Blasphemy

There are similar issues in many parts of the world but I suppose you can focus wherever you like. I prefer to stick to the OP rather than randomly wander off referring to another particular country.

No * M0nica* just no ?

I don't believe I was getting at you Nonnie. I didn't understand what you meant by suggesting Isis may have another 'PC name'. My reference to Mr Trump was intended to point out that not only some Muslim communities, but some American Evangelical Christian communities like those who support Trump, don't accept that others have a right to see the world differently.

Thank you for the explanation Iam I think if you read your post again you will see why it felt like you were getting at me. I hope that was not your intention.

Nonnie, so far as my comment about Trump supporters goes, MOnica's comments are correct.

To answer your question about whether I'm suggesting there aren't parts of the Muslim community with no tolerance of views other than there own. No one could deny that there are parts of the Muslim community who are intolerant of the views of others who don't see the world in the way they do. I introduced Trump because watching his rallies give me the chills. His supporters seem totally intolerant of anyone who doesn't see the world the way they do.

Religion does not have to be medieval. It is such a pity that Islam, and certain sections of Christianity and Judaism, cannot seem to rid themselves of medieval superstitions like genital mutilation or blasphemy.

EllenVannin Most religious wars result from the use of religion to justify other causes. The problems in Ireland grew from the Flight of the Earls in 1607. These men owned most of what is now Ulster/Northern Ireland. Their lands were forfeited and the British government advertised throughout Britain for protestant settlers to go their and offered free grants of land. The local people objected to this and the battle started. As time went by the only way a settler could be identified was, generally, by a Scottish surname (most of the settlers were Scottish) and their religion.

I am of Northern Irish descent and at one time worked with someone from Northern Ireland (Scottish name, protestant). The whole time I worked with him he kept trying to puzzle out and constantly referred to the fact that I had a NI Scottish name - but was a catholic. To him it just didn't make sense.

Boku Haram in Nigeria came from the problems of nomadic herders dealing with the expansion of farming and increasing drought in their usual grazing grounds. The herders are muslim, the farmers usually belong to other religions.

Saudi Arabia uses its conservative Wahabism to control its own population and expand it's power in the middle east by encouraging extremist Islam in other countries with more tolerant views. From this extremism came ISIS.

I could go on.

The post from knickas is a perfect example of the intolerance in Pakistan.

Nonnie Trump is relevant in this context because his brand of populism and his exhortations against the group of South Americans marching towards the border, and his (overturned) decision to ban anyone of the muslim faith from entering the country unless they had first been intensively checked to see if they were extremists, is the start of a road to populist extremism.

There was a very interesting program on R4 last night called 'How to kill a democracy' (available as a podcast. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006r4vz/episodes/downloads ) examining how demodracy is being destroyed in many countries by subtle voter and voting manipulation. Much of what was discussed there is relevant to this discussion, even though not overtly about blasphemy.

Iam I don't understand what you don't understand! I listen to the BBC and they say 'so called' which sounds to me like it is not PC to call them what they want to be called. Political correctness is not necessarily a derogatory expression, it means saying what is acceptable in the same was as a friend used to be 'mixed race' but is now 'dual heritage'.

Do you disagree that there are parts of the Muslim communities with no tolerance for any views but their own? Really? Sorry, don't understand the relevance of Trump to this subject, it is about religious intolerance in Pakistan.

Which is more barbaric ? The death penalty or religious extremism where thousands are killed in the name of religion ?

MOnica, yes ok I accept there are extremists on all sides. We're living in interesting times aren't we.
And yes, I agree with your criticism of knickas63's use contemptuous words to babe other people's political and religious beliefs.

knickas, your use of language puts you on the first step of the road that leads to to events like those in Pakistan and the actions of extremist political movements.

It begins when individuals used contemptuous words to label other people's political and religious beliefs.

Blasphemy should never be a crime. People are entitled to their own opinions, and punishing people who don't agree with your view of the great sky fairy is ludicrous! And so very wrong!

Most definitely MOnica. Trump tee shirts, Jeremy tee shirts .

Or Corbyn and Momentum?

Nonnie - Isis isn't a PC name, it hasn't changed. It's also known as Daesh, which the islamic state fighters dislike, they prefer Isis. I don't understand your reference to political correctness.
As for your suggestion that there are parts of the Muslim community with no tolerance for any view but there own - have you watched the Trump rallies in the USA in the build up to the Mid Terms. No tolerance whatsoever for views other than those supported by Mr T's base supporters.

Monica I too lived in both those countries in the 60 s I found no problem apart from the Malays having a mosn about the Chinese taking their jobs ( ptpretty normal grumbles in all countries) but I was friendly with all the religions and never heard anything anti
I still miss hearing the call to pray on the still air

A strong and confident religion, dismisses blasphemy with a shrug. Not much choice in the UK anyway, where it is a daily occurrence.

I struggle with Islam. As a child I lived in Malaysia and Singapore where all the main religions were present in the community without friction, we all celebrated every religions major festivals. I went to school with muslim and Hindu girls, work colleagues of my parents were Muslims, and Hindu and we socialised together

But at the heart of Islam is the belief that we are all born Muslims and anyone who does not embrace the religion is an apostate, who should at best be shunned. As with most religions, its followers usually ignore its more extreme teachings and get on with everybody, but this belief is there and the rise of extremist Islamic sects, whether Wahabis in Saudi Arabia or ISIS, for some reason shows how it is now gathering adherents. the behaviour of Pakistanis on the clearing of Assia Bibi, shows how close to the surface these extreme views now run.

It's a pity that islamist fascism in countries like Pakistan gives Islam a bad name

I think I heard that, to stop the riots, the government agreed that she would never be allowed to leave Pakistan. Judging by what we saw on TV she will either have to spend the rest of her life in prison or be murdered by vigilantes.

It seems to me there are parts of the Muslim communities which have no tolerance for any view but their own, think ISIS or whatever the PC name now is.

Whoever said "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" was imo right.

But what Jalima? he is PM

What could Imran Khan do?

The right thing in a difficult situation; he is capitulating and appeasing the mobs and I thought he could have done far more than he has.

Blasphemy should not be a crime of any sort.

What could Imran Khan do?