---------------------------------------------------------------------------
**** http://www.GOANET.org ****
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Support growing the reading habit among Goa's next generation of achievers
Bookworm Library and Magazine
Bluebelle, Tamba Colony, St Inez, Goa
Contacts: Tel: +91 9823222665 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
--- CORNEL DACOSTA <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Hi Selma and Gabe
> Re Christianity in the Gulf region, I wonder how
> Saudi Arabia can reconcile not permitting any
> Christian churches on its soil whilst sending huge
> amounts of money for mosques to be built all over
> the world? I am a secularist but will challenge
> bigotry and hypocricy over religion anywhere.
> Cornel
>
------------------------------------------
Hi Cornel,
Sorry I didn't respond to this post earlier but I've
been away for a while and am only now catching up on
my mail.
Roland has written a good post on the history of the
Church in Qatar and I'm not too well acquainted with
Saudi Arabia but would guess that it has a lot to do
with Saudi being the home of the prophet and Mecca.
Roland is right in his premise that the liberalness of
Gulf countries is dependent on their own inner
political situations. Gulf countries are not
theocracies, they are sheikdoms but the sheikhs tread
a fine line between theocracy, benevolent dictatorship
and democratic civil rights. At all times, they have
to manage a tenuous and unpredictable relationship
with the mullahs.
It is interesting to note the relationship that exists
between the mullahs, moolah and education. The more
educated the Gulf state, the more people are inclined
to shed the oppressive restrictions imposed by
religion and embrace a secular outlook in life. For
instance Dubai and Bahrain are very modern
city-states, while just 30 minutes from Dubai, Ajman
is steeped in tradition most of which would make your
stomach churn. Which is why I believe prosperity and
education are the anti-dote to a lot of humanity's
ills.
take care,
selma
____________________________________________________________________________________
Boardwalk for $500? In 2007? Ha! Play Monopoly Here and Now (it's updated for
today's economy) at Yahoo! Games.
http://get.games.yahoo.com/proddesc?gamekey=monopolyherenow
