Just for the record, Bali is a predominantly Hindu society, not Muslim. And while religion is enshrined in the Indonesian constitution, the founders of modern Indonesia deliberately evaded the question of 'what religion?'. They acknowledged the diversity within their population and decided that it was enough for people to have some sort of religious belief, rather than specifying that they must all be Muslims. I guess the only people discriminated against in that situation were (and still are) the atheists.

Webby,

Catholicism was not the Church of the early Christians. The early Christians were essentially focused on martydom, maintaining their virginity and their early expectation of the "end times".

The Catholic Church is the reminant of Constantine trying to keep the declining Roman Empire together. Likewise, Mohammed needed to unify the Arabs too, agsinst the encroachment of Christianity and the Persians.

The common character to the three monotheists faiths is Abraham, not Jesus.

The first sixteen Bishops of Rome were Jewish. A Latin leader was required only after those of the Jewish faith were expelled by Hadrian to Pella. Having a Latin leader (Marcus) was a device to be able to pray in the Holy Land. No Jews were allowed.

Pagans or Pangi were civil persons. Alternatively,the Jews and Christians were atheists, because they were too exclusive and did not pray for the safety of the Roman emperor. There would few if any Australian pagans, worshipping the Roman pantheon.

The Egyptians, Greeks and Romans developed systems to allow myths to merge or have the same god by two names. The closest the Christians come to this is Elohim cum Yahweh cum Jehovah. The trinity was likely a Nicaean compromise to the Roman system. The Egyptians had a trinity long before the Nicaean Christians.

O.

It all depends upon what is going to be taught at these Islamic schools beyond the set states curriculum.

If the school is being funded by the Saudis which is a highly likely then the religious curriculum will contain a high level of extreme anti semitic and anti western material, as well violence against non believes. According Freedom House the curriculum funded bythe wahhabis has still NOT been cleaned up as the the Saudis promised to do.

The material in the three Koranic books is overwhelmingly anti western and anti non believer-death to the kuffar stuff. One doesnt need to quote and counter quote selected verses, just read this statistical summary of the words themselves.

http://www.newenglishreview.org/custpage.cfm/frm/28244/sec_id/28244

Until the religion has been cleaned up and brought into the 21st century people should be concerend about these Islamic Schools if only because what is likely to be taught, is not in our best interests.

Webby,

I agree that ethical standards are probably declining,particularly in modern citizens relationship and respect for the rule of law.This is one of the dysfunctions of multiculturalism where each cultural/relgious group maintains its own rules of conduct and weakens the liberal democratic state. However I certainly don't think that a return to Catholic theocracy is the solution, unless you're a devout believer.The reason that some people fear Islam is obviously because of the imperialism and oppression of non-Moslems by Moslems over the past 1400 years,it still continues in Islamic countries. What I tried to point out is that so-called "Anglo Christian tribalism" is a response to Islamic tribalism,it's a game we're all forced to play because of the pernicious doctrine of cultural relativism. On a personal note, many years ago I went on a tour of the Inquisition dungeons in Lima, nothing I have every read brought home the horrors and barbarity of theocracy as in that ghastly place where dissidents and heretics were murdered (and Jews of course,as usual, because they stubbornly refused to see the truth and the light).

Oliver,
I could add that the Romans realised the dangerous totalitarian threat Christians posed to the Roman state and to the intellectual tolerance of pagan society, they were right-no more theocracies Christian or Moslem.

I remember an incident that took place
when my two sons were growing up - and
there was a lot of negativity towards
Asians in the media at the time.
I decided to ask
one of my children whose best friend
at school was from China.

"Do you know that Benjamin is Chinese?"
I asked my son.

My son stared at me in silence for a few
minutes, then shrugged and said,

"Mum, he's Benjamin, my best friend!"

Out of the mouths of children...

Otokonoko,

O.M.G! How dumb am I? Thanks for pointing that out: I honestly was not aware that Bali differed!

However, Indonesia is 88% Muslim and thus the point I was trying to make still stands, I think.

The argument I was refuting was the oft-cited "You couldn't do it in their country" one, and so the very fact that Indonesia, which is predominately Muslim, tolerates and does not interfere with a Hindu Bali still stands in contravention of this.

Also in Malaysia, another predominantly Muslim country, the fact that Hindi and Buddhist temples are situated often only a few doors away from Islamic mosques further proves that things are not as black and white as is claimed.

This does not ignore the fact that there are more rigid countries with more repressive codes: - but all this goes to show in my view is that, as with Christianity or other forms of religion, one cannot make sweeping and blanket generalisations.

There are pockets of the USA or Europe where the brand of Christianity practiced is repressive, rigid and fanatically proselytizing but this doesn't represent the beliefs of every practicing Christian.

I have Muslim friends whose only connection with Islam is that they ticked that box when applying for the passports to make their parents happy - and just about the same number of friends who ticked Christian for the same reason.

I've friends from all denominations who never go to service or have any knowledge of their Holy books: Hindi, Muslim, Jewish and Christians alike. While others go to services but never bring anything away from these sessions that affects their daily lives.

Yet the idea persists that anyone identifying with the tag Muslim is going to be a wild-eyed fanatic with terror in their hearts and bombs cached under their floorboard.

And that's why the very idea of a mosque - where dozens of aforesaid wild-eyed fanatics will gather - continues to strike fear into many people. No matter how its rationalized, it really is only fear of the unknown which that motivates many such people.