Catholcs in the 16th Century....

[R1Geezer]

Just watched "Elizabeth"(1998), Is the portrayal of the Catholics a fair one of the time? If so would you agree they where the equivalent of the Islamic fundementalists today? Is Islam going through this sort of "You're a evil Heretic if you don't follow our faith" sort of episode. Do you think a future Islam will be more like the Catholic Faith of the present?

[tiggerblue10]

Maybe Muslim Extremists would like to bring back burning at the stake. They certainly don't care about blowing themselves up or beheading those that they consider as being Heretics.

The majority of Muslims are peaceful, its just the extremists that have no respect for other religions. And they are in the minority so I don't think it will ever come to that. Well I certainly hope not anyway!

[jake-the-peg]

Yes the majority of Catholics at the time were too.

You could also make a comparison with the extreme protestant views of Cromwell and Co a hundred years later.

It's tempting to see other parts of the world on the same path as us in Western Europe just further back at different stages but I'm not that convinced.

I think religious zealotry is tied up with education and affluance and we could still get sucked backwards in that regard in the way that you can see happening in the US

[cassa333]

If the majority of Muslims are peaceful how come there is such dread of anything Islamic? How come (mostly) everyone is too frightened to criticise them? To say enough is enough?. How come the powers that be are even thinking of bringing shira law into our own legal system? Why are Muslim fanatics allowed to abuse our returning soldiers but we can't stand and openly reply with like?

If the Muslims fanatics are such a small part of Islam how come the rest of the Muslim community doesn't just shut them up themselves.

We allow them the voice with our inept pc and hr act and the rest of the Muslim community turns a blind eye in the hope they win the fight without having to lift a finger in opposition.

[jake-the-peg]

People have irrational fears.

How many people have been hurt by spiders?

[Octavius]

Lost count of all the soldiers in Iraq who have unfortunately discovered a camel spider in their bivy bag.

[jake-the-peg]

http://www.snopes.com/photos/bugs/camelspider. asp

[Octavius]

All that tells me is that they lied about its size and speed.

Something I do and don't do in equal measure.

[McMouse]

Jake.............how many spiders wear explosive belts?

[keyplus90]

Even spiders do not wear explosive belts unless someone invades their homeland with latest at the time weaponary.

[CrazyCathy]

Don't think they are thinking of bringing sharia law into our own legal system. There was discussion about bringing sharia law into use for muslims in their community here. Not the same thing but many muslims rejected it.

[modeller]

Much of Sharia Law is not in the Koran itself nor in the Haddith but both were misinterpreted to serve the interests of the extremists. In fact women had far more rights at the time of Mohammed than at almost any time since. Many Christian extremists also believe and wish to enforce their interpretation of the Old Testament and that goes back 5,000 odd years . So I don't think any of the faiths are likely change are likely to change .

[jno]

it's about the 15th century for Islam now, and they're pretty much where Christianity was in the 15th century. That goes for all Christians: Protestants were as brutal as Catholics.