There is definitely no loving God. Fact.

Take no notice, rosequartz, you and I know they are real!

There is no Santa Claus, tooth fairy
I can't believe it!!

There is no Santa Claus, tooth fairy , leprechauns , fairies at the bottom of the garden and no God/god/allah/yaweh etc. You are entitled to your views these are mine.

It has only just occurred to me that perhaps many aid workers are the modern world equivalent of missionaries.

I'm not sure why you should think that, Wilma. I'd have thought aid workers have enough to do without trying to convert anyone to Christianity - and I don't suppose for one minute that all or even most aid workers are Christians or followers of any particular faith.

And how might we feel about muslim missionaries coming here?!

AnnieBach thank you for clarifying that for me. I had a feeling I'd got the wrong end of the stick.

It's an interesting question about Christian missionaries going to Muslim countries. We've all seen incidents of kidnapping or killings of Christian aid workers on the news and as far as I can remember, this has happened in turbulent countries where extremists groups or terrorists are usually - but not always - involved. Of course, it's not always Muslim countries involved.

Christian missionaries do go to Muslim countries, but not usually to try and convert anyone, more to do good works connected with education or health care, that sort of thing. One of the problems has been the suspicion that some surreptitious effort to try and convert people is going on and sometimes the presence of a bible can be enough to get someone in trouble with the authorities.

It has only just occurred to me that perhaps many aid workers are the modern world equivalent of missionaries.

I have asked for that post to be deleted. I appreciate the fact that not all Muslims are of the kind that believe in Sharia Law, and such. And the Muslim religion is, when properly adhered to, as decent as Christianity. Although I do, of course, prefer Christianity.

Yes. But I am in the United Kingdom. Where we have freedom of speech.

JGL if you were in a Muslin country posting such inflammatory statements, you would have had your fingers chopped off!

Think twice before posting please

Why am I posting on this thread again?

It's just descended into people's pride now.

And tha will probably be deleted.

And I might be slung in jail over some 'freedom' law. Or something.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

I think we should impose our values. in this country.

Wilma, a poster said 'perhaps this is where missionaries might be useful' I simply asked if they would be in Muslim countries

Indeed the only way to try and reduce this barbarous practice is by persuasion - but not by those with a religious axe to grind.

I understand stand rosequartz

AnnieBach why would anyone want to convert Muslims?

Some Muslims leaders are becoming supporters of its abolition.
It's not a case of converting Muslims; not all agree with FGM.

Yes, we mustn't try to impose our values - that's a dangerous path...

Do you think missionaries would be able to convert Muslims?

Of course not, let them carry on being mutilated.
Poor little girls.

But that would be 'interfering', rose, and we can't have that!

how might it be stopped? Drop a few bombs and hope they hit the thousands of perpetrators rather than the victims?
Well, perhaps this is where missionaries might be useful; rather than dropping bombs they could try persuasion.

Actually rosequartz there's still missionaries today

Misunderstanding Wilma Yes, I know there are

When I said:
We're not missionaries now!! I think the last ones went out nearly a hundred years ago
I meant no members of our family are missionaries now!
(apart from a very distant cousin we have never met who lives overseas.)

Actually rosequartz there's still missionaries today. Some years ago I got a Christmas card from an old work friend who always included a newsletter with her card. I was shocked to read one of her sons who is married with two children had given up his job, so he and his wife could go abroad to work as a missionaries (the children went too). I can't remember where they went, but it was somewhere in Africa and they were going for a set period of three years. My friend and her husband were church goers, but I don't remember her ever mentioning any serious involvement with their church. I did wonder if maybe the son was hoping to train to be a minister/vicar or something later on, but my friend stopped sending newsletters and I never found out any more.

How might we interfere to stop FGM? It goes without saying that I abhor and condemn this, but how might it be stopped? Drop a few bombs and hope they hit the thousands of perpetrators rather than the victims? It is ingrained in some cultures and it is the family (who supposedly love the child) who instigate this barbarous practice.

We do not even seem able to stop it happening here in our own country.