The argument was something about the minaret bans in Europe. Which eventually led to something similar to, “oh yeah, try building a Christian church in Saudi Arabia.” My answer to that is “so what?” We are not Saudi Arabia.

And there’s a good secular message here:

Secular India taught me to look at every religion with equal respect. My inheritance and the celebration of religions in India where Hindu, Sikhs, Christians and Muslims celebrate and live side by side, irrespective of colour or creed was a significant factor for my growth,” Rev Poobalan told TOI in an exclusive interview from Aberdeen.

Being secular includes everyone regardless of belief. My being secular understands that people have a right to practice their religion free from harassment. This is just as true as people being able to gather as atheists. We all live together in this society.

Some of this is why I believe we need more atheists to come to the defense of moderate or secular Muslims. This in turn will further secularize immigrants from Islamic countries.

What we want as a society is more secularism which means the inclusion of all. Secularism is not atheism.