Organized Religion & personal Spirituality

The only sentence I agree with in the Dr Bob quote is this: The rest of his argument seems to contradict that statement.It is my opinion the problem with western society, is this notion of "separation of church and state." This has turned into the situation where religion adjusts to the state, instead of vice versa. This is why Islamic states do not favor this arrangement of separation. Islam is a way of life, as the quote above states. It encompasses all, including state affairs. I believe Iraq democracy will initially start western but move to an Islamic state. We can live in peace together. I thank the USA for removing Saddam.In our view, when your personal whims govern your religious devotion, you become lost. Submission and obedience to Allah is the challenge of this life, which is just a stepping stone. Of course it is difficult. It is part of the plan and personal challenge.The author of your article has it upside down. Westerners' devotion to their whims and invented notions of freedom lead them to disobedience, which renders their personal religion almost like a hobby, subservient to frequently changing whims.I know many of your forum atheists and cafeteria religion people will write angry replies to this letter. Sorry if I offend. I am just trying to defend a lifestyle and point out that not everyone thinks your western ideas are the nature of the universe.You do not need to worry about me. I am not a terrorist, and I do not contribute money to their wicked ways. We just want to lead our Islamic lives in peace, and not have your ungodly ways intrude and interfere with our ways.

I have less objection the flag supporters compared to the porn coming from Hollywood over airwaves, and homosexual parades wanting to march in holy land of Jerusalem. Let them march anywhere else, but not in our lands, thank you.

I am not permanently living in Texas, although it is a nice place.
Yes, I worship without problems in Texas. Yes, I get a few looks from people that worry me, but in general, I do not feel threatened here. I like America. I wish it had more moral control. The Christians, Muslims and Jews could probably agree on common moral laws. It would be the atheists that want to be legally wild.You seem to imply that separation of church and state is required for freedom to worship. That is not true. An Islamic state may require certain ways, but those do not preclude practicing other religions in peace.

Not true. You have been brainwashed by propaganda and think that because one or two Islamic states have been overzealous, then all are and in future all would be so.Non-Muslims can practice their religion at home in peace without interference. They do this now.

That would not be the point of an Islamic "government" as you put it. The point is to have a way of life that supports and encourages the chosen faith, and not have the freedoms of infidels tempt the faithful with drugs, porn, promoting homosexuality, and other behaviour forbidden by the Quaran. An Islamic woman is more concerned about how Allah thinks of her behaviour than self-centered desires.

You can do this in Saudi Arabia in an American compound, but this would not be appropriate in public, because you would be setting an example of putting materialistic pleasures above obedience of the Quran. A woman who faithfully follows the teachings would not want to do as you say. That is not a restriction of freedom. It is a proper way of life.I understand that you do not understand. You probably think the same thought about me.

Whether homosexuality is inherited, or a change occurs in childhood, or whatever does not matter. There are behaviours that are forbidden. Science may find out that some people are born with a tendency towards murder, but surely you don't advocate freedom to murder?

No. And there is no law that orders anyone to practice a religion in an Islamic state. The law simply reinforces desired conditions and behaviours that the Quran teaches. Sorry, but I do not want to take the time to explain my understanding of how clerics in different countries decide how to rule in those countries.The concept is to "strive" to please Allah. An Islamic government will help, not hinder, this striving. Why make striving more difficult? This is how we wish to live.

I would say that I (and most Muslims) do not want a "separation of church and state" in Islamic countries.Islam is a way of life. How can you have separate authorities that might have conflicts to the Quran? You only need one authority.With the western idea of separation, you bring homosexuals "out of the closet" (to use an American phrase) and put your religious believers in the closet with your government laws. This is upside down, in our view.It is difficult in this country to work and yet practice Islam with our prayer schedule. That is not a problem in an Islamic state.I feel that I am starting to go in circles trying to explain this concept of an Islamic state, so I think I will give the subject a rest.

All this talk is about "laws". Your country struggles over moral foundations. I is odd that atheists on this forum talk about morals. I have no idea where they get morals, other than from the Golden Rule. But this must not be so clear to everyone, because of so many lawsuits of rights violations.What I see in America is that the lawyers and judges have taken the role of the clerics.Maybe the Terri Schiavo case is a sign for America. Deteriorating on the inside, the woman is killed by non-believers. Will America fall from lack of moral foundation like Rome?