The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #130546   Message #2940078
Posted By: Howard Jones
05-Jul-10 - 10:35 AM
Thread Name: Does Religion Deny Music to Children?
Subject: RE: Does Religion Deny Music to Children?
Kent, I'm no expert but I've a feeling that so far as Islam is concerned it's a little more complicated. If I've got it right, the sharia laws of Islam are based not only on the Qur'an and sayings of the Prophet, but on how these have been interpreted over the ages. It is in these interpretations that differences arise.

However this is not principally about Islam, or fundamentalism, whether Muslim or Christian. It is about how we reconcile religious beliefs with the laws and norms of our society when they conflict. Should we allow some people to break the law because it conflicts with their own beliefs, or are some laws not considered important enough to matter? If the latter, should people then be allowed to break them for reasons other than religion? If they are not that important, should they be law in the first place?

If a Muslim, or a Christian, or a Jedi Knight for that matter, feels that for religious reasons their children should not attend music lessons, should a Flatearther be allowed to withdraw their children from Geography lessons? Should a Creationist withdraw from Biology lessons? Where should we draw the line?