Mishal Al-Sudairi
Okaz
SOME of us erroneously think that Europe and America are fighting Islam and Muslims. These are totally incorrect beliefs.
In fact these countries have guaranteed the right of belief for all religions, sects and groups on one condition that they would not harm others or compel them to embrace their religions.
Muslims in these countries are enjoying much freedom and care which their counterparts in the Islamic countries do not have.
Today there are about 7,000 mosques in America and double this number in Europe. Every year, tens of mosques are opened in these countries. These are all undeniable facts. Muslim extremists in our countries, however, deliberately ignore them.
Like parrots, the extremists always repeat the false allegation of the “conspiracy” theory that the West is against Islam and Muslims. This is a big misconception. These people forget that the strong does not need to conspire against the weak.
They also seem to forget that a large Muslim country like Turkey has not had a single church built since 1923. It is only this year when the Turks allowed the construction of a new church.
The European countries, the US, South Korea, Japan and others have opened their doors wide for religious freedom.
They concentrated their efforts on development, inventions and scientific research without being withheld or bothering to scrutinize the religious beliefs of their citizens.
Maybe, perhaps unknowingly, these countries are applying God’s orders that religion is optional. It is up to you to be a believer or a disbeliever.
Religion for these countries is optional. There is no thick stick to harness anyone or decide his/her relationship with God.
Religion, for these countries, has rather become a cultural subject. They are not sensitive toward or being held down by criticism.
During my wide travels, I have come across a number of churches only to find worshipers absent from them. People are not compelled to go to a church to worship their Creator or to pretend that they are religious.
Renowned American newspaper, the Wall Street Journal, recently published a report about the closure of hundreds of churches in Europe. It said these churches were offered for sale.
The newspaper said the old Roman Catholic Church in Holland has stopped functioning as a house of God and turned into a supermarket with a place for ice skating.
Another church has become a commercial place with a flower shop, a bar, a cafe, a bookstore and a garment shop.
In Britain, the former St. Paul’s Church has been converted into a hub for circus training. The church’s high ceiling is a suitable place for the high equipment. A Lutheran Church has been turned into a bar.
According to the newspaper, the closing down of churches in Europe reflects the rapidly weakening of religion.
It said the Church of England annually closes down an average of 20 churches and added that the Catholic Church in Germany during the past few years closed down about 515 churches in various parts of the country.
The Roman Catholics in Holland believe that about a third of their 1,600 churches may become redundant in a decade.
About 700 of Protestant churches in Holland are expected to close down in four years. This is just for everybody’s information. So please forget about the theory of conspiracy against Islam and Muslims.
