We are in a bit of a bind here, eh?: -we allow freedom to...

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    We are in a bit of a bind here, eh?:
    -we allow freedom to profess and practice religion
    -we want to deny Muslim's that right.

    Do we change the Constitution or do we want to change the definition of what a religion is so that fundamental Islam
    is precluded?. For all you primary school philosophers out there, those are your options; otherwise simply cop it sweet
    as is.

    Like the Jews of the Middle Ages, current Muslims have a problem integrating with non-Muslim society mostly by self imposed Apartheid. To many Aussies this Religious/Cultural hub is a symbol of the path to the next generation of alienated Muslim youth which many perceive as the fuel for militant Islam. All that is needed is one in a thousand youth converted to terrorism and we have an enduring security problem not to mention the associated costs.

    Islam with its Sharia Law is more extreme than say Christianity or Judaism because it formalises the prohibition of usury
    and strictly enforces Halal. Non usury means that Muslims do not use conventional banking but rather opt for cash or
    Muslim controlled banking. In Moorooka they use the slate rather than the credit card. This alienates Muslims from normal economic activities and makes them more dependant on Muslim networks and Muslim service providers.

    Similarly, strict adherence to Halal food standards (Halal regards average Aussie tucker as unclean) and abstaining from Alcohol
    makes your average Muslim at the Aussie backyard BBQ (the great Aussie social integrator and social leveller) ,
    to put it in Billy Connelly's words, "as welcome as a fart in a space suit".

    Not alone is Social/Economic integration a problem for Aussie Muslims, it seems to be a major problem for Muslims in Western Society generally.

    IMO, Australian Muslims ought to work on integrating their culture and religion with that of Australia's laid back inclusive system and many see the building of edifices such as the Durack proposal a cop out.

    Recent events in the UK & France should make us very wary indeed of Muslim enclaves which seem to be a breeding ground for
    militant Islam. All migrants go through a painful process of social integration and we have to be as accommodating as possible
    to make that transition for them as pleasant as possible but, conversely, migrant leadership and particularly migrant religious
    leadership has to be transparent in professing and practicing social integration and not social alienation.

    As an Atheist I favour freedom of worship by all religions but I have reservations if that freedom of religion leads to social
    alienation by some and the pain and suffering that that entails .
 
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