The difference being that the 35-40% minority in the Muslim countries wants to dump democracy and keep Sharia; whereas the 45% minority in the US wants to keep democracy and dump the Bible.

Democacy without separation of church and state is no democracy at all, it's just a kind of tyranny of the majority.

Liberty is the tyranny of the majority.

Brandon:

Bingo! That's our weakness and their strength.

Now boys and girls, all eyes on Mr. Gots: Some people say that Sharia Law must be the only source of legislation; some other people say that the Bible must play a role in legislation. How are these things the same? How are they different?

Well, perhaps the special ed class can't see the distinction.

Nice fillet of "sole".

Not Sharia Law--that's just a peculiar interpretation by fundamentalists. Few muslims support it. Kind of their version of Reconstructionism.

I'll compromise on "play a role", but "only source" is a bad mistake and a huge step backwards, as history and good old American common sense should tell you.

Back in college it wasn't hard to find someone who thought communism was a fine idea, it was just that the real-world implementations were always flawed. No reason not to try again! Now we have OJ's seemingly unshakeable faith in Islamic law, despite the facts that 1) for at least hundreds of years it's only associated with nations that are backward, corrupt, violent, and/or dictatorial, and 2) the most civilized and livable Islamic countries are the most secular ones: Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Morocco come to mind, even Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia. The worst ones all use Islamic law the most: Saudi Arabia, Iran, Taliban Afghanistan. How much of a theocrat do you have to be to prefer the latter list to the former?

I'm in favor of democracy, but it's possible to have too much of a good thing, as the Founders knew well. What Iraq and the rest need are constitutional republics with a strong secular component and a healthy sprinkling of church/state separation. That's what worked in the U.S. One hopes it'll work in an Islamic culture, sooner or later.

The Bible says to give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and give to God what is God's. Sharia makes no such distinction.

You too are confusing Islamic law with Shari'a. The former is a necessity if they're to have a future, the latter will be fatal.

It's hardly a coincidence that it is America, with the least secularism and the least separation of church and state, that is the only going concern in the West.

It'll be very hard for Muslims to Reform just as far as us but no further, but impossible if they become secular states.

Sharia has always been rather flexible in the hands of Caesar.

You say "democracy"!; I say "democracy"!

Let's call the whole thing off.

You can't stop History.