I Converted at Gunpoint - Am I Really a Muslim?

Slate ^ | Thursday, Aug. 31, 2006, at 6:30 PM ET | Daniel Engber

[van_erwin]

The two Fox News staffers who were kidnapped in Gaza earlier this month were forced to convert to Islam at gunpoint, according to news reports. Fox's Steve Centanni said on Wednesday that he didn't know if he was officially a Muslim—"I don't know enough about Islam to know if it was official, or recognized." Well, is he a Muslim, or isn't he?

[The_Reader_David]

Well, there we have it: proof positive that bin Laden and the 9/11 conspirators are bad Muslims.

Did they offer conversion to Islam to the folks in the WTC and Pentagon? No.

Did they offer the opportunity to pay the jizya to the folks in the WTC and Pentagon? No.

Not very comforting, but we really should insist that they follow the formalities. First, it gives us notice and a chance to take them out before they open hostilites. Second, at an individual level, it gives us Christians a chance for proper martyrdom by formally demanding we renounce Christ.

[colorado tanker]

Excellent point. Peter - the Rock of the Church.

[jpl]

Centanni and Wiig publicly stated that they became Muslims, so unless they eventually publicly state otherwise, I think we have to assume that they are in fact Muslim.

I suspect that they may be afraid to do so however, because they're not stupid; they know that doing so would essentially putting a death sentence on their heads if they were to ever be captured again.

[headsonpikes]

I Converted at Gunpoint - Am I Really a Muslim?

What other kind of true Muslim is there?

In any event, I would say "Yes!", even though the more conservative might insist that a sword must be employed for the conversion sacrament.

[happymom]

Give me a few minutes to look it up, but I think that back in 1996 Bin Laden sent a convert or die letter to Clinton.

[Waverunner]

But do you support the Viking kitty's?

[Sandy]

What other kind of true Muslim is there?

LOL. Touché.

[The_Reader_David]

Oh, then they should have attacked Clinton. The rule was usually applied city-by-city. Did he send one to Rudy Guiliani as well?

[Dog Gone]

[happymom]

I couldn't find what I was looking for, so I may be wrong, but I did find the text of his 1996 fatwa against the US here. I guess he skipped right past the "convert" option straight to "die".

[weegee]

Someone should pose this question to the Imam at ASK THE IMAM.

http://www.islam.tc/ask-imam/index.php

[martin_fierro]

Charles had a Photoshopped "conversion" yesterday.

[ketelone]

HEheh like "Ask a black dude" on chapelles show.

[antiRepublicrat]

Simply because many Christians are of the opinion the you cannot serve G-d with a lie upon your lips...

Moses lied to Pharaoh, "... Let my people go, that they may sacrifice to me in the desert ... to go three days' journey..." After the plagues, Pharaoh said "go, sacrifice to the Lord as you say." After which the tribe took off forever, not just for three days' sacrifice in the desert.

IOW, precedent is that you can lie for a good cause.

[antiRepublicrat]

I love the kitty sniper! I should start a collection.

[colorado tanker]

"Let my people go" is so famous, but I'd forgotten the rest of what Moses said. Excellent point.

We obviously have some folks on this thread who know their Bible.

[CTMRIop]

" A devout Christian wouldn't renounce Christ to save his own skin."

That's not fair to say, sitting comfortably at a computer in America. If you were kidnapped by these monsters, tortured, and had a gun to your head, you might say lots of things you don't believe in order to see your family again, see your kids again.

Christ is quite understanding, you know. He's smart enough to know that what you say to a rabid killer in order to save your life has absolutely no bearing on your morals.

[TigersEye]

Fox's Steve Centanni said on Wednesday that he didn't know if he was officially a Muslim—

You can always recant Islam, Steve, but it won't bring you back to your previous faith if you had one.

If you want my head, raghead, take it. You're not getting my heart.

[attiladhun2]

That is correct. In the earlier surahs (the so-called Meccan surahs), Mad Mo stated that there could be no compulsion in religion. However, this "prophet" had a convenient "revelation" after he had ensconced himself in Medina as an Oriental potentate that all previous surahs had been abrogated under the principle of mansukh. It is the duty of all Muslims to make converts by any means whatever. This is the essence of jihad. Thus, whether or not you are forced to repeat the shahada under the point of a gun makes no difference. You are considered a Muslim and to renounce even a forced conversion to Islam is an offence punishable by death according to sharia.

[CTMRIop]

"You can always recant Islam, Steve, but it won't bring you back to your previous faith if you had one."

Wrong. Christ is always open to take you into His heart. Do you really think Christ would reject someone who pretended to accept Islam at gun or knifepoint? If that's your version of Christ, it's one I wouldn't want any part of.