I refer to James Wong Wing On's article Political Islam  "Graham is of the opinion that liberal democracy and human rights could, given time, patience, the right direction and leadership, evolve out of Islamic politics and discourses, just as Christian polities produced the Magna Carta in Britain, the Declaration of Independence in the United States, and the message of "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" in France."

With due respect, it was not Christian politics that produced any of these. The Magna Carta was a result of a baronial uprising against King John and the taxes he levied. It was about putting controls and limits onto the power of a king who was, up until that time, absolute.

It was in fact a good old fashioned, and if I may be so bold as to assert, secular power struggle. No bishops involved, no theology, no morality, no principles. It was simply a determination of who had the right to levy taxes and in what proportion.

In addition, the American declaration of independence, the French idea of liberte, egalite and fraternite , were a result not of Christianity. In fact, the church and all religious doctrines of that time supported the idea of the king as absolute ruler.

Both the American declaration of independence and the French idea of liberte, egalite and fraternite were a result of ideas by, again here comes that word, secular philosophers and thinkers like de Toqueville and Montesque.

The fact remains that true democracy is dynamic and displays a great respect for human temporal life because the participants, the demos, can question and remake the existing order. This is not so in any religion as all religion is doctrine and dogma.

Religion is concerned with spiritual life. Religion being the "voice of God" cannot be questioned since you cannot question the almighty and all knowing. Religion is, thus, the antithesis of democracy.

The development of a stable and mature democracy, of human rights, of rule of law, of liberty and equality is a direct result of the Christian nations of Europe becoming secularised. It was the humanist philosophers, and not the religious theologians, who gave rise to present-day democracy.

It is a result of putting religion in its proper place, the home. It is the removal of religion from public life and government that allowed Europe and later America to achieve their present-day democratic stability and maturity and to industrialise.

So, please, no excuses for any religion. Islamic nations will achieve greatness only when Islam becomes "private".