Stop. There is no relevance in the difference between a Christian's view of God's laws and a Muslim's view. As a non-Christian, non-Muslim, I can unequivocally say that they are exactly the same; they are laws of religions that are not mine.
We should all respect and support ANY religion's right to organize itself in a manner that it sees as true to God's law. As a personal example, within the bounds of our Parish, my marriage to my wife is not recognized, (at least as far as Rome is concerned). Yet, I attend Mass with my wife and value the experience. Should Catholicism try to have secular/civil law reflect their religious law and thereby invalidate my marriage, the religion would, with extreme prejudice, lose my respect and support.
When a religion fills your Life, it can be easy to forget that that it is just YOUR Life. While you should live your Life as an example of your religion, it is wrong to IMPOSE your religion's rules and laws onto someone else. Our democracy is based on a principle that whatever are your personal beliefs; you have every right to have them and no right to impose them on anyone else. Therefore, railing against the real or imagined imposition of Sharia Law, all the while seeking to impose a different set of religious laws, threatens the very foundation of our democracy.
And it is a stunning hypocrisy.
"In regard to religion, mutual toleration in the different professions thereof is what all good and candid minds in all ages have ever practiced, and both by precept and example inculcated on mankind."
-Samuel Adams, The Rights of the Colonists (1771)
Christopher Dinnes
AMO STAR CenterDania Beach, FL
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