"Are you trying to tell me that clerics (and I include them all, of any religious persuasion,) represent the will of the people?"
? Do you have some kind of point you're making ?
Do you seriously think that Bin Laden would simply bow to ANY cleric or imam? --- supposing there was one who was foolish enough to say what bin Laden does not want to hear ?
Obviously EVERY cleric derives his spiritual power from the will of the people - if enough people, or enough people of power do not agree with what the cleric says, he will not be in a position of spiritual supremacy for long.
"Obviously EVERY cleric derives his spiritual power from the will of the people - if enough people, or enough people of power do not agree with what the cleric says, he will not be in a position of spiritual supremacy for long."
CR$P
Volume 9, Book 89, Number 252:
Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar:
Allah's Apostle said, "Surely! Everyone of you is a guardian and is responsible for his charges: The Imam (ruler) of the people is a guardian and is responsible for his subjects; a man is the guardian of his family (household) and is responsible for his subjects; a woman is the guardian of her husband's home and of his children and is responsible for them; and the slave of a man is a guardian of his master's property and is responsible for it. Surely, everyone of you is a guardian and responsible for his charges."
Now tell me, why is there a death penalty for muslims who convert to any other religion?