Islam: A religion for Losers

http://www.freerepublic.com/ ^ | 10-21-2006 | Me

[WashingtonSource]

Here's a link to an article that mentions that conversions to Christianity from Islam are growing in Indonesia, where there are an estimated 20 million Christians.

http://www.leaderu.com/theology/islaminamerica.html

It also mentions the book, The Next Christendom: The Coming of Global Christianity, Philip Jenkins, which cites the rapid growth of Christianity in Africa, Aisa and Latin America. The book further notes that despite the rising number of Islamic immigrants to the U.S., there are far higher numbers of Christian immigrants.

[WashingtonSource]

Here's a link to a story about the rise of Islamic converts to Christianity in Kashmir, the area of India that has been the source of tensions between India and Pakistan.

http://www.milligazette.com/Archives/2004/16-31Jul04-Print-Edition/163107200455.htm

[MaineVoter2002]

All because Abraham's wife thought she was too old to have chaildren

[fish hawk]

Thank you for taking the time and trouble to get me some articles on the subject. Aloha

[WashingtonSource]

Here's a link to the web site, "Muslims for Christ." You can bet this will never be covered by the DBM.

http://www.exmuslim.com/

[WashingtonSource]

While this goes against my theme, you'll be interested in this link to a piece by Daniel Pipes, which reveals that the ranks of Muslim terrorists are being filled by Christian converts to Islam.

http://acuf.org/issues/issue50/051222cul.asp

[tcostell]

Well I guess the mistake I'm making is assuming that you are somehow trying to make Christianity and Islam seem equivalent by that view.

In my view, offering the emotional strength to take personal responsibility for your actions, and the political authority to punish those who made you feel bad is not the same thing, even if they both might appeal to someone who "has less". I believe there is a fundamental difference between encouraging someone to take responsibility and authorizing them to take retribution.

Do you mean to say otherwise? Is it your view that because both Christianity and Islam offer moral solutions to those with less, that they are therefore the same somehow?

[redheadtoo]

when a person stops believing in organized religion they don't then believe in nothing, but begin to believe in anything

In other words, their minds are so open their brains fall out.

[HitmanLV]

No, but that's close to my point.

Both Christianity and Islam offer something hopeful for those with less, who some might characterize was 'losers.'

But Christianity and Islam offer different moral codes, rituals, conducts. They are clearly not the same, and they clearly take their followers to different places.

I think both religions have aspects that appeal to what most people would call 'losers.' That's not a bad thing, in itself. And I wouldn't characterize Christianity as a religion exclusively or largely for losers.

[WashingtonSource]

Here's a link to a story about converts from Islam within Islamic countries that appeared in Christianity Today. It includes converts in Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Bangladesh and others. This report claims there has been an increase in the number of people who attend underground churches in North Africa from a tiny 2,000 Christians 10 years ago to 50,000 today. It says Christianity is growing faster than Islam in Bangladesh -- the increase in the number of Christians each year is growing at a rate twice that of the growth rate of the population.

http://www.exmuslim.com/khaled/doors.htm

[WashingtonSource]

Here's a link to story that finds that the number of Christans in Africa, 390 million, is 3 times the level it was 35 years ago. Christianity is spreading like wildfire in sub-Saharan Africa.

http://world.christianpost.com/article/20050228/260.htm

[fso301]

how exactly do you get rational post-secular westerners to buy into an idea like that?

A post-secular westerner may likely be islamic

[Motherhood IS a career]

Good points. Even small number of organized losers can do a lot of harm, as can large numbers of not-so-organized losers.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that we should underestimate the power of losers in large numbers. Quite the opposite. Especially when they think they have nothing much to lose in this world, but a whole lot to gain somewhere else.

I don't see any smugness or overconfidence about this writing. Just an explanation of one of the things that draws converts to a so called "religion" where the separation of church and state is nonexistent.

[Motherhood IS a career]

Actually, yes... very much like communism!

[Motherhood IS a career]

islam (I refuse to capitalize the word) means literally I submit.

I WILL NOT SUBMIT

http://www.cafepress.com/hotairshop.74650431

[Motherhood IS a career]

I don't think anyone is criticizing the concept of getting help from a "higher power." In other words, no one is knocking religious faith.

But islam, as evidenced by the behavior of so many muslims around the world, has less to do with faith or comfort or aid and more to do with a bloodlust for "infidels" and those who are to "blame" for what muslims lack.

[Motherhood IS a career]

Are you suggesting that "The Nation of Islam" is not really about religion???

[Motherhood IS a career]

Then look at #s 31 and 32.

[Motherhood IS a career]

Mat 19:24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.


Mat 19:25 When his disciples heard [it], they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?


Mat 19:26 But Jesus beheld [them], and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

---

I don't read this as an endorsement against material achievement or as something that highlights the virtues of poverty v. wealth. It seems to me that Jesus was trying to say that you can't buy your way into heaven. That the bottom line is: "With God all things are possible. "

Of course, I'm not a religious scholar and this is just my opinion.

[Motherhood IS a career]

Muslims for Christ...

You mean Ex-muslims.

This is all good news. (Or not so news, whichever the case may be, but it's reassuring that the demographics aren't completely hopeless.)