I respect People's right to practise their Religion the way they see fit. However, I will not be part of any Religion which dictates the disassociation with other Religion. Kari, Are you saying that Guyanese Muslims were practising Islam incorrectly and are probably still doing so?

Nehru, I had forgotten to address a part of Islam on which my understanding is still "evolving"  - to borrow a quip from Barack Obama. And that is is whether a belief in Islam means a complete and unequivocal denial of other religions. Other Muslims can jump in here.

To believe in Islam means that you "understand" the Jewish and Christian faith as the precursors of Islam and because the Prophet Muhammad is the last Prophet, the preceding "faiths" now become obsolescent. It also means that the faith of more than half of humanity - and those that preceded Arabs and Semetic peoples - is not seen by Islam as relevant. Now given this, and the need to convert non-Muslims to the faith, then what? And how do you relate to those followers in civilian life - that is life outside of faith, or is life only life "in" faith, which means you have to be a Muslim 100% of the time, unlike other religions which, in practice, means that religion and faith is only one part of several parts that makes up one's existence. An important belief of Islam is that the hereafter means everything and your life on earth (one to one hundred years or so) is just to prepare for that other, more permanent, life.

I personally prefer that Religion and faith be a part of my existence. Social, Education, Multi Cultural, Recreational and Services must make up a great percentage of my existence.

Recreational = Daroo??? 

quote:

A famous letter sent by 36 Islamic scholars to Pope Benedict XVI addressed this verse: "this verse is acknowledged to belong to the period of Quranic revelation corresponding to the political and military ascendance of the young Muslim community. ‘There is no compulsion in religion’ was not a command to Muslims to remain steadfast in the face of the desire of their oppressors to force them to renounce their faith, but was a reminder to Muslims themselves, once they had attained power, that they could not force another's heart to believe. There is no compulsion in religion addresses those in a position of strength, not weakness. The earliest commentaries on the Qur'an (such as that of Al-Tabari) make it clear that some Muslims of Medina wanted to force their children to convert from Judaism or Christianity to Islam, and this verse was precisely an answer to them not to try to force their children to convert to Islam."[1]

Insult African Americans, and it's called 'racism'.
Insult Jewish people, and it's called 'anti-Semitism'.
Insult women, and it's called 'sexism'.
Insult homosexuals, and it's called 'intolerance'.
Insult your country, and it's called 'extremism'.
Insult Muhammad (pbuh), and it's called 'free speech'.

One can be anything one wants to be as long as one does not impose ones belief on others.  Racists exists as do sexists and anti Semites. If they come into the street to demonstrate their right to their beliefs and threaten violence in the process then it is a different matter. Mohamed is to be given no higher prominence in the society than the Buddha or Jesus or even ones neighbor across the street.

Try running over to your black neighbor and tell him he is a homosexual and pedophile ni$$er, and he will smile sweetly at you and agree with you that is free speech