Bahrain takes first step to separate Mosque from State

Comments

1. 
   anonymous

   20 Jul, '05 at 9:13

   Bahrain takes first step to separate Mosque from State

   Nope, I don’t think Islam will be surgically removed from the Bahraini constitution. It’s not about what would be best for the nation. It’s about religious and cultural ego.

   Constitutions that have a state religion, state language, state flag, state colors, state mascot, etc… in their constitutions are playing towards the ego of their people. I really don’t see that changing.

   But it is interesting in how this happens in the first place. Just look at Iraq. Eventually, nations that don’t have stable and functioning institutions and a strong legal foundation end up putting a bunch of garbage in their constitutions… when it should strictly be about the government’s contract to the governed. (The protected rights of the people and the functional rules of the government)

   Besides, you couldn’t just delete the word Islam out the constitution to say that you have achieved the glorious “separation of mosque & state.” Language would have to forbid respect of any particular religious faith. Basically it would have to be agreed that the constitution trumps Shariah and maybe even parts of the noble Quran.

   So true separation is a pipe dream, but that shouldn’t stop people from thinking about novel ways to mitigate the effects.

2. 
   mahmood

   20 Jul, '05 at 9:55

   Re: Bahrain takes first step to separate Mosque from State

   here’s more food for thought, via Saudi Jeans:

   1.
   Secularism, doesn’t mean crushing religion, it just means creating a neutral space in which arguments between religious and secular people are settled by evidence, not dogma.

   2.
   One human rights truth, universally acknowledged, is that oil is an obstacle to democracy in every developing society. When a government can get what it needs out of oil derricks and ceases to derive its revenue from taxes, it loses any incentive to respond to the people.

   -Michael Ignatieff

   I think what we’re all looking for is Number 1 above. Once it is accepted that criticising religion is ok at least, then I’m ok with that as I won’t be potentially put to death. As it is, that particular clause in our constitution is inviolate, and it is that clause that the Islamists in all hues use to further their gains. After all, the constitution says so.

3. 
   NickUSA

   20 Jul, '05 at 12:45

   Bahrain takes first step to separate Mosque from State

   This is excellent!

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