The "Swedish Solution" to the problem of Islam or any other religious fundamentalism is to ban the teaching of any doctrine as truth unless it is proven to be true (empirically, I assume). Let us see where this can lead if taken to its logical limit.

Geometry is banned. We must not teach that Euclid's axioms are true or any of their consequences. In fact the world is non-Euclidean.

The assumption of uniformity in nature. Uniformity of physical law is NOT proven. It is assumed and is the basis of all science. So I guess there goes science, at least at its most basic philosophical level.

Systems of morality. Morality is not based mainly on fact. It is based on convention and doxa (Greek form things not necessarily true, but possibly or probably true. So there goes various and sundry moralities.

How about history. History (the real thing) is what actually happened. History as taught is a selection of fact and interpretation thereof. Historical fact is little and historical interpretation (which is doxa) is much. So the only history that can be taught is a mere recitation of established facts devoid of interpretation of their importance or effect.

And so on and so on.....

Is this what anyone really wants to happen? I, sure as hell, do not.

I will put up with Fundies and Islamists teaching their madness as long as it does not morph into training terrorists and abortion clinic bombers under the rubric of education. There I would draw the line.

Ba'al Chatzaf

It doesn't suprise me that Sweden came up with this.

I don't feel the clean clear tone of goodness ringing through that proposed legislation. I suspect agenda. On the other hand, they might just be sick of sicko teachings in private parochial schools, particularly Islamic ones. But a ban is a ban, it's a gateway. I could see penalizing schools for teaching kids how to be suicide bombers or whatever, for whatever reasons, religious or otherwise. But sticking your finger into general religious practice is just bullshit, every bit as much bullshit as teaching religion in public schools.

And, the positive reaction some in O-World are giving to it doesn't suprise me either, because mere mention of the word religion causes the uber-unconscious knee-jerk of knee-jerks in said world.

I think it should be clear to any reader of this forum that I am no friend or fan of Islam. Saying that I am appalled by proposals like the "Swedish Solution". I also thought the French ban on the Islamic women's head scarf in their schools was totally wrong.

I think we need not be afraid of Islam in our or other countries were the followers allow others to practice their beliefs.

I think our leaders can and should speak against bigotry but make clear that we will not accept Sharai law.

Chris,

That is the ONLY way to effectively combat a threat by gangs. You do not play by their rules, but instead by your own standards.

When a person asks, are you for or against Islam, the correct answer is, "Neither, although I think it is silly. The choice is yours. I am for your right to practice it. I am against any attempt by you to impose it on others. If you break the laws based on this premise, you will be caught and punished."

Michael