The problem lies in humanity requiring a level of divination in order to work, there will always be someone who will take control of a program or government through greed or a desire for power. Take for example the October revolution of 1917, the original plan for socialism/communism was a committee of equals that would run a nation of equals, the original defining ideology of 'all are equal' which rapidly devolved into George Orwells 'Some are more equal than others' and ended up as a dictatorship of sorts where a handful of men controlled a nation of millions.

I don't think that there has been a political system in human history that has not gradually devolved into something similar, the Roman senate became ruled by the Emperor, Cromwell deposed the King but found that he had to become leader afterwards as no-one could decide what to do with the country.

It's funny, the bible uses the reference of the 'Shepherd' and his 'flock', comparing humanity as a whole to a herd of sheep, and history has shown that to be a relatively accurate symbology as our instinct goes.
Maybe this will change in the future, certainly we have seen a move away from religion in the western world, which has worried the church greatly (enough to make them take a concerted effort to clean up the choir boy problems, so it must be serious) however we still find distinct prejudices against people of different faiths, races, financial backgrounds, rampant in our societies. Since 9/11 there's a deep distrust of Muslims, since the financial crisis, there's a deep distrust of anyone on state benefits, and let's not even get started on the race problems in the west. I wish I could be as hopeful as some about the future of humanity and that we may one day shed these prejudices and be able to co-exist on equal terms, but I don't think that it will be in my lifetime or even that of my childrens lifetime (should I have any) or perhaps even their childrens, but maybe one day, if we don't send ourselves back to the dark ages first. :yep:

I don't care what religion they are, that's just stupid :nope:

I don't think the religion's the problem. I've heard of plenty of Muslims who would condemn the treatment she's receiving.

Passion plays never end well. Somebody always gets Sprucified.:timeout:

You gotta admire her dedication to her faith.

I don't think I would ever feel comfortable living, or even visiting, a country that has a non-secularism based government.

Religion should always be a personal choice.

It has to be personal in that the government plays no part in encouraging or discouraging any specific religion or any religion at all

It has to be a choice, as citizens of a country need to have the freedom to, within the laws, exercise their religious culture or not exercise their religious culture as they see fit.

A government that does not recognize that religion is a personal choice should not be considered a legitimate government in the context of freedom and fairness. But a lot of people disagree with my opinion. I have to recognize that just over 25% of the countries of the world do not accept the "Universal Declaration of Human Rights" when it comes to religious freedom. cf the Cairo Declaration.

Again, in my opinion, a religion that does not recognize that religion is a personal choice should not be considered a legitimate religion in the context operating in our human societies.

To me, killing someone because they changed their minds about a religion is completely abhorrent to me and I honestly can't understand that mindset.

What another person believes, disbelieves, or changes their belief, does not, should not, and never will have any real effect on what I believe or disbelieve.

That's why I have never been to any of the square states. :D

Religion is just an organized way to serve God, but we don't all have the same god.

Islam is a religion ... Christianity is not a religion even though there are religious factions within the following of the teachings of Jesus Christ such as the Roman Catholic church and then we have faith groups such as Baptist and Methodist and so on, but being a Christian is simply being a follower of the Son of God most high Jesus Christ.

This persecution of a Christian for her faith is nothing new. The first Christians were burned at the stake, skinned alive, cast out of the synagogue's and the market places forced into slavery and fed to the lions.

Before Nero burned Rome down he would order all of the Christians to be tied on crosses in his garden while his Roman guards came along with a pitcher of kerosene and allow each believer to renounce this Jesus as their Lord and accept Nero as their only God.

One by one they would decline and the solider would throw kerosene on them, but if one were to be weak and agree they would let that person go.

Then when all was ready Nero would come down from his palace and step into his waiting chariot stripping himself naked and take a flaming torch setting each one of the Christians on fire in his garden.

The faith in Jesus Christ has gone through many difficulties in the last 1,984 years since Jesus hung on that cross on Calvary, but the end is not yet in sight.

It is written that the believers in Jesus Christ win in the end ... :yep:

Of course it is a religion.

That definition works for Islam too, there's Sunnis and Shias, and from that there's the various schools and approaches to Sunni Islam, and just as many, if not more different schools of belief in Shia Islam.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic...s_and_branches

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._denominations

Religious nutters of all stripes have been persecuting one another since the dawn of time. Strangely this has been a particular feature of middle eastern Judaic root religions since christianity and Islam broke away centuries ago.

When religions force their ways on others...
 

:stare:Armageddon out of here.

Maybe for people who clump everything together, but not for the true believer who is guided by the Words of Jesus not by the words of man.

http://www.christinyou.net/pages/Xnotrel.html

It's easy to make yourself special when you make up your own definitions. By the dictionary's definition, Christianity is indeed a religion.

re·li·gion
/rɪˈlɪdʒhttp://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/...una/thinsp.pngən/ Show Spelled [ri-lij-uhhttp://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/...una/thinsp.pnghttp://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/...una/thinsp.pngn]

noun
1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.

3. the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.

4. the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion.

5. the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.

In actual fact, Christianity is simply another Judaic sect. Nothing more nothing less.