Two weeks ago we discussed whether to put the ground zero mosque story on the air. The only thing that was stopping us was that the initial spike in interest in the story had been the week before. In the end we decided we run with it, and here we are now with the debate getting bigger by the day. We should've known that journalist's pre-occupation with avoiding 'old' stories is not shared by most of you.
Kaggwa Myga Andrew in Africa - If they are given that site they won't only satisfy Osama's boys but disgruntle those who lost their loved ones in the name of islam
Comment sent via BLOG
17:29
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Steve on the blog - Obviously, religious freedom isn't absolute. We have laws against polygamy here in the west. You cannot conduct human sacrifice, even if your religion called for it. Say if your religion called on the use of illegal drugs for religious purposes. It's still illegal.
Comment sent via Facebook
17:27
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Abdiazeez Chrome - Whats democracy if Muslims in the US cant practice their religion in peace?
Comment sent via Facebook
17:26
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Craig Kedda - Religion convinced the world that there's an invisible man in the sky who watches everything you do. And there's 10 things he doesn't want you to do or else you'll go to a burning place with a lake of fire until the end of eternity. But he loves you!
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17:25
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Gary Paudler on the blog: I don't think that religious freedom should be absolute; one's beliefs must not excuse murder, abuse or anti-social behavior. But a cultural center blocks from "ground-zero", where America's mega-patriots have failed to build much of anything on hallowed, and commercially incredibly valuable, ground, comes nowhere near challenging even moderate limits of religious freedom.
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17:24
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Elias on the blog: No where is there Utopia, accordingly, in the name of freedom, the building of a mosque on 'Ground Zero' is diabolical and downright disgusting to the relatives and friends of all those killed there. If allowed to build such a mosque in the name of freedom, would it also be right to invite Ben Laden to innaugerate the opening of the mosque?
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17:24
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Abdelilah Boukili on the blog: Nine years after 9/11 is enough to put non-Muslims in perspective about Islam. It is the religion of more than 1.2 billion people, the greatest majority of whom are against violence and all forms of terrorism. In the Muslim world, the extremists are a tiny minority. They have little chance to come to power. The combat against extremisms should come from all sides.
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17:23
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Bob Howes on the blog: Perhaps the problem isn't too much religious freedom--it's too much religion. With the sheer number of religions all claiming to be the "one true way", disputes like this are inevitable.
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17:21
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Craig Kedda in Britain - Religion is heroin for the masses wake up people and start thinking for yourself!
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17:20
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Robyn Lexigton KY on the blog - I understand the difference between Islam and the extremists, but some how it doesn't seem right. I hope the differences of opinion will not lead to violence. That would be a sad event.
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17:19
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Abu Bakarr Kamara in Africa - The twin towers were bombed by terrorists and there acts are unacceptable by islam. It's not only christians who died in those twin towers, muslims also died too.There is absolutely nothing wrong in building a mosque close to the site.
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17:18
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Linda from Italy on the blog - In the nearest village, everyday at 12 noon, the local church also uses heavy-metal power amps to bash out a couple of church bell choruses of the Lourdes Hymn, again so disastrously out of tune as to set your teeth on edge.
Maybe freedom worship should only be allowed without the electronic amplification and a requirement for the priesthood should be the ability to sing/chant in tune
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17:17
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Lombe Ndau in Africa - Just not at Ground Zero. Some were else yes, but not there, that is a memorial site for people. The fact remains, that the people brought down the towers were muslims and were part of the islam teachings and the world.
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17:17
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Tuxi Tuku in Africa - America is just highlighting it's hypocrisy in matters where they think certain laws from their constitutional do not apply. The whole thing is ridiculous because first of all, it's not a mosque, but a community centre with a mosque in it.
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17:05
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Ben S here in Montreal. We''re going to be live on air in one hour''s time. The questions today are: 1) Should there be limits to religious freedom? and 2) What is it like to live in a violent city?
Can you have too much religious freedom?
| Monday, 8 Aug. 2010 | 18:04 - 19:04 GMT
Two weeks ago we discussed whether to put the ground zero mosque story on the air. The only thing that was stopping us was that the initial spike in interest in the story had been the week before. In the end we decided we run with it, and here we are now with the debate getting bigger by the day. We should've known that journalist's pre-occupation with avoiding 'old' stories is not shared by most of you.
Your comments
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Kaggwa Myga Andrew in Africa - If they are given that site they won't only satisfy Osama's boys but disgruntle those who lost their loved ones in the name of islam
Comment sent via BLOG
Steve on the blog - Obviously, religious freedom isn't absolute. We have laws against polygamy here in the west. You cannot conduct human sacrifice, even if your religion called for it. Say if your religion called on the use of illegal drugs for religious purposes. It's still illegal.
Comment sent via Facebook
Abdiazeez Chrome - Whats democracy if Muslims in the US cant practice their religion in peace?
Comment sent via Facebook
Craig Kedda - Religion convinced the world that there's an invisible man in the sky who watches everything you do. And there's 10 things he doesn't want you to do or else you'll go to a burning place with a lake of fire until the end of eternity. But he loves you!
Comment sent via BLOG
Gary Paudler on the blog: I don't think that religious freedom should be absolute; one's beliefs must not excuse murder, abuse or anti-social behavior. But a cultural center blocks from "ground-zero", where America's mega-patriots have failed to build much of anything on hallowed, and commercially incredibly valuable, ground, comes nowhere near challenging even moderate limits of religious freedom.
Comment sent via BLOG
Elias on the blog: No where is there Utopia, accordingly, in the name of freedom, the building of a mosque on 'Ground Zero' is diabolical and downright disgusting to the relatives and friends of all those killed there. If allowed to build such a mosque in the name of freedom, would it also be right to invite Ben Laden to innaugerate the opening of the mosque?
Comment sent via BLOG
Abdelilah Boukili on the blog: Nine years after 9/11 is enough to put non-Muslims in perspective about Islam. It is the religion of more than 1.2 billion people, the greatest majority of whom are against violence and all forms of terrorism. In the Muslim world, the extremists are a tiny minority. They have little chance to come to power. The combat against extremisms should come from all sides.
Comment sent via BLOG
Bob Howes on the blog: Perhaps the problem isn't too much religious freedom--it's too much religion. With the sheer number of religions all claiming to be the "one true way", disputes like this are inevitable.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Craig Kedda in Britain - Religion is heroin for the masses wake up people and start thinking for yourself!
Comment sent via BLOG
Robyn Lexigton KY on the blog - I understand the difference between Islam and the extremists, but some how it doesn't seem right. I hope the differences of opinion will not lead to violence. That would be a sad event.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Abu Bakarr Kamara in Africa - The twin towers were bombed by terrorists and there acts are unacceptable by islam. It's not only christians who died in those twin towers, muslims also died too.There is absolutely nothing wrong in building a mosque close to the site.
Comment sent via BLOG
Linda from Italy on the blog - In the nearest village, everyday at 12 noon, the local church also uses heavy-metal power amps to bash out a couple of church bell choruses of the Lourdes Hymn, again so disastrously out of tune as to set your teeth on edge. Maybe freedom worship should only be allowed without the electronic amplification and a requirement for the priesthood should be the ability to sing/chant in tune
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Lombe Ndau in Africa - Just not at Ground Zero. Some were else yes, but not there, that is a memorial site for people. The fact remains, that the people brought down the towers were muslims and were part of the islam teachings and the world.
Comment sent via YOURSAY
Tuxi Tuku in Africa - America is just highlighting it's hypocrisy in matters where they think certain laws from their constitutional do not apply. The whole thing is ridiculous because first of all, it's not a mosque, but a community centre with a mosque in it.
Comment sent via host
Ben S here in Montreal. We''re going to be live on air in one hour''s time. The questions today are: 1) Should there be limits to religious freedom? and 2) What is it like to live in a violent city?