re: #101 CuriousLurker

It’s not about the structure, it’s about power/control. In Islam prayer is allowed almost anywhere. Bathrooms, graveyards and the like are prohibited, but anywhere else is fine, hence the portable prayer rug (which is kept free from ritual impurities and can be laid out pretty much anywhere). The important thing is that the prayer is performed on time.

That;’s why you hear about people getting freaked out by Muslims praying in airports or whatever. In NYC it wasn’t uncommon to see Muslims praying in parks if that’s where they happened to be when prayer time rolled around, or even on sidewalks outside mosques on Fridays when things got too crowded indoors. Important communal prayers—like the one marking the end of Ramadan—are often held in large open spaces like gymnasiums or parks.

My advantage as an atheist - I can grab a bag of popcorn and just watch the intriguing interaction between religious belief systems.

Sorry for being an ass, but all the conspiratorial panic making coming from believers makes no sense to me.