Comparing islam and christianity, initial notes (A feminist converts to islam and is frustrated)

muslimwakeup.com ^ | November 10, 2007 | Melissa Robinson

[2banana]

November 10, 2007

Muslim Issues

AMERICAN ISLAMIC FELLOWSHIP

By Melissa Robinson

ATLANTA -- Four years ago, while studying French, Italian and women’s studies as an undergraduate at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, I accepted Islam by taking “shahada,” or the declaration of faith, during Ramadan, proclaiming that there is one God and Mohammad was a prophet of God. I had spent three years studying various religions and belief systems before taking this important step in my spiritual journey. I was moved by Sufi poets and the beauty of a faith that allowed for pluralism. I enjoyed the sense of unity that came with performing rituals alongside other Muslims. I was thrilled to discover a belief system that was not at odds with scientific knowledge. The Islam I came to know allowed for diversity in interpretation and encouraged the pursuit of knowledge and critical thinking. I have grown so much in my faith since that time and am proud to call myself Muslim.

Earlier this year, I moved to Atlanta with my husband and was excited to visit the various mosques in the area. I had hoped to find a supportive and open-minded community in which I would feel at home. However, like everywhere else, it seemed the extremists were always the loudest and carried most of the weight. It did not bode well that every mosque I visited practiced strict gender segregation. As a feminist with a minor in women’s studies, I have never found this sort of restriction necessary or beneficial. During a study circle called a ‘halaqa’, at a mosque in north Atlanta I was told music was ‘haram,’ or forbidden. As a fan of bluegrass, classic rock, reggae, hip-hop, jazz, folk, pop, opera and just about any other musical style, I found this edict impossible to swallow.

I was also told that because Arabic is not my native language, I was not qualified to interpret religious text. Finally, on one of the holiest days of the Islamic calendar, Eid al-Fitr, the day celebrating the end of the month-long fast during Ramadan, my good friend, Kelly Wentworth attended the congregational prayer at of one of the largest mosques in Atlanta. The sermon vilified the ‘West.’ The imam, or religious leader, told the congregation that Islam is incompatible with ‘Western’ values, and the ‘West’ is a corruption. My friend returned home that night incensed. After all, she and I are the 'West' and were inspired by our 'Western' ideas to choose Islam. In all of my studies, Islam was the one faith most compatible with so-called ‘Western’ thought. It is because I live in the ‘West’ that I have the freedom to practice Islam. I do not feel the need to choose between my spiritual path and 'Western' values. Both Islam and the 'West' are integral parts of who I am. Needless to say, I was disappointed and frustrated.

[ArrogantBustard]

at a mosque in north Atlanta I was told music was ‘haram,

In fairness, I've heard that sort of thing from some Christians.

[PubliusMM]

Ms Robinson:
Sorry to hear that you are becoming disenchanted by your religious choice, but I have a few observations.

First, you may want to request a refund of your tuition money. Obviously, the university failed to properly train your critical thinking skills. In the course of your search for religious salvation, did you not see anything of concern to you in the manner in which Islam relegates women to second class status? The false prophet, himself, related that women were mentally deficient, and were not to be educated or allowed to participate in acts of governance.
Second, you note that Islam provides a tolerance for scientific thought. You apparently think that is not available in contemporary Christian beliefs. God granted man freewill, and with it the power of critical thinking, which is the wellspring of scientific thought. Despite the current ongoing argument between evoluion and intelligent design theories, what scientific issues are precluded by Christianity?
Third, you note that music is haram in the view of Islam. Again, that is not a new and revolutionary concept. It’s been elemental to Islam for hundreds of years. So, might we assume you didn’t do your homework before making the leap back to the seventh century?

Islam is not a religion. Islam is political and cultural system of thought and deed, much like a cult. It is ruled by blind theocrats who profess the perfection of their prophet and their playbook, the quran, despite the historical record of corruption, barbarism, murder and mayhem.
Islam continues to profess a seventh century mindset, which has gone on for over 1400 years.

It’s truly sad that anyone of reasonable intelligence, especially with a feminist perspective, could accept this cult as the way and the truth.

Good luck, and may God bless you and keep you.

[MrB]

Lynne Stewart was the attorney that was passing messages for the terrorists in the 1993 WTC bombing.

Her reasoning was that these jihadis were fighting against the same group of people that she herself despised -

The White Man.

No doubt she was indoctrinated in college, just like the woman in this article was mislead.
This indoctrination in our colleges needs to be exposed and heavily ridiculed in every outlet that we have.

[3AngelaD]

I think it is interesting that she would convert to a religion that condemns nearly every element of her native Western culture and wants to destroy it. She is obviously an extremely dim bulb, but perhaps Stockholm syndrome is in play here, too.

Also, she reminds me of the guy who went to a great deal of trouble to find a good Kosher deli and then complained because there was no pork on the menu.

[lady lawyer]

“There’s something wrong with her studies, then.”

Bingo. Her “studies” consisted of perversions and distortions of Western thought.

[MrB]

PC indoctrination states that the muslims were living in peaceful coexistence with people of other faiths until the evil White Christian started all the conflict with the Crusades.

Truth: The Crusades were a defensive action to help protect Christians (and Jews) who were being oppressed and wiped out in the lands that the Muslims took by force. The Crusades prevented “St Peter’s Mosque in Rome” and kept Islam from stifling the advance of human society, as it does anywhere it is in power.

[Rummyfan]

Four years ago, while studying French, Italian and women’s studies as an undergraduate at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, I accepted Islam by taking “shahada,” or the declaration of faith, during Ramadan

Women's Studies? That's her problem right there!

[Steve_Seattle]

Liberal Christianity has de-divinized Jesus, accepted modern science, and adopted feminism and multi-culturalism. I wonder why this woman felt that Islam was somehow more in tune with her basic beliefs and values than modern liberal Christianity.

As for Sufism, apart from its syncretistic, psychologized, and secularized Western forms (e.g., Idries Shah, Hazrat Inayat Khan), it is very non-Western, very Islamic, and places strong emphasis on the guru-like relationship between the teacher and student. (By "non-Western," I mean simply that it is anti-modernist.)

[kalee]

“I was thrilled to discover a belief system that was not at odds with scientific knowledge.” ROFLOL Ask patients in Britain if their female islamic medical providers care about scientific knowledge regarding the spread of germs? They are refusing to uncover and wash their arms properly.

[Rummyfan]

Upon reading more...

Seems like she converted to islam without knowing anything about it. Also I’m curious about her husband... might his name be Mo? Or Ali?

Stupid, stupid woman!

[silverleaf]

She converted to islam for the poetry and “pluralism?”
Pluralism as in polygamy?
Pluralism as in freedom of worship?
Pluralism as in freedom to question and to doubt?

bleeccch

[KarlInOhio]

It did not bode well that every mosque I visited practiced strict gender segregation. As a feminist with a minor in women’s studies, I have never found this sort of restriction necessary or beneficial.

I guess she never heard this joke before her conversion:

A Journalist had visited the area of Kuwait many years before the Gulf War and noticed that the woman walked at least 10 feet behind the men, and she thought that was not right, but said nothing. After the Gulf War she went back to the same area and notice that now the men walked 10 feet behind the women. she ran up to one of the women and said, "What a change you have brought about, how did you make the men change so that they walk behind you?" The woman replied, "Land mines."

Seriously, though, how did she not notice the restrictions on women in Islamic countries? The stricter the Islamic rule, the more they restrict women's activities. The two primary examples are Saudi Arabia where they are finally considering allowing women to drive. The second was Taliban ruled Afghanistan where the women had to be covered from head to toe, and their windows had to either face away from the street or be boarded over.

[philled]

“I was thrilled to discover a belief system that was not at odds with scientific knowledge.”

Yes, sweetie, take the left hand of a seventh-century cultist and you will realize that they are all about scientific knowledge. And as you are being beaten with the right hand, you'll recognize that they are all about feminism and have a deep reverence for women...

[theBuckwheat]

My daughter, whose job is to help resettle refugees for a US charity, was invited to present one of her papers at a women’s conference in the UAE. When she arrived, she found it full of loud liberal western women who told the local women attendees how much better off they would be if they were liberated. Now, the locals attendees were all women because in a properly Islamic society, only women can attend a women’s conference. But these locals, all wearing their burkas, rolled their eyes in disbelief at the changes they were being told to make in their society.

There were two take-aways: the first is that no bunch of loud, pushy, outsiders, especially infidel outsiders, is ever going to change Islamic culture; the second is that these conferences are held to placate women but are never intended to have any real effect.

IMO, the western left deludes itself and those who listen to them, into thinking that any religion is preferable to Christianity. Clearly, this poor women has sold herself into spiritual slavery to a master (the ummah) who would now take great pleasure in her bloody murder that would be a useful example and warning to anyone else who dares leave the faith.

[kalee]

Earlier this year, I moved to Atlanta with my husband

I’m curious about her husband. Is he western or did she marry a mid-easterner?

[AppyPappy]

Translation: I found out that Islam is lot like it is portrayed by its opponents.

[AppyPappy]

If you read between the lines, you’ll discover she was probably not attending a mosque previous to her move. All mosques are segregated. Her version of Islam was created by her. It was the Islam she wanted Islam to be; a Christian-looking version fueled by her own need for a feeling of persecution.

[metmom]

Reality smacks another liberal upside the head.