Since the Berlin Wall came down almost twenty-five years ago, and communism imploded with the disintegration of the USSR and China's embrace of "to be rich is glorious", western eyes have needed another Other. Islam, with its cultural strangeness and its enviable wealth has fit the bill.
Instead of learning, we have been taught to fear. Zionist Israel has led the charge by playing on this fear like a piano.
It's about time we had another look. There's so much more to Islam than we have allowed.
Take but two examples. Historically, where would our numeracy be without the Zero? And today, what has our embrace of sexual immodesty added to our lives?

I find the article disingenuous as Shariah banking (a version of venture capital) does not violate any Australian laws, just as selling halal food. There is no restriction on groups applying their own ethics or practices where there is no conflict with common or criminal law.

It is entirely a different matter if someone wants to enforce these practices on others.

In "Government needs honesty on Shariah" (15 April 2013), Joseph Wakim criticizes the Australian Government for promoting Islamic banking while not supporting "Shariah law". It was not clear if the author supports Shariah law, or opposes it, or what aspects they might support or oppose. In my view it is quite feasible for the Australian Government to support Islamic banking, without it having any wider implications.

In 2008 I attended a Corporate Governance Conference at the Securities Commission, Kuala Lumpur, the regulator for Islamic capital markets in Malaysia. From this I got the impression that Islamic Banking has much in common with ethical investment by Australian companies such as "Australian Ethical Investment". You can already choose a range of ethical investment funds in Australia, which avoid investing in gambling and the like. Of course what is considered ethical to invest in will depend on your beliefs. If seems quite feasible to have Australian business investments compatible with Islamic business practices.

More at: http://www.tomw.net.au/blog/labels/Malaysian%20Corporate%20Governance%20Conference%202008.html

Halduell,

Like so much of its maths, I think you will find that the Muslim world borrowed the zero from Hindu priests in India, as it borrowed algebra and trigonometry.

In his magnificent book, 'The crest of the peacock', George Joseph pointed out that,

" .... As regards zero, there are only two original sources of its use in a modern number system: by the Maya, and by the Indians around the beginning of the Christian era." (p. 22)

i.e., 'discovery' of the zero pre-dates Islam. In fact, Islam has always been a great borrower, and in justice, has advanced much of the scientific and mathematical understandings of the time - in that sense, it has stood on the shoulders of giants, just as we do now.

Cheers,

Joe

Have we all read the laws to enter Dubai, if you are travelling there be very wary , or you may be deported very quickly on minor to us things, as an example Codeine in headache pills, leave those at home and go with Aspirin, if you are not married and wish to stay in your hotel in the same room then forget that, and the list goes on and on, imprisonment and deportation seem to be the order of the day. We as tourists feel intimidated by such laws but do our best to overcome the problems while visiting there and obeying their laws, although Dubai I believe does not practise Sharia law to the extent of other Muslim countries, it seems to be alive and well there, we do not at any future time in Australia to have these laws thrust upon us here, business suits cover a multitude of sins under the disguise of being one of your countries people but at the same time only too happy to bring in their countries law of Sharia by buying up our land etc, be very wary.

RELIGION IS JUST THAT! basically "a dream in the head" all of them claim "divine inspiration" NO proof just their "belief" which if questioned can lead to being MURDERED.
If people need to have a religion that is their choice, BUT that "CHOICE" must not in any way interfere with those of us who are not interested, if they must practice their belief system we do not need these practices encroaching on any aspect of our lives, in the privacy of their own homes or their church OK but not marching down our streets like the so-called "youth day". we need protection from the various "nutters" of religion we don't need their "foot in the door" attitude and their insistence that we become one of them or we are deemed "unworthy" so-called "infidel"(not worthy of being alive)any attempt to impose any form of religious laws MUST be rejected.