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Many Muslims are relaxed about that, content that the "five pillars of Islam" (daily prayer, a pilgrimage to Mecca, etc.) will cover over a multitude of sins. But some become frenzied when they break the rules-and there are so many to break. Among some, that leads to a search for a "get out of jail free" card-if there is such a thing.

Welcome to hell on Earth!!!

After seeing a piece on cable TV called "Hidden Faces", I think it was called, it is quite clear to me that Islam as practiced is a sick, sick religion because it denys basic human needs and wants. It does not enhance the life experience, it makes it so painful that death becomes its own reward.

This piece was on "LINK" on satellite and was the story of a woman who returned to her homeland in Egypt, so this in fact was a fairly moderate view of life in Islamic households and social circle. I can't even fathom how bad things are in a more serious Islamic societies.

The Muslim penalty not only seems cruel but somewhat unusual for a creator-god to decree. Hands are such an incredible result of God's creativity. They are marvels of engineering and movement. Why would their creator ordain their destruction for the theft of property, when alternative ways of doing justice abound? God in the Bible ordains as a maximum penalty an eye for an eye and a hand for a hand, but not a hand for a thing. The one-handed person is not only marked for life but unable to work at many jobs. That doesn't speak well for the all-compassionate Allah.

This at least is understandable when you consider the nature of 7th centrury Arab society of desert nomads. Nomadic people could not build jails. Also theft could result in death in the desert. Amputation probably was considered merciful compared to the alternative, execution. It let everybody else know that this person was not to be trusted, and prevented him from victimizing others. The problem is Islam has not changed since then, and a religion suitible for 7th century nomads is not suitible for the 21st century, and is incompatible with the values of Western Civilization which has come to dominate the world. Islam needs a reformation at least. Otherwise Muslims will always be backwards, hostile people at war with the rest of the world.