How do you feel about Shari'a law in America?

Question

For those of you who don't keep up-to-date, in Minneapolis, Muslims are adhering to Shari'a law, a strict law code which, until recently, hasn't seen much use in the U.S. Shari'a law, outlined in the Koran, gives no rights at all to women. They are literally treated as half of a man. Shari'a also gives severe punishments, including death, to people who do not follow it.

In Minneapolis, Muslim cashiers are refusing to sell products such as bacon and sausage to customers because it "breeds sin". Muslim cab drivers are denying service to people who: have been drinking, are carrying alcohol, or have a DOG with them. Apparently, the Koran says dogs are evil or something of that sort.

If this sort of thing is happening, can't the meat-denying Muslim cashiers and cab drivers just switch jobs? They're forcing their religion on others. How about separation of church and state? Where are the boundaries?

Answer 1

Although I know that Sharia law is horrible, and although I agree that, as a Seventh-Day Adventist, pork is unclean and not fit for human consumption, I do not eat it myself, but I would not presume to keep others from eating it if they want. It's none of my business if they want to kill themselves slowly. However, people should respect the rights of the business owners to decide what they will or will not sell. The customers have a right not to frequent their business, and go to another store, if they have a problem with it.
One time, several years ago, I ordered a taxi; I had my Dalmatian with me, and since the taxi driver didn't know ahead of time that I had a dog, he refused to take me. I had to wait for another taxi driver who didn't care. I don't know whether the driver was Muslim or not; maybe he just didn't want the dog's dirty paws on his back seat. (But it's OK for a drunk to puke back there?)
By the way, they are not "forcing" their religion on others. You have a perfect right to refuse to patronize their business. You do not have a right to demand that everyone cater to you when doing so would violate their religious beliefs. The same goes for pharmacists who refuse to dispense Birth Control Pills, because they would be "contributing to the delinquency of a minor", and also because the EC Pill changes the uterine lining, which prevents the newly-conceived individual from implanting in the uterus, thus causing a very early abortion. This would make the pharmacist an accessory to murder, which, even though it is "legal", is immoral. So I completely sympathize with pharmacists who practice what they preach.

Answer 2

First you are combining two issues, the rights of individual Muslims to exercise free will and a question about sharia law.

The adherence to anything, republican party or fundamentalist Christian requires that you give up thinking and follow some polity. Your actions become dictated by others.

The law of the land describes what behavior is so bad that it will not be tolerated. This is the outer limits of our actions and not guidelines for good behavior. Religion is unlike law because it is trying to describe the best behavior. Sharia law is vestigial law from a period of lawlessness and has no place as a legal system today. But people can act in community using their freedom to not pick up drunks or exercise other freedom of action.

Answer 3

I know what you mean about getting a different job to align with your faith. I got my degree in advertising communications, did the internship at an agency - and pretty much decided there that I couldn't work at an agency because there were just some clients that I could not with good conscience support -

so I do in-house advertising and design for a product that I'm fine with. Has it limited my career - yes, but at least I still feel like I have my conscience.

Answer 4

If a cab driver refuses to take a service dog he is breaking the law. He should receive the appropriate penalty and almost certainly will if the owner chooses to press charges. Again, it is against US law to refuse to accept a service dog anywhere. If they want their own law to supersede US law, let them go somewhere else, or in this case, preferably prison.

Answer 5

If they want to live by those laws, for one; it doesn't surprise me. But also it's up to their religious freedom to live by those Laws UNTIL they begin to expect others to live by them. That is where I draw the line. If they own a buisness and that would typically include the selling of pork, and they do not want to, that's their buisness, but if they want to stop others from that, it's not their right to do it.

I think that you and I agree on the use of the term 'Separation of Church and State'. I would consider it a curse and the beginning of the end for freedom if it were to become a law of the land. It is 'unAmerican' (USA) and against the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. It would nullify the basic American mindset of freedom.

Answer 6

I don't know quite what to say to all of this, but speration of church and state clearly only means the government can't force a religion on it's people, like western Europe use to do back in it's early days. we are allowed to speak and show our religion as granted by our freedom of religion, but we can't deny someone the right to do the same therfore there religion.

Answer 7

The Muslim cab drivers are breaking the law when they refuse to accept customers who have liquor. If they will not follow American secular law they should be fired.

Answer 8

Private businesses have the right to refuse service to anyone. You also have the right to shop at places that cater to what you need. If this was a Christian bookstore (which may not sell things that they consider sinful) I doubt this would even be a question. There are also Christian groups that deny women rights---ever hear of the Quiverfull movement?

Answer 9

Religious freedom is what make America great. If you want to worship marshmellows go right ahead. Doesn't mean I have to go to your all marshmellow store.

If it works for them then so be it. As long as they adhere to the US and State laws they are free to do whatever they like.

Answer 10

How can they be making their own laws that supersede the laws that are enforced by the state? This is actually not possible because the state has enforceable laws against that.