I find his views outrageous. Why pander to a minority

I am an Irish emmigrant to the US. I learned that to survive there I had to adapt and accept the culture. Why should any host country adapt to an immigrant's one. Western Europe is of a Christian tradition. If you don't like go home.

When in Rome do as the Romans do.

Thank you.

Marion Broeker

marion broeker , San Francisco, CA USA

This good archbishop must stay. He was talking about how the consciences of Muslims see society, and in different faith groups this will be affected in different ways. It is quite sickening to hear political leaders claiming that there must be one law for all even when so many minorities suffer breaches of their human rights at their hands. There are 467 members of the Church of England General Synod, and I have seen just two complaining about the Archbishop. Presumably the other 465 are more reasonable and recognise the Archbishop has made an important intellectual point to help us understand the Muslim conscience. The politicians seem to react to the regulary wrong-headed tabloid press; politicians think they will deliver votes!

Edwin Fleming, Portstewart, Northern Ireland

It is very woeful to see how western people, especially Briton who have a distinguished liberal tradition, handle with a positiv decission in order to temper a social strain. I can undertstand that a person who grow up in an occidentally social environment perceive this idea outlandish. But nevertheless I would have expected that the Briton approach to this idea less emotional but more rational. On the one side you complain about the muslim world that they act not rationally and delibaretly obout topics like other religions and ohter forms of life but on the other side you did exactly the same. It was only a WELL-MEANING SUGGESTION but nonetheless Mr. Williams get a lot of stick. If we want to live in peace togehter without a "clash of civilisation" we should to deal with each other emphatically and thoughtfully. Both sides have to show their good will. Mr. Williams take a right step. Should he be punished for his good will. No, tat would be the wrong stance.

Dr. phil Hüseyin Yildiz, Mainz, Germany

Multiculturism strikes again. The Archbishop is proposing that the law of England become a Tower of Babel. What is extraordinary is the number of comments to this column that support him. At this rate, being assaulted from within, how long can the British culture survive?

David, Minneapolis, USA

Once again Archbishop Williams has brought his incredible intellect to bear on what is surely one of the most vexing social/religious issues of our time. It is to his credit as a religious leader to take on such a controversial issue. On reading some of the hyperbole issued from critics of the Archbishop's scholarly lecture one has to wonder how many read let alone understood what he was suggesting. Personally his leadership makes me proud to be an Episcopalian.

Steve Schmit, Bemidji, USA/ Minnesota

Jewish "Beth Din" courts operate in the UK so is there any reason why a sharia court should not be granted a similar status?

Jan Jansen, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

He should stay. He is a true christian and humanitarin.

P BARRACLOUGH, READING , UK

I as an old white indigenous English woman already live in a foreign land. My GP is Muslim, Most of my hospital consultants are muslim, My MP Is Muslim, The solicitors are muslim, Shopkeepers are muslim. People who work in advice centres and the race equality shop are muslim. And everybody else is foreign - mostly illegal. I am in fact governed by Muslims in my own land - and it is no longer a nice place to live. What have the politicians done to me? I am now under defacto foreign dominion.

Mrs Leigh, South London, Disunited Kingdom

What has he said that his wrong, as a UK born Muslim what he has said i can relate to.he has said something which could be good for the whole world. It could help create peace between different religions if each of them respected each other views. It just shows why Muslims feel that at times society in general is making them feel isolated. Why should this man resign. Doesnt he have the right to express his views and start a debate.good on you Dr Williams we need many more like you.Freedom of religion means being able to practice ones own religion .He is refering to a situation that at times I find myself in. Respect is the key word here.

NESAR RAFIQ, WAKEFIELD, WEST YORKS UK

He deserves to stay, what he said was wrong in my view, but his heart was in the right place. He was not wrong to want to bring people of different religions together, I say this as an agnostic. I hope that the matter gets quickly forgotten frankly.

Chris, newton-le-willows, England

It is understandable why Dr Williams made those, now controversial, comments – in the interests and promotion of social cohesion and religious tolerance. However, the substance is itself not understandable. It comes from fundamental appreciation that eastern and western religious, or social, doctrines cannot co-exist. We can see the implications of this in Iraq itself, noticing that violence and hatred have been greatest from the time that the coalition invaded in March 2003. Apart from it being a military conflict, which it inevitably was, it was also a clash of political ideology. Such a clash would take place when indeed aspects of eastern and western law were combined. Law itself, although being a political science and intertwined with other aspects, such as morality, must remain religion-free. Also, statements have been made to the effect that British law is already Christian-focused. Is law relating to financial management, or ADR, particularly Christian-centred? Highly unlikely.

Marcin Roth, London, UK

As Professor Dicey, probably Britain’s greatest ever constitutionalist, made clear so long ago, there must be one law that governs the acts and behaviour of all. Introducing alternative legal systems, be it in part on in full, into the UK compromises this great aspect of democracy that all of us in Britain are very proud of. We also welcome and appreciate the great diversity in culture and tradition that can be witnessed on our streets today; in that respect, omitting internal conflict, Britain is one of the most religiously tolerant countries in the world. Yet, paradoxically, the reform that Dr Williams seeks to implement would in effect damage this very delicate social framework, and cause even more religious hatred than is currently the case. If different religious laws were implemented in Britain, than naturally they would operate with differing degrees of effectiveness. Another recipe for greater problems. In matters like these, we must show caution. The proposals are unacceptable

Marcin Roth, London, UK

It will no doubt be difficult for families in the UK, Canada, and Australia to go to their Anglican church tomorrow and pray for their children in the military that are in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those young people are over there risking their lives to help bring some kind of stability to systems that developed under Islamic laws. How do all those parish priests defend this "concept" to the people burying their children/husband/wives/brothers/sisters when they come back in a flag draped casket? What the "hell" is he thinking? I know that when I go to church tomorrow morning, I will be thinking of the Archbishop's statements rather than what I should be concentrating on. Churches are having a hard time reaching out to bring new people to the Christian family. This is NOT going to help.

Joanne, Regina, Canada

Ever heard of Pandora's box, Bishop?

Vaal, Newbury, England

It's a pity that Amjed Ziadah, Grand Forks, USA doesn't know the history of Islam or Christianity. Islam has always spread by force, no matter that its apologists call it the 'religion of peace' (note the Ottomans, Caliph of Egypt, etc). Sharia Law has no place in the west, and supporters of it need to look back to the Middle Ages to see the Christian Churches following the same-sorts of practices as Islam dictates today. Let's have sharia in, say, another 500 years...when it has reached a level of civilisation equivlent to the west today.

Ibn Mike, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

The appointment of Rowan Williiams was always going to be
a disaster from the outset,yet another of Tony Blair's crass
misjudgements.It was obvious that here we have a theologian
scholar who should be safely employed in an ecclesiastical
chair at Oxbridge or wherever;he is not and never was a leader
of men,he's totally out of his depth and looks increasingly so
with every day that passes. He should at least recognise that
he is a square peg in a round hole and make way for someone who can get a grip on what's left of the CoE at home and abroad and do it NOW!

John Vestey, Porto Ercole , Italy

Another nail in the CoE's coffin then: How much more can it take?

Morvan, Saulieu, France

If syaria system is introduced in britain, you will find non-muslims convertign to Islam just to escape from the mainstream british legal system - husband converting to Islam to marry a second/third wife for instance, or to prevent his non-muslim spouse from gaining custody of their children. One country cannot have two sets of laws.

Nora, KL, Malaysia

When people come from another country, live in separate designated areas to which the natives have no access AND bring their own laws-codes with them, is that not colonialism? Does the learned gentleman of the cloth not understand that to make a modern society work, all must be equal before the law and that the introduction of sharia law will do nothing towards that? Does he really want parts of the UK colonised? If Williams understands the consequences of his suggestions then he is unfit to be the head cleric of the host country. If he does not, then he is a fool. In either case he should go.

Fred Hillman , Perth, W Australia

Looking at the text of his speech, in particular the area about rights and related obligations, it seems like he's trying to make a legal opening for the sort of complaints raised by some Christian hoteliers about the recent Equality Act for services provision.

Effectively, some Christians were calling to be allowed to put "No gays" notices on the B&Bs, echoing the infamous "No Blacks, No Irish, No dogs" notices in the 1950s and 1960s, because of a conscientious objection to homosexuality.

The example of doctors having an conscientious opt-out on abortion was used then too, even though this is a poor analogy as no-one is suggesting hoteliers should engage in homosexual relationships or acts with their customers.

David Jones, Loughborough, UK

I am for sharia but a modified version.

1) Sharia should allow women to have four or more husbands at a time. Equality with Muslim men.

2) Women should be allowed to divorce any of her husbands by merely saying "talaaq" or " i divorce thee" three times. Equality with Muslim men. In fact Muhammad was divorced by three of his wives in the same manner until Muhammad ordered Allah to issue a revelation reserving the right to men only.

3) Women should be allowed to beat their husbands for disobedience. Equality with Muslim men. If she is weaker she should be able to hire licensed husband-beaters who can do the job.

4) Women should be allowed to have unlimited number of male concubines. Equality with Muslim men. Muslim men are allowed to have an unlimited number o female concubines.

5) Women should get an equal share of inheritance from parents. Equality with Muslim men. Sharia allows men to get twice the share.

6) One woman's testimony in court should =l one man's testimony in court.

Ted Baines, New York, usa

One law for all, the way it has always been. If Islam has anything to teach us in matters of counselling and arbitration (which I very much doubt), all well and good. But the law must remain the same for everyone.

Religion is very much a minority sport in this country, so I don't really know why this man is given so much prominence. The media should take a close look at what it reports, as the menu hasn't changed for 50 years. That's why we get 20 pages of dross every Monday all about a sport we don't play very well any more and why there's a whole page devoted to religion every day.
People *are* interested in morality and how they live their lives, but not really in the Abrahamic religions, all of which are stultifying. Pay these people less attention and report on what is really happening in this Post-Christian country of ours.

Liz, Bristol,

Well done Britain. Let's all cry "witch", take his possessions and burn him. Really, I though I we were past this behavior.

judy, limerick, me

The road to Hell is paved with good intentions and our Archbishop of Canterbury should be directing his energies as well as his voice against the social and moral degeneration of Great Britain instead of feeding us a diet of pseudo-intellectual claptrap, priggishness and rhetoric.

By his own admission he had no idea that his recent words would cause such controversy, which suggests that he is seriously out of touch with the sentiments of his numerous flocks as well as the many 'lost sheep' who roam this country.

It's all very well for our Primate to try to wriggle out of the embarassment he has caused the Church of England by saying he was trying to encourage 'public debate', but he fails to apprecate that freedom of speech doesn't exist any more in this country, so those of us who feel concerns about certain matters aren't free to express them, nor even dare to make comments, for fear of prosecution or accusations of 'political incorrectness'.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is living in Cloud Cuckooland. He certainly needs to consider his position and he should step down from his ivory tower of Lambeth Palace without delay, discard his aura of secluded piety and embark upon a pilgrimage amongst the people, especially those who are suffering in areas of misery and social deprivation and listen to what they have to say, because he doesn't appear to be speaking the same language as those whom he was elevated to serve and as a result many individuals are quite rightly questioning his fitness for office.

Our Primate should be vigorously defending the Christian faith, not diluting nor compromising it.

Lomond Handley, Poole, U.K.

What I find extraordinary is how out of touch the ABC is with his own community and their fears. Hasn't he realised over the last few years how the British christian and secular community have felt threatened by the rise of militant islamism. The London and Glasgow attacks apart from the horror inflicted have left a pervasive feeling since that the authorities have been more concerned to manage the fears and alienation of the Muslim community. This has just been wonderfully illustrated by the ABC

markh, argyll, uk

''The Archbishop of Canterbury was facing a crisis of confidence in his leadership''

Exactly, a religious head in such a high position ought to maintain the highest traditions and respect for his/her position.

Even a Hindu like me feels: what is he talking? Does he know the reality?


From this angle, Dr. Williams ought to go!
Regards,

Krishna R. Kumar, Udupi, India

A totally stupid idea. To do what you believe in has many different meanings and can be quite dangerous. Sharia Law in a Muslim country is fine but in Britain is not. There should be one Law for all. Britain is a fair and tolerant country and respects freedom of religion, we do not want to become a separated people where one standard is for one group, and for another, a different law. What justice would one choose? how polarized would we become?

Religion is a private matter, the State laws, however, govern how an entire country should function and law. The archbishop is increasingly stepping on toes outside of his field, his stupid comments only show his ignorance , or is it his idealism that drives him??

dona S, Edinburgh, Scotland

If we legalise Sharia Law in this country, how long will it be before some men of other faiths will say "I want some of that - many wives and State Benefit available for each one." How would a wife feel if a man converted to the Muslim faith when faced with the prospect of several other wives in the home. And how long before young children at school are taught that they have the choice of obeying different laws.

Rita, Exeter, UK

I am all excitedly for installing Sharia law in the UK , France , the USA and Italy, but with one condition : Let women first get driving permits in Saudi Arabia.......

Ingvar Carlton, Paris, France

If the intention is to make the legal situation more equal for other faiths, it is going to fail. There would only be equality if the same rights were available to all faiths, not just the mainstream religions, and that would have to include even those who put down their religion as "Jedi"!

The solution is not throw scraps for other faiths from the table of privilege of the established Church. The only fair solution is to disestablish the Church of England.

Steve, Coventry,

Judy, with all due respect it is the misconstructions like yours that perpetuate fear and hatred of a culture not understood. The Archbishop was suggesting the incorporation of CIVIL sharia laws. There is in fact nothing wrong with this if we consider that (a) the UK is meant to a multicultural and democratic society (b) UK law is currently based on the predilictions of christianity, since approx. the 14th century (c) the nature of christianity is to ensure openness.

If you consider each of these points, and what was specifically said by the Archbishop - what he said was commonsensical, even if politically naive. To not engage a person in this debate demonstrates a close-mindedness that is making countries puritanical, and ensures the enhancement of hatred. If, the Archbishop, once engaged, does seek to incorporate unacceptable parts of Sharia law, then the situation merits this reaction.

Public reaction has been based on parotic fear and a sheep culture of easy hatred.

Sabs (Sikh), London, UK

Britain is giving over to so many issues developed from the non-british living in our country, for example; not calling Christmas Chirstmas but instead winter holiday!!! If people want to come over to England they should obey to OUR laws and ways of living - if they don't want to then they can go back to where they came from!! They came here, we let them stay and support them financially whilst they settle they should show us some respect!!!

Emma, Guildford,

"But his moral authority, already undermined ....."
What moral authority?
He speaks on behalf of the Anglican Church, a declining minority sect and his views have as much moral weight as the next man.
Time to dust off those dictionarys and discuss disestablishmentarianism again.

Tom Sykes, Huddersfield, UK

Calm down. The Archbishop's speech was a complex web of ideas about the responsibility of those who believe in God to their public behaviour on earth. I personally disagree with him about Sharia in practice though not in concept and at the same time I deeply love our democracy and equality. Never more than today.

Nancy , London,

Dr Rowan Williams has opened the Pandora’s Box. Does he know that each Mosque in UK has a different Sharia Law? Which law is he talking about? He has been very ignorant of the divisive and sectarian Sharia laws. If he had said Quranic law, than perhaps his opinion would have been a positive step forward, not only for the Muslims but for all humans.

If it needs to be than start with an unlawful material gain/theft law for the Muslims with an acceptance declaration signed, under the Sharia Law. Any person found guilty of any unlawful material gain/theft; his/her one hand should be cut off and if persist in this work than one foot should be cut off. You will see many Muslims walking in the streets of UK with one hand and a foot only. Dr Rowan Williams is a real friend of Muslims!

Javed Javed, Cardiff, UK

I agree with Mr. Breeze(above)Someone of an equal intellect(tho' the Archbish hasn't actually been too clever this time,has he?)and steeped in ecclesiastic matters should appear on tele in a "Head to head" and get to the bottom of what he really meant.(I was shocked-but not really surprised -to see the headlines on the tabloids yesterday.Sells papers doesn't it?)Just relieved I'm not in a poor struggling Muslim family living for example, in a BNP dominated community!

HD, WsM, UK

Britain is a Christian country, it has ben for a long time, while i am personally an atheist i do not believe that Muslim religious law should be implemented in Britain. They have the right to live here as free men and women, as such they have their religion that can not be removed, it's included in the Human Rights Act. However anyones views be they Christian, Muslim, Jewish whatever should not be imposed on those that do not want it. That is not the society that we live in. However as they those of the Muslim faith have chosen to live in a Christian country they should respect our views, and our laws, indeed all those of the muslim faith that i personally know do so.

Lewis, Northampton, Britain

It is apparent the Archbishop is unaware of or is poorly advised on a basic principle of English law regarding status. Such statements does not do him and the church any good. He should instead spend more time resolving the current conflicting situation in the Anglican church. Whether he should resign or not is a matter for the Synod to decide.
Milton Lum, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Milton Lum, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

He has not simply 'raised an issue'. He has said that the legal system of a religion that is fundamentally opposed to Christianity (see below for example) should be admitted to a country which is constitutionally Christian. By such comment he undermines the teaching of Chistianity and makes it clear that he thinks that it matters not what you believe, despite the clear teaching of Jesus. '...only through me can you come to the Father...'.

So we have a man leading a Christian denomiantion who says it doesn't matter what you believe! He is not fit for purpose and should resign.


(example of Koranic teaching opposed to Christianity: the Koran is quite clear in saying that God has no Son, and what will happen to those who say otherwise)

Dominic Stockford, Teddington, London,

I personally can't understand the criticism aimed at The Archbishop of Canterbury as this topic needs to brought out into the open.

We should thank him and not vilify the man as we did Enoch Powell in the past who dared to view his opinion. The drama queens have now had their say so now let's now get on with the simple task of intelligently debating these issues rather than shirking from them.

We, in the UK are capable of that aren't we?

Marty, CHALFONT ST GILES, Buckinghamshire

The law of the land MUST be the only law. I bet most of those enlightened people speaking in his defence would not go to Saudi Arabia and advocate that they change their laws where you can be thrown in jail for having a bible, talking to your friends wife or daughter while your friedn is absent or for even having a drink containing alcohol (unless you are one of the royal family) So much to religious tolerance.

George, Halifax, uk

The Archbishop seems to have forgotten one of Jesus's key teachings: "render unto Caesar those things that are Caesar's; render unto God those things that are God's" The Church has a responsibility to speak out against unjust laws, but otherwise Jesus teaches that the Church has no place in secular legislating. Since Jesus is a prophet in Mohammedanism, it's curious why this teaching is not followed either in Christianity (probably the power struggles for secular power by the early Popes set the precedent here) or in the Muslim world. One further point: why did the Archbish focus on sharia law - there is an older religious code whose adherents have been in the UK for longer than the Muslims which is Judaism. Not only dismissive of English law but also fanning the Judeo-Muslim conflict!

Chris, Kettering,

We are a democracy. The English legal system has been with us for hundreds of years. To consider the idea of a parallel legal system is preposterous. For those that are unable to accept our system in it's entirety, are quite free to pursue a different direction elsewhere in the world.

S.L.Green., Colchester, UK.

Religion and the state should ALWAYS be kept separate. There is very good reason for this. Religion when given the power is unable to resist the temptation to force its will on the population. At least with secular governments you do have the chance of getting rid of them. Once religion assumes control of a country you can never get rid of it. When the population starts taken people like the Archbishop seriously then we will all be in trouble.

George Sign , Nice, France

Islam or Islamic Laws are not danger to the West or so called Civilised societies all over the worls including Muslim countries. Sharia law is a law for muslims in an Islamic state. I beleive that 5 states out of 45 muslim states apply Sharia law on their citizens and unfortunately there is no democracy and voilation of human rights. Majority of muslims in the UK are not asking for Sharia law, only Mullah wants power over the educated and civilised muslims, they want to hijack the muslim community as they have hijacked in Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. There is no need of Sharia law in this country, evry one has a right of freedom and religious practice so Muslims should be a practising muslim in their homes and Mosques. We can not handover society to illitrate and untolrable mullah on the name of Islam and Sharia law. We all should remember that it was Afghanistan where Taliban introduced Sharia law and then Al-Quida and then terrorism.

S.Shah, Manchester.UK

S. SHAH, Manchester, UK

Whatever the merits of this proposal (and Williams himself admits that he knows nothing at all about Sharia law beyond what a few liberal Moslem scholars have persuaded him to believe) it is quite inappropriate for someone who calls himself Head of the Church in England to float this proposal. His idea that Sharia law is inevitable suggests he is inviting us all to submit to fate and the will of Allah - a totally unchristian way to think of Britain's future. If this man should ever crown the pro-Islamic Prince of Wales of King it would set alarm bells ringing (rightly or wrongly) everywhere. It is well know that an Islamic Caliphate exists with ambitions to make the whole planet submit to Sharia law. Williams' speech will give substance to those wild claims that many powerful forces in the establishment are secretly working to transform Britain into an Islamic state.

William Edward Makin, Beds, UK

It's not the substance of his remarks that concerns one so much as the sheer political naiveness of making comments that could so easily be manipulated to cause social and political harm.

Ronald Marks, Kyiv, Ukraine

Nick Breeze - What discussion is there to be had?

The very mention of a way of life which treats women worse than dogs and administers 'middle ages' punishment to people in the streets, should not have even been mentioned. The next announcement has to be that the man has gone...surely? If he remains, what on earth is he going to come up with next?

judy, Liverpool, England

What is striking is the adversity to debate and high level of intolerance that is rife in this country. I may not agree with the Arch Bishop but I'd quite like to "have it out with him" rather than toss him in the dustbin as lunatic (aka resignation). He has raised an issue, lets discuss it with him, not behead him.

Nick Breeze, London,

Well, I've read all of the latest utterings by Mr Williams and I'm still not sure what he is trying to say. It's a pity that the man (why not a women) that earned several degrees in RE didn't take a course on plain speaking.

Al, Weybridge, UQ

In an effort to be all things to all people, the Archbishop has become nothing to everyone. Islam is going through what appears it's "Medievial Period". The problem is that the Koran is a "Brittle Book", meaning that Islam says that every word is sacred as received, and cannot be even be translated, because the language is sacred! With such a regidity in place, it is no wonder that in the hazy heated Arab land of Ottaman Arabia, a fanatic fundamentalist sect sprouted under the auspices of one Arab, named Muhammad ibn Abd Al-Wahhab born 1702 or 1703 (no modern record keeping for these folks), and called after it's founder as Wahhabi, which became ionically at that time in the Islamic world "As an Insult, an epithet to describe a schismatic, and a byword for religious intolerance", this passage noted in "God's Terrorists" by Charles Allen 2006. However, it was taken up by the House of Said, and the rest is intolorant history writ large. No Magna Carta here!
Archbishop take note

jim johnson, framingham, USA

Why not? Christians and Jews civilian laws are applied on them in Islamic counties Hundreds of years ago. that is why it's they are fully integrated in Islamic countries and also they fought with Muslims against Crusades or any thing that may threat the peaceful life in Islamic countries. True integration doesn't mean to make the immigrant or the foreigner to do as you do, it's to give him freedom to do what he believe unless it's something may threat others properties or lives.

Amjed Ziadah, Grand Forks, USA

Williams is an embodiment of the far left that are now the entrenched cultural elite of the UK. The youthful foot soldiers of the New Left reinvigorated forty years later by copious doses of Botox, HGH, and steroids provided by Bush and the Iraq War. These people have nothing but boundless scorn for their own culture and servile acquiescence for the Other. We have the same cast of characters here in the U.S. but even with the Bush Boost they carry no where near the amount of influence they do in Britain and, thankfully, remain largely segregated to academia and the arts.

Adam, Los Angeles, U.S.

Whatever next, NULabour decreeing that muslim polygamous marriages can qualify for state benefits?

Nigel Wroe, Doncaster, Yorkshire

The archbishophas touched a sore spot. The reactions have been very strong, very unchristian. Time will prove him enlightened, and the reactions product of blind fear.

Al , Clovis, USA, California

The venerable Archibishop has no idea what he is speaking about. Dual civil code, as we have in India, is a travesty of justice.

arindam, kolkata, india