Attraction to Islam

[David_McQueen]

Some have asked why people are attracted to Islam, and I suppose I can share some of my experience. The reason why I was atracted in my youth and how I have noticed many young Christian men being drawn to it are as follows

1) No argument about versions. One Qu'ran end of.

2) No argument about God. Trinity? Godhead? Nah mate

3) Total respect for figureheads. (See Mohammed cartoons)

4) Sense of morality and treatment of women.

5) Unity of faith and language

Does this mean this happens all across Islam. Err...nah, but hey its the way that many Christians are hooked into it.

[Dr. Shane]

So there is unity in Islam??? Wow! That is new to me.

Well, Dave, at least this thread isn't about the reasons why you are becoming Islamic.

[David_McQueen]

of course if you dig deeper Shane, you can see how disparate Islam is and just like Christianity how it is affected by culural, political and personal differences, however the "evangelical" arm taps into the concept of a united front for Islam, and quite succesfully here in the UK with disaffected youth looking for deeper spirituality and with males who feel they have been demasculated by their local churches!

Whilst it is not for me there is something quite awesome about seeing a room full of men all praying together barefooted in unity at prayer times in a mosque. something quite Danielesque about it!

[Gregory Matthews]

Re: "So there is unity in Islam??? Wow! That is new to me."

The sarcasm is clear.

[Gerr]

Quote:

---

David_McQueen said:

Some have asked why people are attracted to Islam, and I suppose I can share some of my experience. The reason why I was atracted in my youth and how I have noticed many young Christian men being drawn to it are as follows

1) No argument about versions. One Qu'ran end of.

2) No argument about God. Trinity? Godhead? Nah mate

3) Total respect for figureheads. (See Mohammed cartoons)

4) Sense of morality and treatment of women.

5) Unity of faith and language

Does this mean this happens all across Islam. Err...nah, but hey its the way that many Christians are hooked into it.

---

[:"blue"]Respect for women? Come on!!! It boggles my mind why any western woman would consider dating much less marrying a Muslim.

And what religion promises immediate reward of 7 virgins in paradise while you blow up your enemies & yourself including innocent people? [/]

Gerry

[Bravus]

Both strawmen, Gerry. Respect for women can mean protecting them: it's not our way, but it's a way. And the 70 virgins thing is a distortion of Islam in the same way that Jim Jones was a distortion of Christianity.

[David_McQueen]

Muslim women that I have met feel suitably protected by the Qu'ran. Whilst they recognise that there are political and cultural subversions of the Qu'ran, many feel their chastity and womanhood is respected by their husbands and surrounding men, who respect and uphold the institute of marriage.

It's a sad indictment when the only impression of a Muslim man is that he is some terrorist willing to become martyred. Such media distortion hides the fact that there are as many pacificistic Muslim men as they are Christian.

Much truth can be found in honest and open dialogue.

[Gregory Matthews]

Islamic women whom I have met feel quite safe and protected.

Let us not say that our culture in the only accepted one.

[Dr. Shane]

Muslem women may be safe and protected unless, of course, they get raped and one of their family members needs to murder them to protect thae family's honor. Muslem women also get to share their husband with other women since the faith allows men to have five wives.

[Nan]

Shane, Muslim men are allowed 4 wives - it is a small point, but if the points are inaccurate the rest of the argument becomes suspect as mere opinion.

Yes some Muslim women do get raped by family members - I have talked to at least one - but please do not believe that crime is restricted to that religion. It is not. And while I cannot claim to know, I doubt if rape of anyone is sanctioned by Islam.

We do not appreciate Christianity being judged by the behaviour of extremists - let us extend the same courtesy to our Muslim friends.

[Gerr]

Quote:

---

Bravus said:

Both strawmen, Gerry. Respect for women can mean protecting them: it's not our way, but it's a way. And the 70 virgins thing is a distortion of Islam in the same way that Jim Jones was a distortion of Christianity.

---

[:"blue"]What? 70 & not 7? Hmmmmmmm. I might join them myself!!! [/]

Gerry

[Ron Lambert]

Bad news for Muslim terrorists/martyrs: There is no room for them in Paradise because Paradise has run out of virgins!

That 70:1 ratio just does not compute!

[Dr. Shane]

I took a middle east class and they taught us Muslems could have 5 wives so if my information was mistaken it was due to a teacher - public education at work

I was not refering to families raping muslem women. I was talking about honor killings where a muslem woman's family will kill her if she is raped in order to preserve the family's honor.

[Neil D]

Quote:

---

I took a middle east class and they taught us Muslems could have 5 wives so if my information was mistaken it was due to a teacher - public education at work

---

We will credit this mistake to the "No Child Left Behind" act!

[Nan]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

Shane said:

I took a middle east class and they taught us Muslems could have 5 wives so if my information was mistaken it was due to a teacher - public education at work <img src="/ubbtreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I was not refering to families raping muslem women. I was talking about honor killings where a muslem woman's family will kill her if she is raped in order to preserve the family's honor.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

I found the following quote

Therefore, Islam allows polygyny, limiting the number of wives to four, but does not require or even recommend polygyny.

In the Muslim societies of our times, polygyny is not frequently practiced despite legal permission in many countries. On the other hand, it appears that the (American) male is very polygynous, getting away with not taking responsibility for the families for which he should be responsible.

at this site http://www.iad.org/Islam/polygyny.html. and the final comment shows how some Muslims perceive some Westerners.

Sorry for the misunderstanding on the other matter Shane, but the situation I was describing occurs too. Unfortunately. <img src="/ubbtreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

[David_McQueen]

Another reason that many black youth have been attracted to Islam is because many Muslims have played the race card. Claiming Christianity to be the white mans religion, and that slavery stripped them of their core religion they had when in Africa.

They often forget that Islamists were an integral part of the slave trade, that Christianity was abundant in West Africa from where most of the slaves came from and that many African slaves were also humanists and had nothing to do with Islam.

[Gerr]

Ah, your Allah is too small!

Gerry

[David_McQueen]

One of the reasons I raised this topic is because I believe there is a great evenagelical opportunity to reach out to Muslims. Not on the typical crusade, hell and damnation prophecy approach, but on friendship/relationship and rational level.

Muslims place much emphasis on dreams

Muslims have a high respect for the Bible, even if not at the same value as the Qu'ran

Many Muslims love stories, parables, anecdotes

Muslims are greatly encouraged by prophecy

Muslims love the discipline of prayer

Muslims take much pride, in God being the God of Abraham

Incidentally Dr Borge Shanctz used to lecture on Muslim studies in Newbold. Dont think he does anymore.

[gina i]

Thank you, David.

Many people just know Islam as the 'extreme terrorism killing machine' religion.

Sometimes, no, all the time, I am sad at people's ignorance towards other 'religions'. We are not the only ones in the world.

[Nan]

It is of interest to me that it is quite common for Aboriginal Australians to be Muslim, I guess for the reasons David is describing. I wonder if they have thought through the facts about the slave trade.

Sammy, studying theology in a Muslim country (Indonesia) learnt to quote quite lengthy passages of the Qu'ran, and has surprised Muslims on various occasions.

In another thread some time ago the Hanif Muslim movement was discussed, I do not want to resurrect it here but it may be interesting for anyone relating to this topic.

[Dr. Shane]

I had a friend in college and he told me his dad had two wives. I had another friend in college that told me when he graduated college he would not stay in America because he wanted to have more than one wife.

My muslem friends admired me for my faith. Especially the fact that I honored the Sabbath and didn't eat unclean meats. One was quite surprised when I asked him why he was eating during Ramadan. He asked me if I believed it was wrong. I told him that, in my belief, if he felt convicted that it was wrong, God would hold him accountable for it, regardless if it is wrong or not.

[Nan]

Whether true or not I am not sure, but I have heard that in the past, Muslims converting to other Christian denominations were asked to prove their conversion by eating pork, which is abhorent to any true Muslim. Not the most helpful action, I would have thought.

[fifiqueen]

It's funny how we talk of other religions and find it incredulous that others could talk about Adventistism as a cult and decry it's traditions and beliefs.

It is only through love that we can win the hearts of others.

Whilst we talk about polygamy amoungst muslims, we seem to forget that in bible days many of our patriachs had multiple wives and illicit relationships. Women were raped within their own families and treated as lesser than men. Even within our own churches many have adultrous relationships and still hold their position(Pastors and Elders included). Women who have been cheated on can be ostratised whilst the new couple (her exhusband and his new wife) accepted. We often bribe members into taking positions or doing things by telling them that they are doing it for the Lord and great will be their reward in heaven, it might not be 70 virgins but it is promising them something in return for their service.

We verbally assasinate members just as well as any terrorist when we believe that they are in the wrong. We are just as fanatical in our beliefs about EGW as they are about Mohammed. There are moderate adventists and zealots. We crusade to convert members to our church without them really knowing what they are getting into or being aware of the differing factions within our congregatoims.

It is very easy to decry another religion and completely miss the comparisions and inadequacies of our own.

Blessings

Fifiqueen

[Kountzer]

Quote:

---

David_McQueen said:

Another reason that many black youth have been attracted to Islam is because many Muslims have played the race card. Claiming Christianity to be the white mans religion, and that slavery stripped them of their core religion they had when in Africa.

They often forget that Islamists were an integral part of the slave trade, that Christianity was abundant in West Africa from where most of the slaves came from and that many African slaves were also humanists and had nothing to do with Islam.

---

I agree. Lots of people in african american communites, who are members of, or are sympathetic to the islamic religion, somehow consider christianity the white man's religion. I don't buy that, but everyone's entitled to believe what they want to.

I took some black studies courses and I too heard that slavery was practiced by muslims in Africa. I hear that it is still practiced in some islamic countries.

DB