I don’t see how, since it led to a fuller explanation, thank you. Do you really think the majority of Muslims act or believe that “truth is obtained on the basis of the proofs that the individual presents in supports of his propositions”? If so, why is freedom of speech restricted in every majority-Muslim country?

Yes, it is regrettable but it is worse that people follow like blind sheep from one side the other like a puppet with strings waiting for the next string to be pulled. It is high time to cut a few of those strings on the marionette and set for moves in accordance with some other criteria beside “such and such deems such and such thus = an infallible truth. NOT

So, we should look at the proofs the Saudis offer in support of such propositions as “Islam prohibits car driving by women”, or “Islam prohibits men and women from working in the same area”.

My point is that if there are one billion people who think otherwise, it is worthwhile looking also into their proofs. Because, if the Saudis proofs were overpowering, the ulamas in the rest of the world would also be defending the same point of view, being of the same religion.

But this takes us far from your philosophical enquiry: is the majority always right? Very frequently, one is tempted to defend the opposite proposition. So, things are never easy to settle, when one talks only in general terms. One has to look at specific points and evaluate the points of views presented on the basis of their merit.

Are you telling us that the majority is always right and the minority always wrong?

Prophets are usually in the minority of one:) It is one of their few virtues.

That said, I think the point is that being of the minority viewpoint is not wrong. However, expecting the majority to fall in line with it is foolish and egotistical. I would say that even for minority viewpoints that I completely and wholeheartedly support.

I’m not at all in favor of shariah, but why should that make a difference? Muhammed was only one person when he started his career as a prophet. Every other person on Earth thought differently. Are you telling us that the majority is always right and the minority always wrong?

He also holds important official positions, and therefore seems to be a spokesman for modernity, with an important support from Saudi groups which want things to change. So, whatever happened to him, that he holds now such a conservative discourse on such simple issues as men and women working together in offices, and things like that ?

He’s entitled to his views on the subject, of course, and even entitled to modify his views, for whatever reasons. After all, even the mufti of Egypt once said one thing on TV, and defended the opposite view on the same subject a few days later. But, it is to be regretted that these people pretend to defend the positions of religion on these issues, when in fact religion has nothing to do with the subject.

According to the article, al-Obeikan “said Shariah does not prevent women from working, as long as they do not mix with unrelated men. “We have to understand that the basic duty of women is to remain at home and look after the children,” he said.

He further called for the establishment of separate women’s sections at companies and offices — a position shared by the majority of scholars here.””

Such views are peculiar to Saudi Arabia, whose total population represents less than 20 million people. In contrast, there are one billion three hundred million people on Earth who do not think that shariah calls for “the establishment of separate women’s sections at companies and offices — a position shared by the majority of scholars here “

When will Saudis stop confusing their own customs and traditions with Islam ?