I Do Not Believe in Freedom of Religion

Freedom of Religion should not and cannot be absolute. As I wrote when I first started this blog nearly a year ago, it is unacceptable to allow the promulgation of religions which honour those members who kill non-members to gain admission to heaven, even in a probablistic sense [thanks to Jack for sending this article].

Zurida Shenkao was one of nearly 20 people militants held captive in various buildings during their assault on government and law enforcement offices in Nalchik, a regional capital in Russia's turbulent Caucasus.

Her account, given to The Associated Press by telephone Saturday from her hospital bed, was among the details emerging about the simultaneous attacks, in which at least 128 people were killed, including 92 militants.

At one point, the gunmen explained to Shenkao and four other women in the store the motivation for their bloody assault.

"We are fighting for our motherland. We must kill all those who wear police uniforms and serve the government," said one of the men, both in their 20s, Shenkao recalled. "The more of them we kill, all the more certain we will get to heaven."

Emphasis added.