Scepticism in non secular societies

[Davethedog]

Are you allowed to be a sceptic in an Islamic society? i.e are there any, openly, sceptics in Saudi or Iran? What about Israel.

[jake-the-peg]

It was like that here not too long ago!

In 1881 Charles Bradlaugh an athiest was elected as an MP he tried to "affirm" rather than swear an oath of allegiance and was refused. He tried to take his seat and was arrested.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Bradlaugh

Blasphemy only ceased to be an offence in May last year

[Clanad]

As to the original question, the death penalty is imposed in many Islamic countries for conversion to another religion so I suspect basic scepticism is not well tolerated either.

However, the secular, non-observant Jewish person in Israel constitutes a large segment of that society. Depending on the actual content of the statistical information it can be around 25%, but other sources indicate as much as 43%...

[Davethedog]

Thanks Clanad - What about Seikhs and Hindu's are they allowed to be secular?

[jake-the-peg]

I think the point is that such laws generally only come about in a theocracy where religious people hold power.

Hinus and Seikhs are mostly in India which has a secular government.

[jno]

this really depends on the country. There are some Christians, not a lot, in Iran, Syria, Turkey and Egypt and it's not big deal. (This is different from Muslims converting to Christianity, though.) In Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, I wouldn't expect to find many. There are still Muslims in India too, but there's occasional violence between followers of different religions.

I don't think there's much of a problem for sceptics in Hinduism or Sikhism. But those Muslims who question Islam, in any country, may be in for a hard time, much as the Pilgrim Fathers were in England.

[Davethedog]

So is the only hard line - Islam?

[keyplus90]

No the only hard line are the stories. Few odd incidents are always every where. But things about Islam and Muslims are always exaggerated on the media with added spice.

[Davethedog]

Are you allowed to be a scepitc in Iran? Yes or no.

I haven't read anything in the media that's why I am asking.

Do not turn this into another "anti" muslim fun fest in fact just leave the thread alone if you cannot answer sensibly.

[beso]

I believe there would be skeptics. However since attempting to persuade anyone to leave the muslim faith is a crime in many Arab countries they tend not to say anthing about it.

[keyplus90]

I think it is allowed in Iran.

However what would you grade as a sensible answer?

[jake-the-peg]

I think - and I may be wrong in this that a number of muslim countries only have this hard line relating to those who convert from Islam or towards faiths like the ba'hi that they see as heretical forms of Islam.

There is tolerance to non-muslims without faith in a similar war to those non-muslims of another religion.

But I think it does depend greatly on the individual state.

TRying to lump all muslim countries together is like comparing Brazil and the UK as "Christian" countries

[birdie1971]

In Saudi Arabia the authorities mostly adhere to Wahhabism. So scepticism is not allowed.

Wahhabi theology treats the Koran and Hadith as fundamental texts � so no 'elbow room' is allowed. It is what it is.

To openly doubt Islam is to paint a target on your chest. Not the best of ideas given the punishments for apostates... death usually.

[tamborine]

In my business world I know Iranian & Pakistani muslims. There is no mosque in a 5mile radius.

These muslims dont show any particular affinity no brotherly handshakes, etc! and their children dont mix. Their wives are very western in dress & style. Me thinks they are sceptics in UK & that's why they live/work here.