Can modern-day Islam be separated from Sharia?
Mohammed set up Sharia to control a primitive, barbaric people who used to bury girl babies alive. Sharia may have had some purpose in the seventh century C.E., although it has no relevance today. One traditionally Moslem country that seems to have separated Islam from Sharia is Turkey. When I visited Istanbul and its Aegean coast, I was surprised at how “European” Turkey is. I watched MTV in Turkey and saw videos that would make Brooke Shields blush. When you are in Istanbul, you feel like you are in Europe rather than the Middle East; and then, all of a sudden, you hear broadcast the “call to prayer”. I met a Turkish woman who complained that the “call to prayer” broadcast was a violation of the separation of religion and government. Another Moslem country took the route of constitutional monarchy, yet it seems to be evolving towards democracy. Jordan has a King (and a beautiful Queen), yet it also has an elected parliament. It is far closer to democracy than the republics of Syria o
