Poll: Why shouldn't I convert to Islam?

[Bruiser80]

Judging by your username, avatar and lack of reasons for converting to islam, you're an idiot. There are no reasons to not join a religion if you truly believe it, also your asking us, a bunch of faceless randoms on the internet to basically bash islam.

Join islam if you want, don't join it if you don't want to.

Agreed. I think posting this kind of question is borderline trolling. What difference does it make to this forum what religion you are? Are you thrusting your beliefs on others?

Avatar and handle definitely makes this look like a trolling effort.

If it isn't trolling, I apologize. If you have friends that are giving you static about switching religions, they either are:
(a) worried about your safety joining a religion that is controversial and could be targeted for attacks (see 9/11).
(b) worried that joining this religion will change you to the point that you won't be friends anymore
(c) not really a good friend to begin with
(d) (based on your avatar and name) worried that you have a history of doing silly things to get attention, and this move could have unintended consequences. Converting to Islam might be easy, but getting out might not be that easy. Stories of converts in the middle east are just isolated incidents with fundamentals, but it only takes a couple fundamentalists to make things uncomfortable.

 

[SnurreFisk]

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.

This.
And many more of course:

1. If you are caught not praying one of your 5 daily prayers, you will be whipped.
2. You are not allowed to dance, listen to music or play games (aka, not allowed to have fun)
3. If you convert to Islam, and then converts to something else, you can and will be tortured, humiliated and stoned..

it's all there in the Koran..

 

[tsb247]

I'm seeing a fair deal of religion bashing and the whole, "God is a lie," thing going on here, so I will simply say this and leave it at that.

To say that you are certain that God does not exist is to imply that you hold some sort of answer that everyone else seems to be missing; to say that you know where the universe itself came from and to imply that our science is 100% accurate. They will say there is no evidence to prove God exists because they are looking for a utopian world where all of their problems are cured by a devine being. What would be the point of living? Many athiests I know only dumped religion when they felt religion failed them. There was no, "Hey, I think I will be rational today," moment about it. They screwed up, blamed it on God, and dumped everything they once believed and started anew.

Having said that, the zealots out there give religion a bad name. To assume that a single book holds all the answers and can be interpreted literally is foolish. Every single religious text out there has been translated from language to language thousands of times, and it is inevitable that many meanings have been lost through the ages. Religions are for those who want to find a deeper meaning for their lives. While it is true that mankind has exploited all religions throughout the ages for personal gain, that is simply not what religion is for.

It is healthy and natural to question ones' religion. I have questioned mine. It's all part of understanding and learning.

I suppose I posted this to make this point as well. I hear so many athiests crying, "Respect my right to disbelieve! You offend me!" when they, in turn, cannot respect another's right to believe because they have to tell the world, "God does not exist!"

ThrobbingEgo seems to have the rational thing down pat - Not stomping beliefs, but rather able to carry on an intelligent conversation and brings up some good points.

 

[Bigsmith]

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.

Ladies and gentlemen, let the Islamophobia begin!

Not Islamophobia, my opinion. Which the OP asked for.

I hate all religions equally.

You also seem to get all of your facts regarding Islam from Fox news.

After studying Islam for 2 years in school I can firmly say that these three points are the truth the truth and nothing but the truth.

 

[Shapsters]

What the fuck do you care what your friends think?!!? Your converting your religion, not buying a new Xbox game. Its your decision to make.

 

[Haliwali]

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

False. I didn't necessarily convert to Christianity, but I went from being pretty much agnostic to being a fairly devout person. I did it for my own reasons, and think my life is better for it. I know that converts exist, for many reasons, and I sort of think those who CHOOSE to join the church (or any other religion) instead of those who are born into it tend have, well, I won't say stronger, but a different relationship with their beliefs.

And to the OP, what prompted this decision? I suppose if that's what you want to do, alright, but make sure you're doing for reasons you can be sure you are comfortable with.

 

[RedVelvet]

Seeing as you are considering to change your religion, you are saying that you aren't sure that the religion you have is true. And that that one is right. Or you could be changing sides because you know that all religions pray to the same god and that the Islamic way of worshiping is more correct.
Reason number 1: Who's to say you'll keep believing that Islam is the one, right way? You're abandoning one religion so you're not so sure about man-made religions.
Reason number 2: If you become a Muslim, that means that you also have to become very aware of their social rules and standards. These may be harder pills to swallow than you think. I know, I can't comb all Muslim over on the same side, but I'm talking about those who are truly devoted. Not your regular House-yard-and-garden Muslim like there are christians who are more modern and know that the religion is flawed but that there might be truth in there.
Reason number 3: It's going to require a LOT and a LOT of studying. And I do mean A LOT. YOu know the stuff you've learnt in school about your current/previous religion? That's only half the amount you have to relearn because the stuff you take from home you have to now learn as well.

You wanted three reasons, well here they are :>

 

[Lord George]

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.

Ladies and gentlemen, let the Islamophobia begin!

Not Islamophobia, my opinion. Which the OP asked for.

I hate all religions equally.

You also seem to get all of your facts regarding Islam from Fox news.

After studying Islam for 2 years in school I can firmly say that these three points are the truth the truth and nothing but the truth.

Yeah studying books becuase that'll really teach you the reality. The Bible also tells people to stone homosexuals and Jews and to keep women in there place as a mother and wife. But do Christians do that? No, because just like every other religion people can choose to ignore many parts of there teachings.

I base this on having 2 Islamic friends and one of them's gay, he's family's fine with it and his choices. So while the it might be true when looking at the Religion its not true when you look at the people who actually choose to follow it.

 

[Bibliomancer]

I'm seeing a fair deal of religion bashing and the whole, "God is a lie," thing going on here, so I will simply say this and leave it at that.

To say that you are certain that God does not exist is to imply that you hold some sort of answer that everyone else seems to be missing; to say that you know where the universe itself came from and to imply that our science is 100% accurate. They will say there is no evidence to prove God exists because they are looking for a utopian world where all of their problems are cured by a devine being. What would be the point of living? Many athiests I know only dumped religion when they felt religion failed them. There was no, "Hey, I think I will be rational today," moment about it. They screwed up, blamed it on God, and dumped everything they once believed and started anew.

Having said that, the zealots out there give religion a bad name. To assume that a single book holds all the answers and can be interpreted literally is foolish. Every single religious text out there has been translated from language to language thousands of times, and it is inevitable that many meanings have been lost through the ages. Religions are for those who want to find a deeper meaning for their lives. While it is true that mankind has exploited all religions throughout the ages for personal gain, that is simply not what religion is for.

It is healthy and natural to question ones' religion. I have questioned mine. It's all part of understanding and learning.

I suppose I posted this to make this point as well. I hear so many athiests crying, "Respect my right to disbelieve! You offend me!" when they, in turn, cannot respect another's right to believe because they have to tell the world, "God does not exist!"

ThrobbingEgo seems to have the rational thing down pat - Not stomping beliefs, but rather able to carry on an intelligent conversation and brings up some good points.

I respectfully disagree with the idea that all or most atheists don't disbelieve out of rational thinking. Speaking as an agnostic/lapsed Catholic, I lost much of my faith when I actually learned the history and scholarship behind the Bible. By learning about the inconstancy and historical impossibilities in the Bible, I realized that the majority of the Bible was most likely false and that religion did not have sufficient answers for these problems. I think that that is a pretty common scenario. While I am sure that some, if not many people lose faith because of tragic events or screw ups, I disagree with the idea that that is the only reason or the main reason that people stop believing in God.

 

[Bluebacon]

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.

So really it's nothing new is it? All the Abrahamic religions do that. And I know plenty of chilled out Muslims, some of whom left their countries because it was too hardline for them. They're not some crazy breed of people who are entirely fanatic.

OP: If you're going to convert, then do so. If not, don't. Why are you asking the internet?

 

[BGH122]

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

Im sorry but I have to call bullshit on this one. Theres lots of reasons for people to star believing in something. Nobodys born religous. They can get there through being raised that way but its not something that just happens.

Theres also a lot of reasons for people to start believing in a god.

Wow, people really aren't getting Shred's point! If I've understood him correctly he means that one cannot choose to believe in something. To illustrate, if I believe that abortion is morally wrong (let's not examine reasons why we believe things or we'll be here forever) I cannot suddenly say "M'kay, I've changed my mind. Abortion is fine now." There might be a slow progression where my previous value, abstinence from abortion, is rescinded and the new pro-choice value is adopted but it is not a sudden transition from anti-choice to pro-choice.

The OP is asking us to tell him why he shouldn't be a Muslim, but this clearly means he currently is not a Muslim and does not believe their core beliefs. If he does believe their core beliefs then he is a Muslim, he might be a Muslim in denial but he is a Muslim nonetheless. However, were we all to fail to provide reasons for him to be a Muslim then he would, presumably, 'become' a Muslim. But this is absurd! Either he genuinely does or does not agree with the fundamental principles of Islam and if he's done his research he can work this out by himself. The fact that he can't eat bacon as a Muslim, or be promiscuous, or drink alcohol wouldn't change whether he believed the same core of beliefs as a Muslim so this thread is fatuous. Either he's a Muslim or he's not, but there's nothing this thread can do to have any genuine effect upon this.

 

[S.H.A.R.P.]

Unless you are lonely, and in dire need of a new community of like minded souls.

Like, say, The Escapist?

I dare say that not many Escapists have the tendency to become Islamic. But yeah, there are more facets to a personality than religious intent. Still, I thought it was considered haram, or not allowed to play video games if you follow the Islamic faith. Perhaps we should tell that to the OP.

 

[Yudas]

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

Im sorry but I have to call bullshit on this one. Theres lots of reasons for people to star believing in something. Nobodys born religous. They can get there through being raised that way but its not something that just happens.

Theres also a lot of reasons for people to start believing in a god.

Wow, people really aren't getting Shred's point! If I've understood him correctly he means that one cannot choose to believe in something. To illustrate, if I believe that abortion is morally wrong (let's not examine reasons why we believe things or we'll be here forever) I cannot suddenly say "M'kay, I've changed my mind. Abortion is fine now." There might be a slow progression where my previous value, abstinence from abortion, is rescinded and the new pro-choice value is adopted but it is not a sudden transition from anti-choice to pro-choice.

I agree that converting over time is more normal than converting instantly, but I still think its quite possible for the human psyche, to quickly adjust to a new religous mindset, for example through force of an extreme event. Alot of people find a new god If something big happens in their life that they did not expect. Especially in the less educated part of the world is this a plausible way to tackle obstacles.

 

[Thirsk]

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.

Ladies and gentlemen, let the Islamophobia begin!

Not Islamophobia, my opinion. Which the OP asked for.

I hate all religions equally.

You also seem to get all of your facts regarding Islam from Fox news.

After studying Islam for 2 years in school I can firmly say that these three points are the truth the truth and nothing but the truth.

Yeah studying books becuase that'll really teach you the reality. The Bible also tells people to stone homosexuals and Jews and to keep women in there place as a mother and wife. But do Christians do that? No, because just like every other religion people can choose to ignore many parts of there teachings.

I base this on having 2 Islamic friends and one of them's gay, he's family's fine with it and his choices. So while the it might be true when looking at the Religion its not true when you look at the people who actually choose to follow it.

george144 said it.

Also, I think that many people base their conception of Islam on the middle east which, admittedly, is where the belief in Islam is most common, but also it is one of the most fucked up places in the world. Every culture/part of the world have their ups and downs and the middle east is deep down right now. Historically speaking there was a time when the middle east was one of the most scientifically advanced parts of the world while the christians were bloodthirsty barbarians. This has changed now, but that doesn't change the fact that it have nothing to do with Islam as a religion. I'm pretty sure the situation in the middle east would be pretty much the same if they were Christian or Jewish.

At a basic level, the Quran preaches love, just like the Bible does. The problem is the people misunderstanding it and interpreting it wrong.

 

[D.C.]

As long as you dont become a hardcore activist it doesnt matter what religion you follow as long as your happy in it.

 

[JoeyTribbiani]

Do what ever you wish mate. It's your decision, not ours.

 

[Jamous]

Not Islamophobia, my opinion. Which the OP asked for.
I hate all religions equally.

Why hate? Just ridicule. It's FAR more entertaining watching them dance.

True that ^_^

^^

 

[NeonZombie]

Why would you want to be a muslim anyway? Btw where are you from?

 

[Yowsa]

noooooo if you do i will find you and beat the living hell out of you

 

[NeutralDrow]

...I'm not reading the previous pages because I'm worried to. I'll just respond to the thread title.

I can't see any reason why not. If the tenets of the faith reflect or are close to your own beliefs, or you can see the wisdom inherent in them, or you just like the way Islam basically has five central rules, four of which are negotiable, then by all means become a Muslim.