Poll: Why shouldn't I convert to Islam?

[Caliostro]

I don't give a crap what you do. It's your life. That said, there's as much logic in following islam as there is in following catholicism, scientology or star wars for that matter. They're all "equally true", in the sense that they're all fake. Logically, believing any religion is stupid. If you wanna believe, however, it's a "whatever suits you" thing.

Because converting to a religion is false, you can't honestly just start believing something.

Nobody REALLY believes religions. They just pretend they do cause it's comfortable. Like when you were 4 and discovered there was no Santa, but kept pretending for a couple more years cause it was "magical".

 

[Naeo]

Good to see there are some voices of reason on this thread. When you get most of your exposure to a religion through Fox News, and take the actions/teachings of a very small minority of people as the true teachings of a religion, then you reach the territory of undeserved generalizations.

Not saying Christianity is always better, but just taking baptist methodist and such, that women are on equal ground as men.

Obviously not all Christians treat women as property, but some do. Same as Islam. Some parts of the Islamic world treat women as second class citizens, while the vast majority doesn't. You have problems when Christianity is painted by the same broad brush based on the actions of a few, and then you turn around and do the exact same thing and say all Muslims treat women as second class citizens. Kinda hypocritical don't ya think?

The problem with your statement is that Islam teaches women are second class citizens and are property - it's found in the koran and other Islamic teaches considered equal to the Koran. The Bible never EVER mentions that. Most verses people bring up in reference to the idea women are "less than man" or "under man's authority" are mistranslated from the Greek and Hebrew words, which either says women aren't to disrespect their husbands, or they use equivocal analogies (for example, men are the cornerstone of a family, but women are the "nuts and bolts" that holds everything together - you can't have one without the other). Although I agree Christians have oppressed not just women, but various peoples, this wasn't because of the written word of God but rather the unfathomable greed of man. The texts of the Koran and the Bible are very different, the only correlation being that Islam traces its roots to Ishmael and Judaism (the precursor to Christianity) traces its lineage to Isaac. They were brothers, by the way, and they were cursed - it's said they will fight eachother till the end of time. By the way, Ishmael's decendent's are the Arabs (specifically those around palestine) and Isaac's are the Jews... kind of a weird coincidence, don't yea think? Besides the agreement on the beginning of the book of Genesis, there is nothing in common with the two when one looks at the religious texts (not the attempted exploits of man with those texts).

The Qu'ran is actually fairly inconsistent on the matter of Women's Rights, going on what I've read (which isn't the whole thing by any means) and know from other sources. In Surah 2 is gives women the right to divorce and remarry at their own will and handful of other rights, but in other places, yes, it does say they are worth half of what men are worth and so on. It tends to swing back and forth from go-girl to no-girl. But, all religious scriptures contain inconsistencies, so this isn't one instance of "Islam is being stupid where no other religion is".

 

[Rolling Thunder]

...Supermassive Black Hole,
...Supermassive Black Hole,
...Supermassive Black Hole,


Please note that this summarises my opinion on the matter.

 

[NeutralDrow]

Because Buddhism is cooler.

Ding ding ding ding.

If I were to be converted from Christianity, Buddhism is the way to it.

I mean, you get infinite amount of lifes, only you have to remember not to be an asshole and do more good things than bad things. And if you get Illuminated, you get sweet deals +5.

You just described Hinduism.

 

[Naeo]

Because Buddhism is cooler.

Ding ding ding ding.

If I were to be converted from Christianity, Buddhism is the way to it.

I mean, you get infinite amount of lifes, only you have to remember not to be an asshole and do more good things than bad things. And if you get Illuminated, you get sweet deals +5.

You just described Hinduism.

Well, aside from the "do more good than bad" he didn't. Buddhism has the whole middle path philosophy- indulge in as little good or evil as possible. But Buddhism does have reincarnation and enlightenment (which I assume he meant by "Illumination").

 

[cainx10a]

Because Buddhism is cooler.

Ding ding ding ding.

If I were to be converted from Christianity, Buddhism is the way to it.

I mean, you get infinite amount of lifes, only you have to remember not to be an asshole and do more good things than bad things. And if you get Illuminated, you get sweet deals +5.

You just described Hinduism.

And Hinduism has the rebirth perk. Big bonus!

 

[Pimppeter2]

Yes, if you believe in that religion.

 

[bue519]

1. God isn't real.

2. Islam oppresses women.

3. Islam preaches that homosexuals and Jews should be stoned to death.

Many many others, but you asked for 3.

Wow you obviously don't know crap about islam.

 

[Swayam]

I dont know why most of you westerners think about islam by taking Saudi Arabia as example. I live in India, where Islam makes up 20% of my countries population. And let me tell you this, Most women are free to roam and no limitations are imposed.

Here, Women are in the same level ( a few exceptional cases when families are extremely Orthodox islam). Saudi Arabia has an extremely non tolerance islamic culture, but in other less orthodox countries like Pakistan, India, Bangladesh etc ... things are different. you wont get dragged of a street if you don't wear attire or you wont get your hands cut if you steal.

Lenin, if you want to convert to islam, let it be YOUR decision. Religion is what YOU believe and follow what YOU believe. Others advice won't help at all. If you are convinced, go for it. If you arent yet, then think whats right for you. And you will get your answer.

 

[Swayam]

Because Buddhism is cooler.

Ding ding ding ding.

If I were to be converted from Christianity, Buddhism is the way to it.

I mean, you get infinite amount of lifes, only you have to remember not to be an asshole and do more good things than bad things. And if you get Illuminated, you get sweet deals +5.

You just described Hinduism.

And Hinduism has the rebirth perk. Big bonus!

Actually, Hinduism is more on how to exit from the endless chain of life and birth.
Thats done by increasing your Karma. Google it if you wanna know what that is.

I would know, Im a hindu

 

[Zetona]

Gotta ask why you want to follow it first.
Can't say I agree with the religion to put it bluntly, anything in which women are regulated to 2nd tier citizens isn't my cup of tea.

In what way does Islam treat women as second class citizens? Have you ever lived in a muslim country?

Saudi Arabia. Women can't even drive (whether that's a good or bad thing depends on your own opinions, and whether you've ever heard of one Vanina Ickx).

Is knowing this reference worth a cookie?

(She is, maybe now was a driver in Germany's DTM touring car series.)

OT: I don't know where the OP is from, but here in America at least there is such a social stigma against Muslims right now that it's not beneficial to be a Muslim. Of course, the system of advantage means that white, male Protestants are favored in any situation.

But if you're in a country that's more open to Islam (say, France), you'll experience fewer problems.

 

[NeutralDrow]

Because Buddhism is cooler.

Ding ding ding ding.

If I were to be converted from Christianity, Buddhism is the way to it.

I mean, you get infinite amount of lifes, only you have to remember not to be an asshole and do more good things than bad things. And if you get Illuminated, you get sweet deals +5.

You just described Hinduism.

Well, aside from the "do more good than bad" he didn't. Buddhism has the whole middle path philosophy- indulge in as little good or evil as possible. But Buddhism does have reincarnation and enlightenment (which I assume he meant by "Illumination").

Infinite number of lives describes both; reincarnation is found in Hinduism and Hinayana/Vajrayana/some forms of Mahayana Buddhism (I think Zen and Pure Land Buddhism might be exceptions). Doing good over evil describes both Hinduism's concept of dharma and karma and certain parts of the Eightfold Path. And illumination (or enlightenment), escaping the cycle of reincarnation, is found in both.

The biggest differences between Hinayana Buddhism and Hinduism are theism (Buddhism is nontheistic), the concepts of the Eightfold Path over karma, and the rejection of the caste system.

 

[Lord Mountbatten Reborn]

If you really believed in Islam, you wouldn't need a bunch of anonymous gaming-centred forumites to tell you what to do.

 

[ElephantGuts]

Might I suggest Judaism as a replacement?

But honestly, I don't see why you would leave a choice like choosing your religion up to others. Do what you want to do.

Conversion to Judaism's not an easy process. It's sort of an oddity among religions because they don't actively try to convert people (outside of Judaism, anyway. Conservatives and Orthadox shuls are pretty aggressive about taking in Reform and Secular jews). I think it's procedure to be turned down, or discouraged, three times - I don't really know all the details - and there's a lot of studying involved.

That's what makes it so great. No random bum can just wander in off the street into our religion. It takes procedure. I think it shows that we Jews value the quality of our religion rather than the number of people who belong to it.

Or nationalistic chauvinism.

Much less likely.

 

[Abedeus]

Because Buddhism is cooler.

Ding ding ding ding.

If I were to be converted from Christianity, Buddhism is the way to it.

I mean, you get infinite amount of lifes, only you have to remember not to be an asshole and do more good things than bad things. And if you get Illuminated, you get sweet deals +5.

You just described Hinduism.

Well, aside from the "do more good than bad" he didn't. Buddhism has the whole middle path philosophy- indulge in as little good or evil as possible. But Buddhism does have reincarnation and enlightenment (which I assume he meant by "Illumination").

Yes, I wasn't sure which name was correct - enlightenment or illumination. One source says one thing, and the second source another thing.

In Hinduism you can't eat beef (or meat, not sure - I don't care for that religion), you MUST pray to gods (several) and you must treat cows like... I'm sorry, they are gods.

 

[RebelRising]

You seem to be a fervent enthusiast of radical Communism/Bolshevism, so that naturally leads me to wonder why the hell you would be interested in joining a religion at all.

I wouldn't care for it, but if that's truly what you want, go for it. Your faith (or lack thereof) is your own business.