Poll: Why shouldn't I convert to Islam?

[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.

Every orthodox religious bub value the quality of their religion.

I never said they didn't. But by comparing the methods by which people must join the religions, it would appear that Judaism values it more. Christianity didn't spread over the entire world and become the world's dominant religion by being as careful about its members as Judaism.

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.

Except for the people who just happened to be born into it.

Also aren't the really orthodox families the ones with, like, fifteen kids? Strikes me as a "don't go to the store, make your own" kind of deal.

Yes people are born into it, but they're Jews. They're raised to be good Jews, besides that they have it in their blood.

And please don't say "You can't guarantee that they'll be raised to be good Jews" because obviously not, that would be impossible. But requiring this procedure for conversion is better than nothing.

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, to play Devil's Advocate, it's an "exclusive club". Historically, with no offense intended, Judaism has been a fairly ethnic-based religion- that is, you're born into it or you're almost definitely not Jewish. Ergo they arguably have instituted the high levels of studiousness and such to keep other people out. Not that it's without merit- theoretically it allows for a greater degree of scholarly understanding of the religion.

Historically, perhaps. But that was'nt out of a desire for isolation or bitterness towards other people. The opposite is true; historically the non-Jews showed bitterness towards the Jews and forcefully isolated them. People can join if they want to, they just need to show the proper commitment so we can make sure they don't dilute the religion.

 

[Naeo]

Gah. Cat was walking on the keyboard just as I was finishing typing that and somehow it got posted.

 

[Naeo]

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.

I thought atheists did not believe in religions. How can you hate something you do not believe in?

Uh...atheists believe that religions exist, but also think that they are all full of lies and such. Consequently they hate the religion for spreading lies and whatever other evils they attribute to them.Like how I don't have to follow Hitler's philosophy that Jews at all inferior to hate said philosophy.

 

[Go on]

I am a muslim myself and i learned about my faith through a translation of the koran i recomend you do the same. When you truly believe in islam as a religion and not the cultural rules in the book then yes i think you should follow it's ways

But that's just my opinion and remember there is nothing worse than following a religion whitout understanding it

 

[ThrobbingEgo]

Or, to play Devil's Advocate, it's an "exclusive club". Historically, with no offense intended, Judaism has been a fairly ethnic-based religion- that is, you're born into it or you're almost definitely not Jewish. Ergo they arguably have instituted the high levels of studiousness and such to keep other people out. Not that it's without merit- theoretically it allows for a greater degree of scholarly understanding of the religion.

That's pretty true to how Judaism's adapted. Even though, even though when I did attend synagoge it was it a relatively Jewish-casual (or little J) crowd (female rabbis, congregation seated by families instead of being split up between men and women, kippah are optional, the party sandwiches aren't from an explicitly kosher catering service) there's definitely a lot of pressure in the religion to be a Jewish scholar. I mean, our coming of age ritual is read the text and have an interpretation... and we'd really like you to do it again in three years.

Doesn't help your faith though when you're researching the parts of the torah that have to do with what to do with lepers or a woman who's menstruating. Luck of the draw, I guess.

 

[Bat Vader]

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.

I thought atheists did not believe in religions. How can you hate something you do not believe in?

Uh...atheists believe that religions exist, but also think that they are all full of lies and such. Consequently they hate the religion for spreading lies and whatever other evils they attribute to them.Like how I don't have to follow Hitler's philosophy that Jews at all inferior to hate said philosophy.

I thought that was Agnostic.

 

[SnowCold]

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.

NO! As a jew who looked abit into the bible (minus he jesus parts), in judaism, it sucks to be a jew.

In judaism, when the massiah will come everyone will come back from the dead, jews, chirstens, islamics, and even atheists (though god may spit on them on the way out >.>).
And if you want to please the lord and your aren't a jew, you need to follow 7 rules (don't kill, don't steal, etc...) but if you are a jew, you need to follow SIXHUNDRED AND THIRTEEN freaking rules! (most of which you can't follow since they involve the temple >.>).
So yeah... run while you can!

 

[Naeo]

Or, to play Devil's Advocate, it's an "exclusive club". Historically, with no offense intended, Judaism has been a fairly ethnic-based religion- that is, you're born into it or you're almost definitely not Jewish. Ergo they arguably have instituted the high levels of studiousness and such to keep other people out. Not that it's without merit- theoretically it allows for a greater degree of scholarly understanding of the religion.

Historically, perhaps. But that was'nt out of a desire for isolation or bitterness towards other people. The opposite is true; historically the non-Jews showed bitterness towards the Jews and forcefully isolated them. People can join if they want to, they just need to show the proper commitment so we can make sure they don't dilute the religion.[/quote]

Ah. Okay, hadn't been thinking on that angle.

 

[ThrobbingEgo]

I thought atheists did not believe in religions. How can you hate something you do not believe in?

Uh...atheists believe that religions exist, but also think that they are all full of lies and such. Consequently they hate the religion for spreading lies and whatever other evils they attribute to them.Like how I don't have to follow Hitler's philosophy that Jews at all inferior to hate said philosophy.

Atheists don't believe in religions? As in, religions don't exist? Wow, that interpretation's hilarious.

"Hi, I'm a Christian."
"Pfft. Yeah, right."

Atheists don't believe in supernatural-agent-deity things.

 

[asinann]

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.

As long as you aren't joining one of the radical sects, there is no real reason not to.

 

[Naeo]

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.

I thought atheists did not believe in religions. How can you hate something you do not believe in?

Uh...atheists believe that religions exist, but also think that they are all full of lies and such. Consequently they hate the religion for spreading lies and whatever other evils they attribute to them.Like how I don't have to follow Hitler's philosophy that Jews at all inferior to hate said philosophy.

I thought that was Agnostic.

I used to be one of the "all religion is poison"-brand atheists (and am ashamed of it now). Just because I'm an agnostic now doesn't mean I've always been. And, plus, I don't have to actually presently be an atheist to be able to understand/know what they believe.

 

[Sewblon]

You get to have four wives and get to kill them if they make you mad, but you can't eat bacon ever again. It is a difficult trade off.

 

[ThrobbingEgo]

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.

NO! As a jew who looked abit into the bible (minus he jesus parts), in judaism, it sucks to be a jew.

In judaism, when the massiah will come everyone will come back from the dead, jews, chirstens, islamics, and even atheists (though god may spit on them on the way out >.>).
And if you want to please the lord and your aren't a jew, you need to follow 7 rules (don't kill, don't steal, etc...) but if you are a jew, you need to follow SIXHUNDRED AND THIRTEEN freaking rules! (most of which you can't follow since they involve the temple >.>).
So yeah... run while you can!

Yeah, but by the seven rules, you also aren't allowed to believe in a god other than the Jewish one.

If you've ever read Snow Crash, this turns into a pretty cool plot point.

 

[Glerken]

This thread makes me want to go start a thread asking the Escapist community which faith I should follow...

 

[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.

NO! As a jew who looked abit into the bible (minus he jesus parts), in judaism, it sucks to be a jew.

In judaism, when the massiah will come everyone will come back from the dead, jews, chirstens, islamics, and even atheists (though god may spit on them on the way out >.>).
And if you want to please the lord and your aren't a jew, you need to follow 7 rules (don't kill, don't steal, etc...) but if you are a jew, you need to follow SIXHUNDRED AND THIRTEEN freaking rules! (most of which you can't follow since they involve the temple >.>).
So yeah... run while you can!

I'm pretty sure the whole "Everyone coming back from the dead" thing (I forget what it's called. Judgement Day?) applies to Christianity as well, and maybe Islam, I'm not sure.

And I don't know what your problem with the 613 commandments are. I for one enjoy following them. Well, maybe not. But I'm pretty sure nothing bad happens if you don't follow them.

 

[Naeo]

I thought atheists did not believe in religions. How can you hate something you do not believe in?

Uh...atheists believe that religions exist, but also think that they are all full of lies and such. Consequently they hate the religion for spreading lies and whatever other evils they attribute to them.Like how I don't have to follow Hitler's philosophy that Jews at all inferior to hate said philosophy.

Atheists don't believe in religions? As in, religions don't exist? Wow, that interpretation's hilarious.

"Hi, I'm a Christian."
"Pfft. Yeah, right."

Atheists don't believe in supernatural-agent-deity things.

Uh, isn't that (being your point) what I said? Not sure why you quoted me on that one.

 

[ThrobbingEgo]

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.

Except for the people who just happened to be born into it.

Also aren't the really orthodox families the ones with, like, fifteen kids? Strikes me as a "don't go to the store, make your own" kind of deal.

Yes people are born into it, but they're Jews. They're raised to be good Jews, besides that they have it in their blood.

And please don't say "You can't guarantee that they'll be raised to be good Jews" because obviously not, that would be impossible. But requiring this procedure for conversion is better than nothing.

All that's ensuring is purity of tradition - and, let me point out that that hasn't worked out very well. If you're all about traaadition, the synagogue my family goes to would make your head explode.

 

[ThrobbingEgo]

Uh, isn't that (being your point) what I said? Not sure why you quoted me on that one.

You made your point. I was just adding a little humor to it.

 

[SnowCold]

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.

NO! As a jew who looked abit into the bible (minus he jesus parts), in judaism, it sucks to be a jew.

In judaism, when the massiah will come everyone will come back from the dead, jews, chirstens, islamics, and even atheists (though god may spit on them on the way out >.>).
And if you want to please the lord and your aren't a jew, you need to follow 7 rules (don't kill, don't steal, etc...) but if you are a jew, you need to follow SIXHUNDRED AND THIRTEEN freaking rules! (most of which you can't follow since they involve the temple >.>).
So yeah... run while you can!

I'm pretty sure the whole "Everyone coming back from the dead" thing (I forget what it's called. Judgement Day?) applies to Christianity as well, and maybe Islam, I'm not sure.

And I don't know what your problem with the 613 commandments are. I for one enjoy following them. Well, maybe not. But I'm pretty sure nothing bad happens if you don't follow them.

I'm am pretty sure in chirstianity you DO return to earth in judgement day, but only for two seconds and then you melt or some shit, and all the chirstens get holy popcorn and watch all the sinners melt =O

and the rest was kinda of a joke =P, but In seriousness, you should think really well before you convert to judaism, since you need to work very hard to get our CHirsten blo-I MEAN GIFLTE FISH! THATS WHAT I MENT!... Gefilte fish... Yeah...

Or, to play Devil's Advocate, it's an "exclusive club". Historically, with no offense intended, Judaism has been a fairly ethnic-based religion- that is, you're born into it or you're almost definitely not Jewish. Ergo they arguably have instituted the high levels of studiousness and such to keep other people out. Not that it's without merit- theoretically it allows for a greater degree of scholarly understanding of the religion.

Not really, The jews were originally arabs, but when the romans sent us too europe, there have must been a great deal of cross marriage for making jew so simillar to the europeans.