid and cruel religion and this is used to prop up House of Saud and other dictatorships. But I can remember our C of E country jailing a penniless man for stealing a tin of beans (1960's or 70's). Anyway I eat fish fingers! I was interested in drawing attention to this anomaly of respecting all creeds spouted by uthinking PC Do-gooders. Cool it guys and question anyone hallowing this creed word. No religion or related belief is superior to another - they are just opium for the people.

[DTCwordfan]

Then, please take this constructively, solvit, you need to think more carefully about the wording of your question.......