Zacs - // ‘it infers that direct experience of something is essential in order to have an opinion on it’
Not essential at all. Just gives a bit of gravitas to ones argument to have actually experienced what life is like in the bosom of that particular religion, rather than talking from an assumed viewpoint. //
That somewhat pre-supposes that anyone who has spent any time in a Muslim country is automatically conversant with the intricacies of its faith, which is nonsense.
I live in a Christian country, and have spent sixty-four yrars and counting in it - but I would not presume to pronounce on the finer points of Christian doctrrine, because I am an atheist.
// Forgive me for my preference for informed debate. //
No need to be sarcastic, everyone likes informed debate, but let's not assume that level of information to be at a particular level, especially with no evidence to support that assumption.