Apparently, the Swiss may be neutral but they aren’t very tolerant:
PARIS — Voters in Switzerland decided Sunday to ban the building of minarets, in a referendum that showed an unexpected level of resentment against Muslim immigrants in a country long known for discretion and tolerance.
Opinion polls in recent months had indicated that a majority of voters would reject the measure, fearful of an impact on the country’s reputation and ability to do business in the Muslim world. But official results on Sunday showed a surprisingly strong 57.5 percent of those voting endorsed it, against 42.5 percent who opposed.
The ballot was the latest sign of a backlash against Muslim immigrants in Western Europe, where Christian voters appear increasingly eager to preserve their traditional ways in the face of expanded Muslim populations.
The Swiss federal council said four existing minarets would not be affected by the vote, and it specified that Muslim residents of the tiny Alpine country would still be allowed to build mosques and practice their religion. But construction of new minarets, the towers alongside mosques from which Muslims are called to prayer by Koranic chants, “is forbidden in Switzerland from now on,” it said in a communique.
It’s hard to see how this is going to do anything but foster resentment among Muslims in Switzerland.
November 30th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
am not sure if the answer was the ‘correct’ one, but any revival has to be God centred and prayed upon.
I challenged myself recently to say,is this what God wants and if so, how ?
I am of the humble opinion God does want his Church to flourish, but how this will happen I am not sure. Hence the need for prayful reflection.
November 30th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Sooo, (perhaps) justifiable resentment is somehow worse than all of the other resentments?
November 30th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Perhaps by doing this ban the Swiss are hoping the Muslims will move out to the UK or NoVA?