Religion and its role in your SO's country...

[Henia 11]

Hello

yet another topic...to get things going in here....

I read alot about history, politics, culture and of course... I was wondering what is everyone's view on secularism in general and specifically in your SO's country...

I know in Algerie, where my husband is from....

الجمهورية الجزائرية الديمقراطية الشعبية Al-Jumhurīyah al-Jazā’irīyah ad-Dīmuqrāṭīyah ash-Sha’bīyah; People's Democratic Republic of Algerie's national motto states, من الشعب و للشعب "From the people and for the people." Also something to note,constitutionally Algerie is defined as an Islamic, Arab, and Amazigh (Berber) country. Algerie is a Universal suffrage state...meaning the right to vote to all adults, without distinction as to race, sex, belief, or economic or social status. This would include right to vote or participate in government, most often in a democracy, which Algerie is. Under the 1976 Constitution (amends made in 1979, 1988, 1989, and 1996) Algerie is a multi-party state. All parties must be approved by the Ministry of the Interior. Algerie has I believe over 45 legal political parties. And according to the Constitution, no political association may be formed if it is "based on differences in religion, language, race gender or region."

So that gets me to where my interest lays... Some Muslims favor the idea of modern secular democracy with separation of church and state, while others push Islam to be a political movement.

The existence or applicability of Islamic law is questioned by many moderates and liberals. Their argument often involves variants of the Mu'tazili theory that the Qur'an is created by God for the particular circumstances of the early Muslim community, and reason must be used to apply it to new contexts. While more conservaties advocate a puritanical and legalistic stance in matters of faith and religious practice.

I am not trying to start a dicussion about Islamic movements or who is right or wrong, but try to see how religion/goverment in this day and age effects us (esp Algerie since my dh is Algerien and Algere is Democratic)

....in fact the only democratic country in the Maghreb...in fact in all of MENA. Maroc being a kingdom, Tunezia Republican, Libya Socialistic, Egypte Republican (even thou Pr. Mubarak is democrat) and lastly, Sudan Republican with a authoritarian government.

Do you feel a Muslim country should have a secular government? Does it make for a weak Ummah? Do you feel your human and Islamic rights are being upheld? What about Foreign relations? Thanks for sharing your views. I thought this would make for an interesting intelluctual conversation.

[amal 4]

it is after 10pm, I dunno if I have any smarts left today...I'll check back tomorrow...

[cbd2cai 0]

Haven't we discussed something like this before???

For what it is worth . . . . I prefer a country with a secular government.

A country that is not 100% Islamic will always have problems in trying to rule by Islamic laws (and vice versa). . . . although there are similarities amongst Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Buddhism, etc in the basic moral tenets of these belief systems, how they are carried out in the laws/governance can be very different. A secular government is more equitable for all the citizens. I don't believe that a govenment should be legislating moral issues that pertain to one belief and forcing that code of belief on ppl that believe differently. Of course, there is lots of room to argue around that point, but I won't stress anymore than that.

As for Egypt . . . my thoughts at many times regarding the pre-dominant religion there is that it appears more to be cultural . . . just like many people here are cultural christians. That's just the way we grew up, so we accept those things as the way that things are done. LOL, I was raised Catholic . . . but I don't practice any religion because I think belief in God is a person thing.

[Henia 11]

Haven't we discussed something like this before???

For what it is worth . . . . I prefer a country with a secular government.

A country that is not 100% Islamic will always have problems in trying to rule by Islamic laws (and vice versa). . . . although there are similarities amongst Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Buddhism, etc in the basic moral tenets of these belief systems, how they are carried out in the laws/governance can be very different. A secular government is more equitable for all the citizens. I don't believe that a govenment should be legislating moral issues that pertain to one belief and forcing that code of belief on ppl that believe differently. Of course, there is lots of room to argue around that point, but I won't stress anymore than that.

As for Egypt . . . my thoughts at many times regarding the pre-dominant religion there is that it appears more to be cultural . . . just like many people here are cultural christians. That's just the way we grew up, so we accept those things as the way that things are done. LOL, I was raised Catholic . . . but I don't practice any religion because I think belief in God is a person thing.

I donnow we may have discussed this. I donnot remember....was just trying to make up some topic.

I know democracy has done alot for DZ, and hopefully as they come out of their dark time and 2006 being their first good year...will do more.

[Henia 11]

Haven't we discussed something like this before???

For what it is worth . . . . I prefer a country with a secular government.

A country that is not 100% Islamic will always have problems in trying to rule by Islamic laws (and vice versa). . . . although there are similarities amongst Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Buddhism, etc in the basic moral tenets of these belief systems, how they are carried out in the laws/governance can be very different. A secular government is more equitable for all the citizens. I don't believe that a govenment should be legislating moral issues that pertain to one belief and forcing that code of belief on ppl that believe differently. Of course, there is lots of room to argue around that point, but I won't stress anymore than that.

As for Egypt . . . my thoughts at many times regarding the pre-dominant religion there is that it appears more to be cultural . . . just like many people here are cultural christians. That's just the way we grew up, so we accept those things as the way that things are done. LOL, I was raised Catholic . . . but I don't practice any religion because I think belief in God is a person thing.

I donnow we may have discussed this. I donnot remember....was just trying to make up some topic.

I know democracy has done alot for DZ, and hopefully as they come out of their dark time and 2006 being their first good year...will do more.