Poll: Why shouldn't I convert to Islam?

[ThrobbingEgo]

Actually yes that is exactly what I mean, as in true religious belief is ridiculous, because it's not a decision you made for yourself.
I would have no respect for a rational adult who came to that conclusion, or at least i wouldn't call them a rational adult.

A recently turned atheist, I take it? I find you get over the angst and bitterness of realizing you've been lied to all your life, eventually.

Anyway, welcome aboard the winning team. If it turns out we're both wrong, I'll have a pinochle table reserved in whatever hell actually exists. Doesn't sound so bad? Well, I don't know how to play pinochle...

 

[Jharry5]

When it comes down to it, if you believe something strongly enough it shouldn't matter what anyone says at all about it. The people around you can only advise you; you have to make the final decision...

 

[sneakypenguin]

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?

Not in the least, in Christianity(not catholic) it is very rare for people to regulate women to 2nd class, and when it happens most christians will criticize that group of people. Whereas in islam you have whole countries that treat women as 2nd class and it's not a sect its the "base" of the religion. And there is no outcry from muslims saying hey saudi arabia iran iraq afgan your WRONG to treat women like that.

Ah, but is that because of Christianity's teachings or our modern quasi-egalitarian society? How many hard-core Catholics stood up for women's rights before the suffragette movement? How many stood up until after it was mainstream for everyone in the western world to do so?

Equality is a slow, painful process. We're just starting to see that spread. It's going to take time.

I would argue Christianity's (not catholics(those heathens lol)teachings though many would say nay, but until islam modernizes it deserves criticism

 

[BiscuitTrouser]

People are saying that you can pick and chose what you follow in your religion. Choosing whats just a parable, whats true and what to ignore sounds far more like personal opinion than "the word of god". When you have the option to pick and choose what you believe in the religion why even bother following it at all. Why not just follow your own ethical code outside any holy books. I'ts the same inside a religion except you pick and chose the bits you like in the religious outline of how to live to quote in favor for why your ethical code is correct and ignore those that are against your code.

Im an athiest by the way people and i have respect for religious people. Those who take the good values of a religion are honestly good people who i have nothing against. I may see a flaw in the logic as stated above but thats entirly my opinion. I by no means want to say religions are wrong definitivly but what ive written is wat i think.

Interperet your religion as you please and follow it accordingly. If you would rather just chooe your own moral code from scratch rather than picking bits out of a book feel free to do so.

Wat makes faith powerful is the fact that evidence isnt needed, faith just goes on belief alone. If you believe honestly that this religion is correct unquestioningly then follow it, its the right thing for you.

 

[ThrobbingEgo]

Ah, but is that because of Christianity's teachings or our modern quasi-egalitarian society? How many hard-core Catholics stood up for women's rights before the suffragette movement? How many stood up until after it was mainstream for everyone in the western world to do so?

Equality is a slow, painful process. We're just starting to see that spread. It's going to take time.

I would argue Christianity's (not catholics(those heathens lol)teachings though many would say nay, but until islam modernizes it deserves criticism

Give criticism where it it due, and be super careful you don't generalize too much while you're doing it, because otherwise you'll look like an ignorant hate-monger.

 

[Trivun]

If you want to convert to Islam then do so, there's nothing wrong with that. I'm Christian myself but I have absolutely no problem with other faiths and I think that if someone tells you not to convert if you want to do so, or to do it if you don't want to, then they obviously don't have your interests at heart. If you want to convert then go ahead and do it, it's down to you at the end of the day, and no-one else.

 

[Golem29]

No, because there's no evidence for the existence of a God and there's no need to follow any religion to make you a good person.

But by all means join, but in Islam, the punishment for apostasy (leaving the faith) is death, so make sure you don't get cold feet after a while

 

[ItsAChiaotzu]

Actually yes that is exactly what I mean, as in true religious belief is ridiculous, because it's not a decision you made for yourself.
I would have no respect for a rational adult who came to that conclusion, or at least i wouldn't call them a rational adult.

A recently turned atheist, I take it? I find you get over the angst and bitterness of realizing you've been lied to all your life, eventually.

Anyway, welcome aboard the winning team. If it turns out we're both wrong, I'll have a pinochle table reserved in whatever hell actually exists. Doesn't sound so bad? I don't know how to play pinochle...

Well not exactly recently turned but I guess you get the idea, what the hell is pinochle?


Besides my mum is agnostic and my dad is an atheist so lied to all of my life is a stretch.

Though my next door neighbor is a vicar. Hmm.

 

[Triple G]

I'm thinking about following Islam but my friends keep telling me not to. When I ask them to give me three reasons not to, they can't think of anything. So I am essentially looking for three reasons I should not become a Muslim.

Why Islam? OK, it's not a violent religion as most would think, but I dislike Islam, because it lays too many rules on it's followers. Rules, that are unneccecary and only there to prove it's own power. Like the "no sex before marriage" - thing. Where's the sense in that? Catholics pull this gambit, too. E.g. I'm Russian orthodox christian, and we believe in the same god as the catholics and the protestants, but we don't have that many rules. In fact we split up with catholics in the early mediaval stage because we didn't want to exploit people with religion.

 

[Zersy]

If you honestly believe that Islam is the one truth, then you should follow it. If you don't believe it, then you shouldn't. It's as simple as that. Faith cannot be dictated by those around you, it is a matter of belief or disbelief.

Couldn't have said it better myself

 

[ProfessorLayton]

Please take religion seriously. It seems like you're just thinking "I want to be a Muslim just because I want to." This isn't the right reason to join a religion.

 

[ThrobbingEgo]

Actually yes that is exactly what I mean, as in true religious belief is ridiculous, because it's not a decision you made for yourself.
I would have no respect for a rational adult who came to that conclusion, or at least i wouldn't call them a rational adult.

A recently turned atheist, I take it? I find you get over the angst and bitterness of realizing you've been lied to all your life, eventually.

Anyway, welcome aboard the winning team. If it turns out we're both wrong, I'll have a pinochle table reserved in whatever hell actually exists. Doesn't sound so bad? I don't know how to play pinochle...

Well not exactly recently turned but I guess you get the idea, what the hell is pinochle?


Besides my mum is agnostic and my dad is an atheist so lied to all of my life is a stretch.

Though my next door neighbor is a vicar. Hmm.

Pinochle's a card game of some kind. Not important.

Anyway, people have had religious beliefs for a long time, and it isn't entirely because they're irrational. More like, because we all just think we're more rational than we are. We see our consciousness as this one "thing" all of itself - but it's, at least Daniel Dennett describes it as, a bag of tricks. One of those tricks is intentional stance, allows us to consider things from other people's point of view. Anyway, it's not perfect, sometimes misfires, and we attribute intention to non-intentional things or events. Ever swear at your car/computer for "betraying" you? It feels good, doesn't it? Intentional stance in action.

Check out his book, Breaking the Spell. It's a call to seriously study religion. And, all you theists reading this, it's not a religion hate-fest. Read it if you want to get a good understanding of where some of the atheists are coming from.

 

[Simalacrum]

dude, little thing called free will, do whatever you feel best.

 

[ThrobbingEgo]

dude, little thing called free will, do whatever you feel best.

Never!

 

[soulasylum85]

personally i think religion breeds nothing but hate and war but thats not what the thread is about so...

i dont think you or anyone else can decide what you believe. if you feel that muslim is what you are than do it. but if your having second thoughts and/or your faith can be comprimised by what your friends say than either you dont really believe or your just trying to get attention by being controversial

 

[Charli]

While I urge you to do some research on it first, LOTS of research.
I honestly don't care either way...

You'll find alot of Islamic people actually don't know their own faith as well as you will. It's actually a pretty sound faith but like we were in the Dark ages with the whole Latin Bible dealie, most of them haven't read the 'true' Q'ran and have been misled about alot of it.

Ironically most of it was centered around Trade Laws in the Middle east nowadays.


Frankly organized religeon to me is a bit of a joke...but thats me, you're you. Go with whatever the hell you want to, I'll worship god in my own way.

 

[ItsAChiaotzu]

Actually yes that is exactly what I mean, as in true religious belief is ridiculous, because it's not a decision you made for yourself.
I would have no respect for a rational adult who came to that conclusion, or at least i wouldn't call them a rational adult.

A recently turned atheist, I take it? I find you get over the angst and bitterness of realizing you've been lied to all your life, eventually.

Anyway, welcome aboard the winning team. If it turns out we're both wrong, I'll have a pinochle table reserved in whatever hell actually exists. Doesn't sound so bad? I don't know how to play pinochle...

Well not exactly recently turned but I guess you get the idea, what the hell is pinochle?


Besides my mum is agnostic and my dad is an atheist so lied to all of my life is a stretch.

Though my next door neighbor is a vicar. Hmm.

Pinochle's a card game of some kind. Not important.

Anyway, people have had religious beliefs for a long time, and it isn't entirely because they're irrational. More like, because we all just think we're more rational than we are. We see our consciousness as this one "thing" all of itself - but it's, at least Daniel Dennett describes it as, a bag of tricks. One of those tricks is intentional stance, allows us to consider things from other people's point of view. Anyway, it's not perfect, sometimes misfires, and we attribute intention to non-intentional things or events. Ever swear at your car/computer for "betraying" you? It feels good, doesn't it? Intentional stance in action.

Check out his book, Breaking the Spell. It's a call to seriously study religion. And, all you theists reading this, it's not a religion hate-fest. Read it if you want to get a good understanding of where some of the atheists are coming from.

So basically you want to me to empathise with christians?

I don't see the point, by the time they are adults they are either totally brainwashed and incapable of any questioning of their beliefs or clever enough to know better.

 

[Captain Picard]

I'm thinking about following Islam but my friends keep telling me not to. When I ask them to give me three reasons not to, they can't think of anything. So I am essentially looking for three reasons I should not become a Muslim.

You need to ask yourself why you prefer Islam over Judaism, Catholicism, or some other variant of Christianity. To be honest, I personally can't see many underlying differences between these monotheistic religions, apart from superficial ritualistic practices.

What's so appealing about Islam?

 

[ThrobbingEgo]

So basically you want to me to empathise with christians?

I don't see the point, by the time they are adults they are either totally brainwashed and incapable of any questioning of their beliefs or clever enough to know better.

Not exactly my point, no. But maybe you'd be interested in understanding how and why someone could believe in supernatural agents more thoroughly. Daniel Dennett's a very well spoken lecturer; he's a good author as well.

Anyway, there's no sense at being angry at someone just because they have a different point of view. You just might want to save your torch and pitchfork for when they encroach on your freedoms.