Posted on 01/23/2005 3:12:28 AM PST by Calpernia
Mexico may be well on its way to a monotheistic revolution. This new trend is emerging from recent developments, and reflects a similar change evident in other South American nations - people are embracing Islam by the thousands, jettisoning the Catholicism imposed upon their ancestors in Spain.
The prayer congregation has tripled since Mexico City's Centro Cultural Islamico de Mexico (CCIM) first opened its doors 6 years ago. The numbers could be even higher. However, most Mexicans still have almost no knowledge of Islam. CCIM is spreading the Oneness of Allah at all levels of society and translating Islamic publications into Spanish. It also has several native-born active Da'wah graduates from Saudi Arabian universities who speak fluent Arabic. The Center's Islamic public radio program had to be suspended because of financial constraints.
In the last 3 years, CCIM built two new mosques in two cities close to the capital. Its ultimate goal is to establish full-time mosques in every major Mexican city.
Early History
Mexico has a rich history. The people of pre-Columbian Mexico, the Mayans, led a life similar to Native American Indians and were pantheists who relied upon high priests to mediate with their nature gods. Locked in wars and short of food, they gradually were wiped out and replaced by the Aztecs. These people believed in a polytheistic religion based on the world's constant creation and destruction. Their religion taught them that disasters could be averted only through warfarre and human sacrifice. By the sixteenth century, the Aztecs ruled a large part of Mexico.
In the early 1500's, Spanish conquistadors from Cuba and Spain came to pillage Mexico's natural resources - namely gold - and find glory. Cortez, the most infamous conquistador, posed as an Aztec god to mystify and trick people into joining forces with him. He conquered the Aztecs in less than 3 years, and set up "New Spain."
In 1535, the first royal court was established to grant Spanish colonists control over native labor and produce. The Roman Catholic Church allied to the Spanish monarchy, worked for creating a land free of religious dissent and to convert the people. During the 300 years of Spanish rule in Mexico, the colonists controlled all wealth and political power, and the natives had no other choice but to bey orders or to face death.
By the seventeenth century, New Spain had nearly collapsed, and Mexican Indians were dying by the millions from the imported diseases and the hard labor imposed by their oppressors. Out of nearly 11 million people in the 1520's, only less than 1 million remained by the 1550's. The cattle and sheep herds brought by the Spaniards ruined farmlands and depleted water resources, making it almost impossible for the natives to grow food. After enduring plunder and subjugation for centuries, Mexicans revolted and regained control over Mexico in the early 1900's.
Mexico Today
Today, Mexico has over 90 million people, most of whom follow the Catholicism imposed by the conquering Spaniards. However, the foodgates of religious thought have opened, and people are examing other religions - especially Islam.
There is very little knowledge about the origins of Islam in Mexico. Some sources say Syrian immigrants brought it; others say it came with Turkish immigrants.
Today, most Mexican Islamic organizations focus on grassroots Da'wah. These small organizations are most effective at the community level, going from village to village and speaking directly to the people. As a result of such hard work, Mexicans are eager to learn about Islam, and many are declaring their Shahadah - profession of faith in Islam.
ping
Mexicans will not fight the corruption within their own government that causes the economic misery in which they live.
Will they fight Islamic fundamentalsim when it impacts their lives or flee from it like they do the corruption?
(Just one more excuse to run for the border, IMO.)
Don't you have to learn Arabic to convert to Islam? Most of the Mexicans I run into don't seem inclined to learn any language other than Spanish.
A more accurate title might be "Islam spreads to Mexico"
Half the world is at war over this dangerous ideology and we don't even recognize the danger it presents.
Tell me one more time why we are in Iraq!!!!
Go ahead, embrace islam. But Mexico still won't win any wars.
Mexican Muslims...that's all we need.......
It's Christians who impose...Muslims...nahhhhh.
Conversions in Mexico in the 1530s were dramatically accelerated by the miracle of the Virgin of Guadalupe, which is why the Mexicans have such a devotion to her today. Millions of Aztecs were baptized following that event.
Muslims?...We don't need no stinking Muslims......
Will they fight Islamic fundamentalsim when it impacts their lives or flee from it like they do the corruption?
(Just one more excuse to run for the border, IMO.)
The Church of Scientology is always bragging about how fast it's growing, but it's never very big. I predict the same thing will be the case for Islam in the Latin world. They'll always be bragging about how fast they're growing, but they'll never get very big.
An Islamic country directly to our south is a frightening prospect.
>>>Don't you have to learn Arabic to convert to Islam? Most of the Mexicans I run into don't seem inclined to learn any language other than Spanish.
In traditional Islam, Yes. You have to learn Arabic.
BUT, in this non traditional infiltration...I'm not sure.
I've seen many mosques websites that have a translate view icon. This allows for spanish viewers.
So, I don't know.
bump!
Are you serious?
Note the site you referenced. AllIslamic sites LIE, this article most definitely
>>>Did this article come from an Islamic website?
NOPE!
If you convert you MUST learn ARabbic -- the Korn cannot be recited in anything BUT arabic
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.