Separate but Unequal

[martian687]

It's mind boggling to me that there exist countries where citizens are subject to different laws based on their religion. I wonder if there's a process for renouncing your religion or converting, so that you can be subject to the less-stringent laws.

Comments

[sillygoosegirl]

I think it is an interesting compromise between having a secular government and a religious one. Though it's a wholly academic distinction if the government doesn't recognize conversions...

[dclayh]

My understanding is that in these countries you're required to be whatever religion your parents are, and there are harsh penalties for apostasy (or even marrying someone of a different religion).

[martian687]

I had to look up the definition of apostasy. The wikipedia page lists various countries' punishments for it. The mind boggles even more. Dude, I didn't decide of my own free will to be born to Hindu parents; how can someone possibly justify punishing me for deciding I don't believe in the Hindu faith?!? Crazy.

[triath]

You also didn't decide to be born of a certain skin color, but people are treated differently for that reason also.

It makes the US's Freedom of Religion look pretty good, doesn't it? I mean, I complain about our country's limitations and bigotry all the time, but still, we've got it pretty good.

[snailprincess]

My guess is the majority would love to have everyone subject to the stricter laws, but for some reason don't think they can get away with it. Also, while you can probably convert to Islam simply by saying you want to, trying to leave Islam may be punishable by death.

[bonboard]

All of my Muslim friends that I've asked about the church/state, Sharia, parallel laws, conversions, etc. have said "It's totally different than what you have here, it's very complicated, and it's hard to explain it in terms you'd understand".

Martian, I expect you'd find it to be a difficult question to ask, "why do these laws apply only to Muslims?" because it would be interpreted something like "why does Islam apply only to Muslims?"

Supposedly, the "law" is not exactly separable from the "faith".

[snailprincess]

I generally find those 'it's hard to explain it in terms you'd understand,' kind of answers thoroughly unsatisfying. In general, I find it means either they don't actually understand it, or there really isn't anything approaching a logical explanation.

[bonboard]

I'm pretty hesitant to demand logical explanations on matters of religion.

But, the people I've met who've lived in Malaysia (or Singapore, or Indonesia) have generally been pretty favorable towards the experience. Maybe I'm just self-selecting for "those wealthy enough with the freedom to travel to the U.S."

I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, never having experienced it.