WXYZ in Detroit is reporting that the town of Sterling Heights has denied a building permit for a mosque. Now, I am not a Muslim, and I don’t live in Sterling Heights, so I have no direct stake in the matter. However, the reasons given by the planning commission to deny the permit can easily be used against Christian churches (and already has in a number of cases.) It’s a residential neighborhood. So what? People who pray five times a day, preferably at a mosque, should have to commute?
What was even more troubling to me was the reaction of the people there to the decision. The Independent Journal Review published a post about the crowd’s joy at the decision. I find it disturbing, as people were reacting to the mosque out of fear. Having a mosque in the neighborhood does not mean you are inviting a terror cell to set up shop. Moreover, if Muslim terrorists wanted to set up shop there, they could do it without the mosque.
Finally, Muslims are living in these communities. Do you really think denying permits to build mosques is going to make them go away? Maybe we can try something that seems to be lost. How about being good neighbors?
The Apologetics Minion 
Hi Sean! You spoke at our church a couple of weeks ago, THANK YOU, very inspiring! Regarding the building of mosques in the United States. There is an aspect of this topic that concerns me. Although, it may be due more to ignorance than truth. A couple of years ago I heard that there were more mosques in this country than Christian churches. I heard this on the news and the main message was that it was just a matter of time before the main religion in the U.S. would be muslin. That mosques where being built throughout the U.S. in quiet, multitudes. If there is any truth to this, then I can understand how people would not want to support the building of mosques. If the threat of Sharia law becoming the number one religion in the U.S.; which was what the main purpose of the news channel bringing this topic up, then I think there is a reason to say no. Of course, like I said, this could be complete ignorance, but then again, maybe not. I don’t know, do you? Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
Hi Gena. I think you have me confused with someone else.
As for whether mosques outnumber churches, I doubt it, but I could be wrong. However, even if this was true, withholding building permits will not stop Islam from spreading. If there really are more mosques than churches, it would be because there are Muslims to use them. In either case, God is still on the throne, and is not threatened by buildings for false religions.
LikeLike
I understand the point you are making about religious persecution, and on one level I would agree with you.
However, as we have seen with the refugee crisis in Europe, it is difficult to identify the terrorists apart from the victims. We are a nation at war with Muslim terrorists. Many self-described “peace-loving” Muslims refuse to condemn the jihad and if pressed will admit they support it.
The concern by many citizens may not be anti-religious so much as it is anti-terrorist. Soldiers who have fought overseas will tell you that mosques have been used to hide weapons, insurgents and worse. The fear isn’t necessarily borne out of fear, but rather experience.
It is a difficult dilemma from a constitutional standpoint, but from a logical security view it’s a very real threat.
LikeLike
I agree with the thrust of your argument, but are you sure it’s a discrimination issue rather a zoning one.
If you lived close to a mosque you would find that there is a very distinct difference between church bells and the Muslim call to prayer.
As to the people celebrating…well yeah they could be bigots.
LikeLike
It could be a zoning issue, but the point stands as zoning laws can be abused. Thanks for commenting.
LikeLike