Quote:Today I learned that Islam is the only religion with a history of barbaric violence...


I would submit to your that cultures and those in power of those cultures are responsible for violence and barbarism, and they have co-opted many every major religion throughout history to justify it.

While I might modify that to say individuals are responsible, I think I get what you are saying. 

 

Still, for discussions' sake, let me throw this out and see what you think. A lot of folks get upset when a city or state has, say, the 10 commandments on government property. They object to the violation of separation of church and state. If such separation is good, why is it so? Also, if such separation is good, what are we to make of areas where Sharia is in effect? 

 

I am not sure of the actual impact of Sharia in terms of, say, homosexuality. I have read some reports that say 'dozens' of homosexuals were killed in an area through Sharia. Given what I understand about percentages of homosexuals, dozens seems to be a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of the likely practicing homosexuals, so I wonder what that actual societal impact is. Any death is a tragedy. I am just trying to get a handle on what happens in a society with Sharia. Also, even if the state 'only' kills dozens, are there many more killed without recrimination by private individuals? Trying to get an idea of the extent of the repression.

 

I am not saying that we need to go on an anti-jihad against societies with Sharia. But others have raised the issue as one impacting individuals. Wondering if there is any way to delineate how much is possible ideological versus well, the standard issues of power, money, and revenge.

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