[Steve_Seattle]

Church bells are the closest analogy to the Islamic call to prayer, and I assume most Freepers would not and do not object to church bells, so why the outrage? I understand the concern, that the Islamic call to prayer blaring out over mid-America has disquieting implications, but as a matter of law or policy, can we defend allowing church bells while banning the Islamic prayer call? Maybe someone can point out a distinction that I'm missing . . .

[Solamente]

"Maybe someone can point out a distinction that I'm missing . . ."

Church bells peal a palatable tune; the Islamic call to prayer sounds like the muezzin got something tender caught whilst zipping up his pants.

[texastoo]

The argument could be that church bells are historical since our country was founded on Christianity.

I wonder what Judge Moore's opinion of this is.

[isthisnickcool]

someone can point out a distinction that I'm missing . . .

A ringing church bell at "worst" might invite someone to a Christian church service. Mostly though, the bells just indicate the time of day.

The calls to the Mosque is not an invitation. It is a requirement. And it applies to all that hear it. You too. Yea, you! The Muslims just don't have the power to drag you into the Mosque, yet.

If you do go to the Christian church they won't tell you it's OK to kill, rape or tax "non-Christians". They won't tell you that you must work to exterminate all other churches that are "non-Christian". They won't tell you it's OK to beat your wife, or daughter. They won't tell you that it's OK to lie to "non-Christians". The priest, or preacher or whatever will not attempt to run your life such that you must know how to wipe you ass a certain way. They won't tell you who to associate with, who to marry, what to buy, what not to buy, etc, etc, etc.

9/11 was horrible. There was only one positive thing that came from it in my view. It made me look at Islam. I don't like what I saw.

[Sacajaweau]

There are actual "words" to this prayer call. These are words by people whose religion calls for the killing of all non-muslims, specifically Christians and Jews. These are the people who say we will take over the world...the same format of the Prophet.

The Christian Religion tolerates the rest of the religions and does NOT call for killing them off. It wishes for peace but not by annilation of the rest of society.

There is no smilarity between the bells and the call of the Muslims.

[Digger]

can we defend allowing church bells while banning the Islamic prayer call

Steve, go read "The Gulag Archipelago" instead of the Hildebeasts book. If you want fairness go to the NBA & tell them they need more white players to be fair. Go ring your church bells in Iran & see what happens.

[jpsb]

People like Steve why we are going to lose Western Civilization. Hope you like Islamic law and tribalism, cause when we lose western civilization that is what we are going to get.

Christan values and Western civilization are inseparable. Lose one you lose the other.

[johnb838]

Here's a distinction, Steve. A bell and a sung prayer over a loudspeaker are not the same thing. Something that would be similar would be if a church wanted to broadcast a Gloria In Excelsis five times a day starting at 6:00 a.m. and ending at 10:00 p.m. Personally, I would like it. If the problem were that it was in English, let it be sung in Latin. See if you think the following would be allowed:

Glory to God in the Highest, And Peace to His People on Earth. Lord God, Heavenly King, Almighty God and Father, We Worship You we give You Thanks, We Praise You For Your Glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, Only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God. You Take Away the Sins of the World, Have Mercy On Us. You Are Seated At the right hand of the Father, Receive our Prayer...

For you alone are the Holy One, You alone are the Lord. You alone are the Most High: Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, In the Glory of God the Father

Amen.

[Ben Chad]

why the outrage?

Not to be Clintonesque, but it is because it "is." Does it matter why? If you need a reason, think of Pavlov's dog. Bell...food...bell...food...bell...saliva...food. The saliva is a conditioned reflex. For many, the sound of the call to Islamic prayer evokes images of bodies falling from WTC towers and thus rage. For me it evokes the images of funerals of Marines killed in Iraq and great sadness. Why do so many blacks become incensed with rage when a white kid paints his face black to imitate a hip-hop star at a fraternity party and demand that he be kicked out of college---and then have their demands granted by administrators lest there be a riot on campus? I don't understand the rage but it is what it is.

[ought-six]

Church bells just tell the time. It is music (of a sort). Religion is not mentioned, nor is God. Big difference.

[cmak9]

so why the outrage?

Oh, I dunno, maybe because the Christians aren't the ones trying to kill me? I believe that there's a little secret that Americans are about to discover. All of these freedoms that we have are derived from Christ. There is no freedom in Islam, for anyone.

[Styria]

The difference would be the Liberal outrage if, rather than church bells, church loudspeakers blared "There is no other object of worship but Jesus."

But it's really a matter of courtesy. Church bells are nice. They don't irritate anyone but miserable, rabid atheists. And they aren't played five times a day, every day in America, that I know of, and they aren't a PA system. In my town, dispatch isn't supposed to hit the tones that set off the fire station's siren after dark or before dawn. One poster, however, said that this nonsense is broadcast at 3 AM in Indonesia.