And the poll says

I came across an interesting article that cited a Gallup poll concerning how the Muslim world views themselves and their values.
Here is a direct quote from the article:
“Majorities of both men and women in many predominantly Muslim countries want to see Islamic principles, Sharia, as a source of legislation. These respondents have much in common with the majority of Americans who wish to see the Bible as a source of legislation. Both groups emphasize the importance of family values and are deeply concerned about issues of social morality. In fact, what respondents in the Muslim world and a significant number of Americans say they admire least about Western civilization is an excessive libertinism in society.”
So, what this seems to be telling us is that both people in the West and Muslim countries want to base their laws on their respective predominant religions.
Fine. However I notice that in Muslim countries that their predominant religion is what ----Islam right? It probably would, could, and will be a fine set of guidelines for these countries. But most of the Arab countries so far as I know aren't democracies. And yes, democracy and islam should be able to coexist. Its their leaders and the extremists in these countries that subvert the religion to their own ends. Islam is a stricter religion than some making, I believe, it easier to channel its immense power and passions to less than desirable ends.
But in the west, with its more traditional democracies that embrace a wider degree of beliefs and religions, its harder to push religion upon the government.
Don't fet me wrong. Christian values are excellent guidelines for the laws made in the west. I happen to believe in them myself. But there has to be be a separation between church and state.
Let our laws be guided by basic moral precepts..... and let people choose what religion to follow as a matter of free will.... not because strict religious laws would force them to.