aqvar
I contemplated this question as I spoke with a Somali bloke at the easter Islamic conference/seminar in Melbourne some time back.

"Can there be acceptance of Muslims in Australia" it depends....

I think if they are simply 'nominal' and good blokes and sheila's.. fine. Not many people will make much fuss.

But the problem comes with how serious they are as Muslims. Close scrutiny of history and the foundation documents and traditions, show a non acceptance of Christians and Jews especially by Muslims at the doctrinal level.

A serious, knowledgable Muslim living along side of you, a Christian would be thinking "Yep.. if we gain power, you are just a DHIMMI" and then your rights would suddenly be withdrawn in many areas. You would no longer be free to proclaim the gospel.. which is part of our faith "Go into all the world, make disciples of all nations" etc"

The denial of that basic right in Muslim controlled countries is anathema to Christians. Here is how it works when Muslims have the political power. I know of no muslim controlled country which legally allows Christians to convert or evangelize Muslims.

http://www.westernresistance.com/blog/archives/003402.html

[The 13 states of Malaysia have mostly adopted the Control and Restriction Bill, which gives a fine of 10,000 ringit ($2,653) or imprisonment for up to one year for "persuading, influencing a Muslim to leave Islam for another religion."]

VALUES. For me the most important thing is 'what values' are growing "with" the Islamic community? The above should be self evident.

Remember, I've lived in Malaysia and have felt this first hand.

My area. 25% Muslims max
-5:00am WAILLLLLLLING of the call to prayer at about a GIGAwatt from the moque.
-Friday "Muslim sermon broadcast to the whole town"

Do they REALLY think we non Muslims want to be ear bashed at a Gigawatt about Islam and Mohammad? :) NOT A CHANCE.

BOAZ David,
I can't say if I lived next door to a Mosque I would appreciate a 5am. shout to prayer but, then again I did live once directly across the street from a Catholic Church and got used to the sound of about 15min. of straight bell ringing each Sunday. Time tells. I would adapt and if I couldn't, I'd move. I'm no fan of evangelism. I've had the too many times experience of self righteous "Christians" tell me Catholicism is all wrong and I should join their Church of Blahblahbalh. And that only their Church was the real Christianity. I don't blame that on religion. I blame it on people. Jesus didn't say convert the world to Christianity. He said I am the way and the light and go among the people and be a living example that will bring us to the heavenly father. As in lead by doing. Not lead by talking trash on the court of religion. :-)
If you don't like how some Muslims behave set the example so they will have a comparative model. Then when you say something they will be more inclined to hear you. Otherwise you risk becoming like those church bells. You would have your voice but, only heard by those already like minded, and all others deaf to your shout to conversion. Besides a world of nothing but "Christians" would be no different than a world of nothing but Muslims. Be careful what you wish for. You wouldn't want to be placed in the book of "not our kind of Christian". Bad things start to happen.

Hi Aqvar
well.... 15 minutes of bells would probably drive me batty too :)

Though, I think Church bells are not until later in the morning correct?

I'll criticize Roman Catholicism quite harshly, from a doctrinal point of view, mainly in the area of Transubstantiation, Indulgences, and rigid celibacy of Priests along with the doctrine of 'The Church' being that which must be obeyed rather than only Christ, or that obedience to Christ is interpeted as obedience to the RC Church.

That said, I would shudder at the thought of then claiming 'my' tradition is 'the' correct one. I think all traditions should be scrutinized in the light of scripture. The differences between Baptists and Brethren are miniscule and Church of Christ also.. Anglicans are closer to RC but there are evangelical and liberal Anglicans. I find the very term Church "OF ENGLAND" having no relevance whatsoever outside 'England' :)Just as the 'Roman' Catholic idea outside Rome.
The 'Church Catholic' in truth is the body of Christ comprising of all those with sincere and biblical faith, whatever their tradition.

So please don't ever think I'm campaigning for any particular denomination. (some call them 'abominations') If anything, I'm more a campaigner for Scriptural Christianity, and if my own thoughts ever became a 'movement' and then a 'denomination' it would be sad and it would have the same 'warts' as various others.

A visious cirle of religious bigotry well fed up with exceptionism, which is a simple apartheid itself.

Thanks for the link David

You are making sense to me.

BOAZ_David, There is no "the doctrine of 'The Church' being that which must be obeyed" in Roman Catholicism. That's an old tale told by Protestants to justify separating from Rome in the hopes of covering up the fact that the Church of England split from the Roman so the English Monarchy could dictate religious policy via law(see Henry The VIII). Henry approached the Eastern Orthodox Church (Eastern Catholic) and received no joy from them either for his immediate divorces. Which is all water under the bridge, as in ecumenical unity, or worldwide Christian cooperation. And not forgetting that the times have changed even if a few refuse to join in with the reconciliation. Not all Christians are worthy of the name and having this example with in Christianity ought to have Christians holding out a hand to Muslims in understanding. Instead many Christians have chosen to get all pissy and adopt an in the face reactionist attitude to the likes of Hilali et al setting the fools up to be someone considered by the media to be news worthy and therefore every grunt these people speaks immediately gets placed on the front page as if there was actual value in their condemnations.
Thankfully most recognize just how large a step it is to go from religious authoritarian dictatorship to secular social law and experiencing freedom on a single boat trip of a day or two, or plane trip of a matter of hours, and just how people like Hilali prey on that religious and cultural discombobulation.