Poll: Why shouldn't I convert to Islam?

[Jerious1154]

I had to stop at all the "Islam oppresses women" stuff. It is not the religion that oppresses women. If you have read up on the koran, then you will see that the reasons for covering up and the financial stuff and all that is for protection. And before I get any feminist's hounding me saying "We don't need protection" just remember: it was written at a barbaric time. So, Islam is not oppressive, it's the social factors, like the country and the men that control it. They just happen to be interpreting the Koran in a way that allows them to push women around. By the way, I'm Roman Catholic, so don't say I'm biast.

But if a religion's permanent rules were based off of a temporary social condition, couldn't you argue it's the religion itself that's irrational and prone to oppressing it's own members? I mean, you can't truely say a religions not oppressive, that it's only the social conditions and politicians behind it. It's a human-made and human-run enterprise; it'll be oppressive by itself or with other factors contributing to it.

All religions have permanent rules that were based off of temporary social conditions. Unless you believe that a religion is the direct word of God, you have to remember that religions were created by people, who naturally fit them to the time period. Religions have evolved in their attitudes towards women, particularly Islam and Judaism, however in many Islamic countries they twist the gender roles of the Quran to justify the oppression of women.

 

[lenin_117]

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.

Wow, why don't you just convert to Islam and beat some "kikes" and "fags" to death yourself! People as naive as you shouldn't have the right to talk at all! They are simply, a subhuman species that have no will to control their stupidity impulses, like insects... Maybe when you see some of YOUR friends die!... of course I don't expect you to understand that, since you love insects as much as you love Human beings!

So I take it you have spent long years studying this "subhuman species that have no will to control their stupidity impulses, like insects...you don't deal with them, you just stomp them to death!" You my friend, have a problem, seek medical attention. What you have said is not what rational, clear minded people say. This sort of thing is not what I'm looking for. What I'm after is an explanation for why my friends want me to not convert. Why?

 

[Huey1000]

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.

Wow, why don't you just convert to Islam and beat some "kikes" and "fags" to death yourself! People as naive as you shouldn't have the right to talk at all! They are simply, a subhuman species that have no will to control their stupidity impulses, like insects... Maybe when you see some of YOUR friends die!... of course I don't expect you to understand that, since you love insects as much as you love Human beings!

So I take it you have spent long years studying this "subhuman species that have no will to control their stupidity impulses, like insects...you don't deal with them, you just stomp them to death!" You my friend, have a problem, seek medical attention. What you have said is not what rational, clear minded people say. This sort of thing is not what I'm looking for. What I'm after is an explanation for why my friends want me to not convert. Why?

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.

Wow, why don't you just convert to Islam and beat some "kikes" and "fags" to death yourself! People as naive as you shouldn't have the right to talk at all! They are simply, a subhuman species that have no will to control their stupidity impulses, like insects... Maybe when you see some of YOUR friends die!... of course I don't expect you to understand that, since you love insects as much as you love Human beings!

So I take it you have spent long years studying this "subhuman species that have no will to control their stupidity impulses, like insects...you don't deal with them, you just stomp them to death!" You my friend, have a problem, seek medical attention. What you have said is not what rational, clear minded people say. This sort of thing is not what I'm looking for. What I'm after is an explanation for why my friends want me to not convert. Why?

You apparently have never spent a single day of you're life in the service, so you don't know the real meaning of suffering and drinking every day to forget that suffering, you... like every other pussy sheltered American, don't want to accept the truth!!. If they had their way, you and me would both be hanging from the same rope, yet all you care about is a stubborn political opinion!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[JohnSmith]

Hmm, this is fairly counter-intuitive for me to say as an atheist but if you believe it, and I mean really believe it then go for it. Religion is irrational all the way to its core so asking for reasons logical or otherwise not to believe, prejudices the situation, it connotes that you want to be swayed one way or the other, therefore you don't believe not in any strong way. Obviously if you were considering converting then you are a spiritual person, this does not mean you need to join an organised religion to express this. Furthermore the Abrahamic religions are by far the least appealing of available religions in the world, try buddhism at least there aren't any sky bullies.

 

[jmorourke80]

I'd be inclined to say, no, you shouldn't convert to Islam. Not for any reason relating to Islam itself, but just because you're asking about it on an online forum.

Your choice of religion is a personal choice, you'll follow whatever you believe to be true and if a bunch of strangers on a forum have enough sway over your beliefs to decided whether or not you'll join a church... well, you don't really believe that much in the first place.

Stick with agnosticism... seems like it'd be more your style.

 

[Mozared]

This thread made me think about a sketch by a Dutch comedian. He says

"Muslims in the middle-east have started a Jihad to convert everyone on the planet to the Islam, and I say let them. If we all become muslim they won't know what to do anymore. And at that point there's REALLY a large group of us. Then again, it'd be more fun if everybody became a muslim and we didn't tell one guy... Imagine the look on the guy's face when everybody's poking eachother saying 'Heh, look at that non-muslim'."

Shamefully it's not as brilliant when written down.

 

[Huey1000]

...

 

[Huey1000]

...

 

[Zephirius]

Hell, if you want to convert, go ahead. Although if you're already doubting just because your friends said no even if they couldn't come up with any arguments, I'm not sure you'd want to. You'll have to decide if the (stupid) social stigma currently attached to Islam is worth it, and if you can keep having faith in the face of such opposition.

 

[Ajna]

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

How's that any more legitimate than simply being born into a religion? At least you'd be doing it out of your own will, and not just your parents'.

Convert to Islam if you want, dude. Personally, though, I don't think any religion has the answer.

Yup, that. There's a God/god? Sure. I can believe that, no problem. Some dude who likely ate a few too many mushrooms saw a fiery bush that was god? Not as easy to take...

 

[Huey1000]

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.

Wow, why don't you just convert to Islam and beat some "kikes" and "fags" to death yourself! People as naive as you shouldn't have the right to talk at all! They are simply, a subhuman species that have no will to control their stupidity impulses, like insects... Maybe when you see some of YOUR friends die!... of course I don't expect you to understand that, since you love insects as much as you love Human beings!

So I take it you have spent long years studying this "subhuman species that have no will to control their stupidity impulses, like insects...you don't deal with them, you just stomp them to death!" You my friend, have a problem, seek medical attention. What you have said is not what rational, clear minded people say. This sort of thing is not what I'm looking for. What I'm after is an explanation for why my friends want me to not convert. Why?

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.

Wow, why don't you just convert to Islam and beat some "kikes" and "fags" to death yourself! People as naive as you shouldn't have the right to talk at all! They are simply, a subhuman species that have no will to control their stupidity impulses, like insects... Maybe when you see some of YOUR friends die!... of course I don't expect you to understand that, since you love insects as much as you love Human beings!

So I take it you have spent long years studying this "subhuman species that have no will to control their stupidity impulses, like insects...you don't deal with them, you just stomp them to death!" You my friend, have a problem, seek medical attention. What you have said is not what rational, clear minded people say. This sort of thing is not what I'm looking for. What I'm after is an explanation for why my friends want me to not convert. Why?

You apparently have never spent a single day of you're life in the service, so you don't know the real meaning of suffering and drinking every day to forget that suffering, you... like every other pussy sheltered American, don't want to accept the truth!!. If they had their way, you and me would both be hanging from the same rope, yet all you care about is a stubborn political opinion!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go ahead and take the same extreme you accuse me of taking!

 

[neoman10]

I'd be inclined to say, no, you shouldn't convert to Islam. Not for any reason relating to Islam itself, but just because you're asking about it on an online forum.

Your choice of religion is a personal choice, you'll follow whatever you believe to be true and if a bunch of strangers on a forum have enough sway over your beliefs to decided whether or not you'll join a church... well, you don't really believe that much in the first place.

Stick with agnosticism... seems like it'd be more your style.

this seems good

 

[NeutralDrow]

This thread made me think about a sketch by a Dutch comedian. He says

"Muslims in the middle-east have started a Jihad to convert everyone on the planet to the Islam, and I say let them. If we all become muslim they won't know what to do anymore. And at that point there's REALLY a large group of us. Then again, it'd be more fun if everybody became a muslim and we didn't tell one guy... Imagine the look on the guy's face when everybody's poking eachother saying 'Heh, look at that non-muslim'."

Shamefully it's not as brilliant when written down.

Considering that comedian has never heard of Sunni and Shia, it's not that funny said aloud, either.

 

[Cocal]

when you say converting it sounds like you where a different or are a different religion now. so I would assume you do not currently believe in Islam. so I mean do you really wanna switch to something you don't truly believe in. Also three reasons?
1) Do you really wanna pray 5 times a day? and try and figure out which way is east?
2) People will treat you different because of your realign because the Iraq war has giving Islam a bad name.
3) Do you want to disappoint your friends?

Now I'm not trying to convince you not to I really could care less. I'm just giving you the three reasons why you shouldn't here are the reason's you should
1) Who gives a fuck about other peoples opinions?
2) If they are your friends they wouldn't care about your religion.
3) It's your afterlife not theirs if you want all that is promised there like the sex and wine and comfort and stuff then it's your deal not theirs.

 

[Merteg]

Islam is not better or worse than any other popular, modern day religion.

If you agree with their teachings, why would you not convert?

'Cause your friends don't worship Allah and if they don't worship Allah
Well they're no friends of mine'

Popular expression I believe.

 

[GlasticTect]

This isn't really a yes or no question, because Islam has both positive and negative sides to it. It makes it even harder, because we don't know anything about you.

So here is a list of pros and cons

Pro:
Islam at it's heart like many major religions has a strong focus on PEACE, not that it has been traditionally used as such. Yet all major religions go through that phase. There have actually been more wars declared in the name of Buddha then Christ or Allah.

Islam is the sum of the Abrahamic religions. It uses the Torah, New Testament, and the Koran. Although there is frequent talk of them hating Jews it is more an ethnic argument than religious.

Cons:
You are a person seeking something new to try to explain spirituality you will fail. You can take some important messages from a religion, but no religion can explain everything. Even people "divinely" inspired are just people, we can not answer all the questions and may never be able to.

Islam does have a problem with women's rights. Christianity took centuries to give women something close to full rights and their basis on partnership in their idea of marriage helped. Islam gives a lot more credit to women as being as smart or as strong as men, but is still based on the idea of one man and as many wives as he wants. It kind of stifles female independence


Anyway do what you will, I just have never found anything satisfying in something handed to many and called the "truth." The only truth is that which you find for yourself from reality and your own intuition.

 

[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.

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.

You make an excellent point. I tend to reason my way around those historical, "Holes," and chalk it up to faith. However, you are correct. Seeing the actual events that unfolded within the pages of the Bible from a historical and factual standpoint can change ones' view dramatically. It is easy to poke holes in some of the stories when you sit and read the Bible alongside a history book. It hasn't shaken my faith, but I see how it could easily do so.