French approve ban on burqas...

To sort of link to my thread about China, it will be interesting if they continue to gain influence in other countries also being influenced by Islam because their government is opposed to religion (or perhaps has made itself and nationalism the religion) and frequently clashes with the minority Muslim populations in the north-west. I expect that a big conflict will never really take place though. I believe that the Islamic thing will never really become bigger than it is now while China's influence, based as it is on money, has a lot more potential to expand. A lot of people can comfortably ignore the Islamic community but if China gets its hands on the purse strings, they will not be able to ignore that because the economy concerns everyone.

Whoops, what a typo. Of course I meant churches in the second instance, not mosques.

Textbook wrote: I know him through someone else, he's not a close personal acquaintance. I don't know all the details of the story anyway but I'd like to keep it vague because he doesn't want people identifying him. But basically there was nothing that amazing about it. He said he didn't even have to talk to people as much as he thought he would- he thinks he could have had quite poor Arabic and still gotten away with it and that the examination and moment of truth he was constantly anticipating never really came. What he did has been done more than once anyway.

Nah understood.
Wow, I know every experience will be different but that is fascinating it was, mundane. I know I would be scared out of my mind that an "examination" would occur.
Again, not that I'd do it, but thanks for the story!

I know him through someone else, he's not a close personal acquaintance. I don't know all the details of the story anyway but I'd like to keep it vague because he doesn't want people identifying him. But basically there was nothing that amazing about it. He said he didn't even have to talk to people as much as he thought he would- he thinks he could have had quite poor Arabic and still gotten away with it and that the examination and moment of truth he was constantly anticipating never really came. What he did has been done more than once anyway.

Textbook wrote: I know of a Jewish guy who experienced Hajj undercover. He said it was really quite mundane. Lots and lots of praying basically. And in response to CPicard's question, all of them basically, though some like Oman can be a little more liberal.

Yeah probably, but I'm big on the experience thing. I can look at a random tavern in Gettysburg and feel overwhelmed, just know "what happened in this place" I personally would probably get quite a feeling from the experience.

And thats amazing, you actually know someone who went undercover? Not that I want to try, but he say anything about how? Like just went in undercover and got through it?

I know of a Jewish guy who experienced Hajj undercover. He said it was really quite mundane. Lots and lots of praying basically.

And in response to CPicard's question, all of them basically, though some like Oman can be a little more liberal.

CPicard wrote: Padraic wrote: CPicard wrote: Textbook wrote: Someone said that the Muslims tolerating us is just as difficult. Please take a trip to an Arabic country, where you will learn they they do not. They don't even pretend to. Christian churches and services are actually illegal for a start off. Which countries are you talking about, exactly? Names, facts, we want informations. Muslims are welcome to visit St. Peter's basilica if they want. You go and try to visit Mecca and see what happens. Yes, the Mecca, of course. But we are talking countries forbidding Christian churches and services. I guess Saudi Arabia must be one of these states.

CPicard wrote: Textbook wrote: Someone said that the Muslims tolerating us is just as difficult. Please take a trip to an Arabic country, where you will learn they they do not. They don't even pretend to. Christian churches and services are actually illegal for a start off. Which countries are you talking about, exactly? Names, facts, we want informations.

Someone said that the Muslims tolerating us is just as difficult. Please take a trip to an Arabic country, where you will learn they they do not. They don't even pretend to. Christian churches and services are actually illegal for a start off.