Conversion from Islam = Death penalty?

Tony Blair addressed the Australian parliament yesterday. He could not have been more explicit that there is a battle for "global values" against Islamic fundamentalism. He was very careful a few years ago to say the battle against terrorism had nothing to do with religion. Now he says in effect we are at war with Islam.

The death penalty for religious autonomy? That's the biggest condemnation of Islamic fundamentalism. Notice I said "fundamentalism." I'm confident that not all Muslims are so extremist. What if our Christian fundamentalists should ever achieve political hegemony in this country? Theocracy is Hell from the perspective of the secular humanist.

Thanks, Roger.
Rex, we should keep in mind that while "atheists" are not a political block and do not condemn the practice of religion FOR OTHERS, our society does have a secular (not an athiest) government--hence the separation of Church and State. This in no way injures the private practice of religious practice and belief. It means merely that government cannot regulate religion and religion cannot regulate government...give unto Ceasar that which is Ceasar's....

If the atheists ever took over, Rex, you would still have the constitution, and JL did not equate Christians with fundamentalists. That was your paraphrase, which clearly changed the meaning of the post.

I cant find a transcript of the speech found this though

From

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000102&sid=aPx3p.V3Rxzk&refer=uk

Foreign Policy

The speech is the second of three foreign policy addresses from Blair. The first, delivered in London on March 21, argued that the world needed to confront Islamic extremism. Today's set out a possible method for doing so. The third, to be given in the U.S., will look at how global institutions need to be reformed to take on the problem.

Blair cited Australia's alliance with Britain during the Second World War. ``When Britain declared war on the Nazi tyranny, that same day your prime minister announced you were at war too,'' he said. ``No ifs, no buts, just solidly with the world. We needed you then. We need you now.''

``To win, we have to win the battle of ideas as much as arms,'' Blair said. ``If we want to secure our way of life, there's no alternative but to fight for it. That means standing up for our values, not just in our country but the world over.''

Blair will travel on to New Zealand and then Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim nation, where he wants to lend support to the government's battle against Muslim separatists plotting with al-Qaeda terrorists.