Blasphemy!!!

I was thoroughly disgusted by the leader of the Anglican Communion, Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury's suggestion that Syariah Law should be implemented within Birtish society to ensure that all social cohesion among the various religious groups is maintained...

As a lifelong Anglican myself, one born and bred within the Anglican church, it is simply sacrilegious to propose the partial implementation of Syariah Law over that of British State Law, which, despite its secular nature, incorporated key Christian concepts which has since defined British society and kept peace in the land. It would seem like Christian leaders in Europe have long abandoned the cross for the coin and coiffure offered by the secular world, claiming to propagate inclusion and embrace all races and religions. It was the same pacifist attitude which European political and religious leaders(especially those in the United Kingdom) took during the early 19th century which allowed Adolf Hitler to initiate what has long been acknowledged as one of the worse war and genocide (of gays, jews and gypsies) in history!!!

As if the row over the ordination of homosexual bishops within the episcopal church was insufficient a controversy and worst!An ordination which far trespassed the grounds of blasphemy and blatant disregard for biblical truths. I myself might be a moderate at heart and be at peace with homosexuals but where faith and the Word of God is concerned, there can be no let-ups....for to do so would be to demonstrate the greatest form of arrogance in presuming to create a designer religion of falsehood under the banner of Christianity...utterly unacceptable.

Yes, we should encourage and promote racial and religious tolerance but there are acceptable limits as to how far we should go about it and violation of God's Word is a definite nono...

On a more logical and objective note:
Who are we to dictate how syariah law should be made applicable to certain religious or ethnic groups? In a secular socity such as that of United Kingdom, can I not be a Liberal-minded Pakistani Muslim who desires to be liberated from the shackles and binding regulations of Syariah Law, hence my rationale for migrating to UK from my native country in the first place? Likewise,on a secular note, if faith is a relationship between God and Man, then what right those one man have to punish another in the name of God?Surely to make such an assumption would be to unintentionally but surely violate the rights of individuals who have chosen by free will to be excluded from Syariah Law.Perhaps such individuals would be considered to be deviants or even heretics but under British laws, aren't such individuals deserving of protection as well?

Of course, there might be dissidents who might argue that if that was the case, we should make Syariah Law applicable only to those who desire to subject themselves to it.However, such a senario would give rise to numerous problems:

1) If citizens are allowed to pick and choose what laws they desire to abide by, then what is the point of having a defined set of laws in the first place? So lets say stealing is punishable by death in accordance with Law A but is punishable with a fine in Law B, wouldn't it make perfect sense for the criminal or everyone in general(take note that we're assuming that the law would only apply to the citizen who chooses it) to choose Law B?

2) What happens when 2 individuals who adhere to 2 different set of laws get into a fight? how should the case be evaluated and judged?Such a senario(and I ensure you it won't just be an isolated incident) would certainly stir up a serious case of judicial headache!

3) What's the point of having and nurturing a common national identity if everyone abides by different laws such that not everyone is "equal" before the law?

4) If Civic and common law is enforced by the police, surely "moral police" as in most conservative Muslim countries would be responsible for enforcing Syariah Law? Should that happen, we would likely see a variety of cases in which an individual's privacy has been invaded (this is based on numerous news reports) even though they might not be Muslims?

Granted that integration and assimilation of the various interest groups is of essence to maintainance of peace and harmony in any society,it is vital to ensure that everyone is given equal opportunity to develop himself/herself to the fulless of one's capabilities. Security and hence, equality before the law is of utmost importance.

Even the partial implementation of Syariah Law could serverely disrupt the harmony within a society and challenge the traditions of another culture...a very minor yet significant example would be the recent furore raised over a certain primary school's notice to convert the school canteen to a 100% halal zone and in doing so, discriminated against non-Muslim kids who might have had a preference for non-halal food.

Of course, one could argue that it was an isolated case and I certainly do hope that this is the case but such occurences,no matter how isolated, have the possibility of ripping the fabric of tolerance, further etching into the minds of some, the unreasonable notion that all Muslims were intolerant and disrespectful of other religious and cultural beliefs and practices.

Hence, I would strongly urge Archbishop Rowan Williams to concentrate on healing the divide and righting the wrongs within the Anglican diocese and to consider very carefully his words before making any comments whatsoever.

Note: I entirely respect Islam and count Muslims among my friends and this article seeks to highlight the concerns as mentioned above rather then to propagate any form of hatred.