Re: A Muslim Girl converting to Christianity ?
May Allah give her hidayat and that she comes back to her senses.
Have you guys seen her parents' video? They are willing to accept her as she is. They let her pick her friends, be a cheerleader, they knew she was reading bible and going around her school proclaiming hersefl to be a christian, they did not kill her or threaten her, then why would they do it now? Most Muslim parents would not accept this kind of behavior.
Re: A Muslim Girl converting to Christianity ?
the way she is talking in the vdo ... and what she is saying ... doesnt seem like she knows anything about islam whatsoever ... she says shez 16 and shez been going around wearing a christian tag since 3 or 4 years????
what ... was she going around with a choosni in her mouth and declaring christ-hood :S
the story has way too many loopholes for me to trust it completely!
the way she is talking in the vdo ... and what she is saying ... doesnt seem like she knows anything about islam whatsoever ... she says shez 16 and shez been going around wearing a christian tag since 3 or 4 years???? what ... was she going around with a choosni in her mouth and declaring christ-hood :S the story has way too many loopholes for me to trust it completely!
I am soooooooooo happy we agree on this one Farraah
:)
Re: A Muslim Girl converting to Christianity ?
^ lol 
ok … me 2 
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Iran is a bit of an anomaly when it comes to your list. Iran is a bit more tolerant of religious minorities relatively speaking, compared to Pakistan
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Iran outlaws conversion out of Islam. The penalty? Death. Iran has used death squads in the past to hunt down people who changed their religion. On apostasy it is barbaric, although you are correct that in general it is more tolerant of minorities than Pakistan--but that is more a reflection on the poor state of religious minorities in Pakistan than of anything positive on Iran.
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If you have ever talked to a convert almost always the first thing they say is they were not brought up in a religious home that means they were never educated about their religion hence they decided to venture on to find the "true" religion.
[/QUOTE]
That is a myth. I was brought up in a religious (Pakistani Muslim) home, I was taken to the local mosque every week and I am not an adherent to any religion today. The reason is simple: I live in a free country (US), thought for myself and elected to not adhere to a particular religion.
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No offence but do you even know what you are talking about? There are thousands of non Muslims that live in Saudi Arabia who freely practice their religion & have equal job opportunities same as Muslims do.
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Yes I do. First, as in the other nations I mentioned, "apostasy" is illegal and is punishable by death in Saudi Arabia. This is what you call "free practice" of religion? Moreover, in Saudi Arabia every citizen is required to be Muslim. Look up Saudi Arabia's religious demographics. This is why Saudi Arabia reports itself as "100%" Muslim. This is a joke but this is their law. Here is the provision relating to this in Saudi Arabia's constitution:
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[FONT=Arial,Helvetica]Article 9
The family is the kernel of Saudi society, and it*s members shall be brought up on the basis of the Islamic faith*, and loyalty and obedience to God, His Messenger, and to guardians; respect for
and implementation of the law, and love of and pride in the homeland and its glorious history as the Islamic faith stipulates.
[/QUOTE]
I would provide a link but I am too new to post links. Just Google "Saudi Arabia constitution."
Proselytizing by non-Muslims--including Shias--is illegal in Saudi Arabia. This shows the rank hypocrisy of Saudi Arabia: it spends millions of dollars on proselytizing overseas, such as in American prisons, yet does not permit it within its own borders.
How about public practice of religions other than Islam? You guessed it: illegal in Saudi Arabia.
Shia are not permitted equal opportunities yet you claim non-Muslims are given equal opportunities in Saudi Arabia? How can you have an equal opportunity for a job when you are in prison for being a non-Muslim under Saudi law????
In the Saudi embassy in Washington guess how many Shia have served? Yes: 0. 0--ever. How can this be when they are 15% of the population? How about Shia ministers, governors, and mayors?
While Christians, Hindus, and others are allowed to visit Saudi Arabia on business and for tourist purposes (except Mecca and Medina), it is completely illegal for any Jews to enter Saudi borders. Some tolerance!
You are confusing foreign enclaves of temporary visitors with the laws Saudi Arabia imposes upon its citizens. It allows some leeway to, say, British oil workers--but that is because it has to or else foreigners it needs to extract its oil would stop coming. It isn't because of the kindess of its heart.
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At the same time I have seen churches & temples in numerous Muslim countries
[/QUOTE]
How many in Saudi Arabia? Allowing churches and temples does not equal religious equality. Are there restrictions on the practice of religion? Are there separate standards for what the majority religion can do and what minority religions can do? Are minorities given equal legal rights?
No country is perfect but you act as if problems of religious discrimination by individuals in, say, Denmark, is on par with state discrimination by Iran or Saudi Arabia (ignoring for a moment the fact that individual discrimination is far greater in nations with official state discrimination than in nations with legal tolerance).
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We can't just label any religion or country good or bad based on what some uneducated lunatics decide to do.
[/QUOTE]
The leaders of Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Egypt are uneducated??? The president of Iran has a doctorate degree.
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If Islam was so intolerant to other religions then we wouldn't see cases where Prophet (peace be upon him) himself gave gifts to non Muslims or even tended to a non Muslim sick person.
[/QUOTE]
That was 1,400 years ago and relating to a tiny state. You are correct that the constitution of Media provided for equal rights for non-Muslims. However, it is clear that this was quickly warped after his death and the Arab empire, the Muslim era Persian empires, and the Ottoman (Turkish) empire did not provide equal rights (although the Moguls did). For example, the Ottomans did not grant equal rights until the late 19th century. If they had provided equal rights during the previous 600 years why was there a need for the Ottoman ruler to issue a decree declaring equal rights for religious minorities?
In order to advance the cause of equal rights for non-Muslims and return Islam to its state vis-a-vis non-Muslims that it originally was in Muslims today have to accept the realities of intolerence in the Muslim world for the past 1,000+ years. How can you cure a disease you fail to diagnose? With all due respect, your post is emblematic of the problem. Here we have the worst offender on the globe in terms of religious intolerence and you are defending it as a haven of religious pluralism. If you cannot recognize the worst form of intolerence how can you recognize any other instance of religious intolerence? The other thing people need to do is accept the record of the major Islamic empires. They are glorified today by the average Muslim and part of the glorification is a myth that they gave equal rights to minorities. The Moguls did but the Arabs, Ottomans, and Persians did not. This is especially important since the two most influential Islamic empires are the original Arab one and the Ottoman empire.
To be fair--as many Muslim commentators and historians love to point out--the Ottomans, Arabs, and Persians gave greater rights to their religious minorities than the Europeans did to theirs. This is why when the Jews were expelled from Spain (along with Muslims) in the late 15th century the Ottomans welcomed the Jews, not just the Muslims, with open arms. So what went wrong? Why is the Islamic world generally intolerant (with exceptions such as Turkey and Tunisia) of religious minorities today? What happened, and this is what many Muslim commentators and historians ignore or fail to grasp, is the world changed. The concept of "equal rights" was developed and adopted in the West and subsequently spread to many other countries, most notably Latin America. The Islamic world remained frozen, largely thanks to sharia which is designed to be static, not dynamic and changing with the times (it is no coincidence that the least tolerant Islamic countries all have sharia law). What was tolerant in 870 and 1570 became backwards and intolerent in 1970.
[QUOTE]
Most Muslim parents would not accept this kind of behavior.
[/QUOTE]
Which is wrong. People should be free to choose their friends *and *their religion. Why must the thoughts, behaviors, beliefs of people be regulated by external forces?
Re: A Muslim Girl converting to Christianity ?
Fathima Rifqa Bary: Rifqa’s Personal Writings Indicate She Wants to be a Prophet](http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/orl-bk-rifqa-bary-runaway-computer-091609,0,4480569.story)
By Rene Stutzman and Amy L. Edwards
A Muslim girl who gave her heart to Jesus and then ran away to Christian evangelists in Orlando is not just any Christian. She is driven to save souls and prays that God will make her a prophet.
That’s according to writings she left behind when she fled.
“Lord is preparing me and He has me hidden … until the time is right,” Fathima Rifqa Bary wrote in a computer entry obtained by the Orlando Sentinel. “I am called to the nations. Send me to the deepest darkest places into the pagan land.”
Rifqa, 17, lives with a foster family in the Orlando area. She fled here, she insists, because her father threatened to kill her for abandoning Islam.
There’s no evidence of that, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and child-welfare officials in Columbus, but her claim and her wrenching, tearful https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=(http://www.loonwatch.com/2009/09/fathima-rifqa-bary-update-her-personal-writings-show-she-wanted-to-be-a-prophet/)
Forget about religion or any conflicts, she needs help and psychiatric treatment.
**To save a human is to save the whole humanity.
**
Re: A Muslim Girl converting to Christianity ?
do u guys see wat went wrong here ???
Iran outlaws conversion out of Islam. The penalty? Death. Iran has used death squads in the past to hunt down people who changed their religion. On apostasy it is barbaric, although you are correct that in general it is more tolerant of minorities than Pakistan--but that is more a reflection on the poor state of religious minorities in Pakistan than of anything positive on Iran.
Can't dispute with you on that there. I believe the punishment for apostasy has no worldly merit, in spite of what some of the extremists such as Kinzz state. The punishment for apostasy is highly disputed, and I believe that it does not prescribe the death penalty.
In regards to the religious minorities in Pakistan, there is not a single non-Sunni who wants to be in Pakistan. Ask any Shi'a and they are living in fear by the Taliban mullahs. Ditto with Christians, Hindus, and Sikhs who are under siege by these fanatics.
[quote]
That is a myth. I was brought up in a religious (Pakistani Muslim) home, I was taken to the local mosque every week and I am not an adherent to any religion today. The reason is simple: I live in a free country (US), thought for myself and elected to not adhere to a particular religion.
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+1
Some Muslims are too obsessed with falsifying claims that suit their own narrow worldview.
[quote]
Yes I do. First, as in the other nations I mentioned, "apostasy" is illegal and is punishable by death in Saudi Arabia. This is what you call "free practice" of religion? Moreover, in Saudi Arabia every citizen is required to be Muslim. Look up Saudi Arabia's religious demographics. This is why Saudi Arabia reports itself as "100%" Muslim. This is a joke but this is their law. Here is the provision relating to this in Saudi Arabia's constitution:
[/quote]
Agreed.
[quote]
Proselytizing by non-Muslims--including Shias--is illegal in Saudi Arabia. This shows the rank hypocrisy of Saudi Arabia: it spends millions of dollars on proselytizing overseas, such as in American prisons, yet does not permit it within its own borders.
[/quote]
Imagine if there was no oil there.
[quote]
How many in Saudi Arabia? Allowing churches and temples does not equal religious equality. Are there restrictions on the practice of religion? Are there separate standards for what the majority religion can do and what minority religions can do? Are minorities given equal legal rights?
No country is perfect but you act as if problems of religious discrimination by individuals in, say, Denmark, is on par with state discrimination by Iran or Saudi Arabia (ignoring for a moment the fact that individual discrimination is far greater in nations with official state discrimination than in nations with legal tolerance).
[/quote]
That's the crux of it all. You won't see anyone here criticize the disgusting state of religious minorities in the Muslim world today. People here are quick to claim a victimization mentality when a mosque is attacked in England, but look the other way when churches are burned by Muslim mobs in Muslim countries (Pakistan and Egypt comes to mind)
[quote]
That was 1,400 years ago and relating to a tiny state. You are correct that the constitution of Media provided for equal rights for non-Muslims. However, it is clear that this was quickly warped after his death and the Arab empire, the Muslim era Persian empires, and the Ottoman (Turkish) empire did not provide equal rights (although the Moguls did). For example, the Ottomans did not grant equal rights until the late 19th century. If they had provided equal rights during the previous 600 years why was there a need for the Ottoman ruler to issue a decree declaring equal rights for religious minorities?
[/quote]
The issue with religious minorities in the Ottoman Empire is kind of a murky one. The Greek Orthodox did enjoy certain privileges, along with the Jews. Jews to this day still revere the Ottoman Empire as a bastion of refuge for them, while Shi'as vilify the Ottoman Empire. Ever met a Turkish Shi'a? None of them have any love for the Ottoman Empire at all.
[quote]
In order to advance the cause of equal rights for non-Muslims and return Islam to its state vis-a-vis non-Muslims that it originally was in Muslims today have to accept the realities of intolerence in the Muslim world for the past 1,000+ years. How can you cure a disease you fail to diagnose? With all due respect, your post is emblematic of the problem. Here we have the worst offender on the globe in terms of religious intolerence and you are defending it as a haven of religious pluralism. If you cannot recognize the worst form of intolerence how can you recognize any other instance of religious intolerence? The other thing people need to do is accept the record of the major Islamic empires. They are glorified today by the average Muslim and part of the glorification is a myth that they gave equal rights to minorities. The Moguls did but the Arabs, Ottomans, and Persians did not. This is especially important since the two most influential Islamic empires are the original Arab one and the Ottoman empire.
[/quote]
At least someone isn't blind to reality. Kudos to you bro.
[quote]
To be fair--as many Muslim commentators and historians love to point out--the Ottomans, Arabs, and Persians gave greater rights to their religious minorities than the Europeans did to theirs. This is why when the Jews were expelled from Spain (along with Muslims) in the late 15th century the Ottomans welcomed the Jews, not just the Muslims, with open arms. So what went wrong? Why is the Islamic world generally intolerant (with exceptions such as Turkey and Tunisia) of religious minorities today? What happened, and this is what many Muslim commentators and historians ignore or fail to grasp, is the world changed. The concept of "equal rights" was developed and adopted in the West and subsequently spread to many other countries, most notably Latin America. The Islamic world remained frozen, largely thanks to sharia which is designed to be static, not dynamic and changing with the times (it is no coincidence that the least tolerant Islamic countries all have sharia law). What was tolerant in 870 and 1570 became backwards and intolerent in 1970.
[/quote]
But the problem when it comes to criticism of their treatment, is to base it upon the lens that we are accustomed to today. Don't you think it's a flawed way to observe the state of minorities today? Why not use relative comparisons of the time period to accurately convey the result?
[quote]
Which is wrong. People should be free to choose their friends *and *their religion. Why must the thoughts, behaviors, beliefs of people be regulated by external forces?
[/QUOTE]
I agree with you brother, and I'm a Muslim too.
dhj, it is good to see someone in agreement with me on such issues! Do you live in Pakistan? Pakistan could benefit from voices like you!
We agree on most things so I will only comment on a few things.
The Ottomans did give rights to minorities, just not equal rights. That said, they gave far more rights to their religious minorities than the rest of the world during its heyday, although it fell behind in this regard when Western nations like the US adopted the notion of equal rights for religious minorities.
I agree nations have to be placed in their historical context. Ancient Rome, Persia, and Greece would all be backwards today but during their time they were the most or one of the most progressive places on the globe, a key factor in their success. The same applies to the Arab empire and the Ottomans. Again, this was one reason they succeeded. When Spain was committing ethnic cleansing of Muslims and Jews the Ottomans were welcoming them and had religious pluralism. By the same token, today the US and Canada are probably the two best nations when it comes to religious equality and are the standard against which other nations have to be judged in that regard.
I am a student of history because it is interesting but also because you can learn lessons from history that can be applied today. Muslims need to look more at the spirit, not the letter, of the successful Muslim empires of the past and the consistent thread is they were always very open compared to the rest of the world, usually the most open societies--and open not just with respect to minorities but in all areas such as freedom of thought. For example, it is in the Arab empire where the concept of academic freedom in universities was developed.
May Allah guide her back to The Truth, Aameen.
I feel like crying when I hear stuff like this, poor girl, I feel sorry for her.
A Pakistani boy in my town use to say he wasn't Muslim just to suck up to his Non-Muslim friends and then he died suddenly in a car crash, they didn't offer his Janaazah or bury him in the Muslim cemetry.
The grief his parents went through and still go through everyday, atleast had he died a Believer they would have been content that he's gone to Jannah and beable to get over him dieing after a few months.
That incident gave me goosebumps, religion is not a joke or a fashion accessory, at least if we die Muslims (even sinful ones) we will one day attain salvation from Hell on account of our Faith, even if its an atoms weight worth.
Oh Allah whoever amongst us you keep alive let us live upon Islam, and whoever amongst us you cause to die let us die with Faith, Aameen.
Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him) himself preached Islam (Submission to God Alone, rather than the Trinity) and he prophesised the arrival of Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) so it's silly of her to abandon Islam. We already have Christ/Messiah in Islam and when he returns to earth, it's the Muslims he will be with, for he, his mother (pbuh) and his righteous disciples all followed the message of Islam
I met a Jew once who said even they believe that Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) prophesised the coming of a Prophet who is most likely to be Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) but he said they love Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) too much to leave him for Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him), I told him you wont be leaving him at all because belief in him is an integral part of Islam.
Let us Pray for her and all other misguided ones, may Allah(arabic)/Elohim(hebrew)/Alaha(aramaic) save us all from misguidance and guide the misguided through His Grave and Mercy, Aameen.
Re: A Muslim Girl converting to Christianity ?
Unfortunately American born Muslims are very far away from their Islamic faith and identity.
The parents are to blame, it's neccesary to teach Islam at home and give our children a strong sense of identity. It's little things like celebrating Eid as well as Christmas is celebrated, instead of working the day and letting our kids miss our on their own festival but join in with their friends at Xmas.
We can be British/American and still be Muslim. Islam doesn't require us to wear thobes/shalwar-kameez, listen to Arabic music, have Arabic names or eat curry, we do all these things in the name of Islamic identity but don't teach our kids the real things which matter, about the Islamic Faith or Practices nor implement them in our houses and then we wonder why our kids go astray.
Here in Britain it's not so bad, I think this country gives us more religious rights than say America or Europe so we can practice our religion and still be British, whereas in America you all have to assimilate (I don't mind cultural assimilation but not religious), I think that's why I've learnt to be so greatful to this country and now consider it my home from the bottom of my heart, our Faith is safe here, it's a shame some bad apples in the British Muslim community turn against this country but those groups are not mainstream Muslims and comprise of mostly young stupid druggies who grew a beard and put on a thobe and took a flag in their hands to be cool, they are not considered of sound theology by the orthodox Muslims in terms of both spiritual beliefs and political ones, I'm going off tangent, so in short may Allah bless Britain.
PS. It would be wrong of her parents or anyone else to take Shari'ah into their own hands from an Islamic point of view too, especially in a non-Muslim land. Besides I don't think even an Islamic state can just apply the capital punishemnt for apostasy [which also exists in the Christian/Jewish scriptures("..Let your hand be the first against him to put him to death..." Deuteronomy] to someone just like that, unlike in the Judeo-Christian Scriptures which give no chance to repent before the capital punishment, the Muslim Law requires that the apostate be given a chance to renounce their apostasy so in a way I suppose Islam gives them the leniency to outwardly come back to Islam even if they secretly choose to have faith in another religion, that's a freedom Islamic scriptures allow which Judeo-Christian ones don't, the fact that Judeo-Christian people choose to follow more politically correct laws not in accordance with their scriptures is a different matter alltogether.
You have several misconceptions about the US.
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Unfortunately American born Muslims are very far away from their Islamic faith and identity.
The parents are to blame, it's neccesary to teach Islam at home and give our children a strong sense of identity.
[/QUOTE]
The vast majority of Muslim parents in the US take their kids to the mosque every week, teach them about Islam etc. The US is a free country and some people choose to reject their religion, some become nominal Muslims, some middle of the roaders, and some very religious. This is the same with US Christians, US Jews, US Hindus, etc.
I don't know any Muslim family who "celebrated" Christmas--but 99% of Muslim parents take their kids to celebrate Eid at the mosque and with family.
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Here in Britain it's not so bad, I think this country gives us more religious rights than say America or Europe so we can practice our religion and still be British, whereas in America you all have to assimilate (I don't mind cultural assimilation but not religious)
[/QUOTE]
What religious rights does the UK provide that the US doesn't? The UK has a state religion, although it does not force it upon its population. The US has no state church and does not interfere with the religious practices of its people.
In the US there is no requirement for assimilation, certainly not religious assimilation. Jews have been in the US for a long time and have not religiously assimilated. Cultural assimilation is not required but it occurs naturally because the US is more successful than any country in absorbing newcomers. This is because the US generally welcomes newcomers, gives them opportunities, and has an open society. Moreover, it has the most appealing culture in the world. Inevitably, the stronger culture will subsume weaker cultures and this has happened time and again with immigrant groups from all corners of the world. In contrast, European countries tend to look down on immigrants, separate themselves from them, and does not provide them with enough opportunities. We don't have half the problems the UK or France have with immigration.
Will US Muslims become Christians en masse? No, look at the example of Jews. However, US Muslims will eventually culturally assimilate like Jews did, like Hindus will, like the Germans, Irish, Italians, Poles, et al. all did.
You are correct that Christian doctrine is bigoted on the issue of apostasy. Christian societies evolved on that, though--just like Muslim societies did on slavery. Islamic doctrine permits slavery yet it is banned even in shariah countries like Iran. Hopefully Islamic nations will do on freedom of conscience what they did on slavery.
Re: A Muslim Girl converting to Christianity ?
Its her choice - she's an adult. Now that the muslim community and her family is up in arms about this, she wont ever convert back.
One thing the Christian community offers, which sadly muslims don't - is a sense of community. They stick up for each other, befriend each other, have youth groups that are really tight and they do fun things like travelling and camping. I don't see that much with our people - our people are more busy fighting each other or screwing each other over when they get a chance.
shrugs If we were more welcoming to our own people...oh how the world would be different.
Re: A Muslim Girl converting to Christianity ?
<3 freedom.
Therine lies my opinion on this issue.
I don’t know dude, most Non-Muslim Americans I’ve interacted with on the net have generally been very ignorant and hateful, not left a very good impression of Americans.
I don’t hate Americans though, I’m quite willing to change my opnion if I come acorss any nice Americans who are not Islamophobic/Pakiophobic. I think the only nationality I can say I hate is Indian but I have good reason to, they hate us way more than we hate them..
British Non-Muslims are generally wonderful people, some can have misconceptions but they’re open minded and easily accept us as one of them once they know we’re not all like the ones in the media. Some are dickheads like Nick Griffin but even most White people hate them, on the night of Eid we had some White protestors on Wilmslow Rd with banners saying “crush the bnp”, that’s sooooo heartwarming to know not all White people hate Pakis/Muslims and they’re here to show solidaritory with us on our holy festival, I felt like hugging them, lol.
I know this country has a state religion, so what, it doesn’t offend us, we don’t find other religions offensive, I hate it when hospitals stop nurses wearing crucifixes because apparently it might offend the non-Christians, that’s what causes community tensions, or when they start renaming Christmas to Winterval, that’s bollocks, Christianity doesn’t offend us, ring your church bells, sing your hymns, celebrate Christmas and wear crucfixes all you want, I don’t find it remotely offensive, the only thing we find offensive is when ours religion is insulted in the name of freedom of speech, just as I wouldn’t insult the Prophet of another religion I want my religion respected too.
Christianity and Judaism (soooo similar to us) are the coolest religions after Islam as long as Muslim children don’t start converting to them.
I don’t think USA has much of a culture, ok they have a culture but I wouldn’t say it’s unique or American, it’s just a modern/contemporary culture which is universal, it’s not got a rich heritage like Great Britain or Pakistan. 
where is topak, i wanna dazz dazz the murtid
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where is gun, i wanna dazz dazz the murtid
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Look at this tough guy! I am a "murtid." Step up to the plate and come to the US and let's see how tough you are...
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the only thing we find offensive is when ours religion is insulted in the name of freedom of speech, just as I wouldn't insult the Prophet of another religion I want my religion respected too.]
[/QUOTE]
The people who insult Islam the most are radical Islamists. Who makes Islam look worse? People like Salman Rushdie or people like the poster right after you calling for the murder of an innocent teen? A cartoonist or Bin Laden?
What you are saying is incompatible with freedom of speech. Jesus and Christianity are mocked all the time in the US. There is one show in which "Jesus" is a recurring character and a bit of a parody. No one burns down KFC because of this. One of the greatest Americans ever, Thomas Paine, wrote a book in which he called Moses/Musa the worst person in history (for committing mass murder...Is it wrong to criticize Moses for what would today be called genocide?). While Paine was heavily criticized by conservative Christians, he was not killed for it or forced to live in fear with 50 security guards surrounding him 24/7. He actually lived in the White House for a month when he came back to the US and was looking for a home!
Besides, why would multibillion dollar enterprises like religion not be able to handle "insults" (aka criticism)? Why be so insecure? Present day religions have stood the test of time, have massive budgets, worldwide networks of propaganda, state support in many nations, anywhere from millions to over a billion followers depending on the religion in question, etc. They are in no danger of crumbling because of a little criticism.
Of course, it is up to you folks in the UK to determine what is permitted. I am not sure about the UK but I know some European countries have less freedom of speech than the US. The UK may someday outlaw religious criticism but I can say for sure that there will never be a law banning criticism of religion or religious figures in the US.
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Christianity and Judaism (soooo similar to us) are the coolest religions after Islam as long as Muslim children don't start converting to them.
[/QUOTE]
So they are cool until conversions start? Then what? Religious segregation?
As I said earlier in this thread, despite all the hype about conversions very few people actually convert. It is estimated that about 2 million people a year convert to Christianity and 1 million a year to Islam. Big freaking deal. There are 6.7 billion people on Earth. Why can't some Muslims handle such a small number of conversions (since only Muslims want laws, including the death penalty, for conversions)?
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I don't think USA has much of a culture, ok they have a culture but I wouldn't say it's unique or American, it's just a modern/contemporary culture which is universal, it's not got a rich heritage like Great Britain or Pakistan.
[/QUOTE]
Much of US culture comes from the UK, its founder and former master. The US does not have culture in the same sense that Old World nations do because it is a young nation comprised of people from around the world, but it does have its unique traits. After all, it is Hollywood movies watched around the world. It is US television shows and music that dominate globally. There is not much interest in, say, German movies, Turkish music, or Egyptian television, is there?
The funny thing is the US overtook all these long established lands. The UK once ruled the US; now the US is the world's lone superpower. You can look down on the US all you want but it is impressive that the US is the lone superpower, not any of these Old World nations which had thousands of years to build their nations while the US has had only 200 years (and overtook them all in much less than that!). :)