Islam is also an alternative for Latinos in the United States

AFP via The News (Mexico City) ^ | January 1, 2002

[sarcasm]

LOS ANGELES - Latinos who don't drink, eat pork or even dance might feel out of step with their families or with other Latin Americans. Just the same, about 40,000 Latinos living in the United States find that Islam meets other needs and provides an alternative community.

"Some claim they are dissatisfied with Christianity, some are interested in the more active practice that Islam offers. Some find out about Islam through friends and family," said Samantha Sanchez, president of Latino American Dawah Organization, one of several U.S. organizations of Latino Muslims.

Marta Galedary, a Mexican immigrant who discovered Islam through friends 20 years ago, now organizes study groups for Latinos at the Los Angeles Islamic Center.

"People came to us out of curiosity and asked for literature about Islam in Spanish, so we realized that we needed to reach out to non-Muslims," said Galedary, whose group numbers 25 to 30. "Everyone knows someone who is interested."

In California, as in Texas, the majority of Muslim Latinos are Mexicans or Central Americans who arrived some years ago and haven't mastered English. On the East Coast, the communities are mostly Puerto Rican or Dominican, and many were born in the United States, said Ismi Saraji, who lives in New York.

Recent converts have little problem giving up pork, liquor and dance, said Saraji. The problem is getting their families to accept their new lifestyles.

"The problem for them is how their families may feel betrayed by them. My cousin was still trying to feed me pork pies for years after I converted. When I mentioned the problem with pork, she would just say: 'So don't eat that part'," said Saraji.

"My parents still don't understand a lot about my religion and I sometimes feel that they don't want to understand something that they don't like," said Mercedes Zeenni, a Mexican-born California resident who converted to Islam 11 years ago, before marrying her Lebanese boyfriend.

So strong is the fear of rejection that some follow Islam in secret.

"I'm always worried that the people I love the most will reject me. My grandparents still don't know. I think the fear of rejection is one that all new converts fear," said Juan Galvan, of Texas.

Nearly all Latino converts to Islam had been practicing Catholics who were to some degree uncomfortable with Catholicism.

"I was Catholic. But from the start, it seemed that Islam gave more answers to my questions, was more direct, without mysteries, and making it easier for me to understand what it meant to believe in God," said Zeenni.

[jlogajan]

I never knew which was stupider, to accept the religion of your parents, or to shop for one you liked.

[Dialup Llama]

Samantha Sanchez, president of Latino American Dawah Organization, one of several U.S. organizations of Latino Muslims.Marta Galedary, a Mexican immigrant who discovered Islam said, "I've always wanted to wear a tent and my brother is interested in the free pilot training that Islam offers these days."

[meenie]

Don't forget the rocket propelled shoes. The Islamics have been criticized as being backward when they are in the forefront of new inventions.

[denydenydeny]

The motivation is not religious, but political. Many have a deep antipathy to the culture of the West, and their "religious conversion" to the ideology of Islam is an expression not of spirituality but of resentment of the dominant civilization.

In addition, Many converts to Islam in America "find Allah" in the same way Richard Reid did, in prison.

[Paradox]

I never knew which was stupider, to accept the religion of your parents, or to shop for one you liked.

Ha! I always thought it was rather strange myself, I mean, I could understand someone turning to atheism or agnosticism, but to forsake one religion for another smacks me as rather silly in some ways.

I no longer believe in the Blue Gastric Trolls, long live the Invisible Giant Atmospheric Amoebas!

[denydenydeny]

Thanks for reminding us that there are ideologies even more intolerant than militant Islam.

[conqueror]

There is nothing more intolerant than islam. Just consider how many mosques are in Italy and how many Catholic churches are in saudi arabia.

[PGalt]

Good point...not to mention the religions represented in the USA...freedom of religion and freedom from religion.

[ImaGraftedBranch]

"Some claim they are dissatisfied with Christianity, some are interested in the more active practice that Islam offers. Some find out about Islam through friends and family

And not a single one of them Knew Jesus Christ to begin with.

[Sci Fi Guy]

40,000 out of how many millions of hispanics that are in this country. This is such a non-story. This reminds of Church publications that claim massive earth-shaking revivals because their church growth matches the population growth.

[MizSterious]

Unfortunately, many of our churches of many faiths--from Protestant to Catholic--have watered down the teachings and articles of faith to such a degree that they no longer satisfy genuine seekers of God. They're pablum, in an effort to attract more worshippers. Some even turn the service into a rock or rap show. They're ignoring the need for the silent and reverent prayer and the need for true worship and communion with the Lord, as opposed to crass entertainment. I think that's a huge mistake, and the converts to Islam--in my opinion--are at least partly proof of my theory.

[undergroundwarrior]

The motivation is not religious, but political. Many have a deep antipathy to the culture of the West, and their "religious conversion" to the ideology of Islam is an expression not of spirituality but of resentment of the dominant civilization.

Good point.

[denydenydeny]

Bumping to the list.

[jlogajan]

Thanks for reminding us that there are ideologies even more intolerant than militant Islam.

I think I'll start worrying about not offending Christians and other religions when they start saying good things about we atheists. What goes around comes around, ehy?

[denydenydeny]

As usual, you substitute solipsism for argument. "You disagree with me, therefore you are stupid."

You make my points about the intolerance of atheism for me.

[jlogajan]

"You disagree with me, therefore you are stupid."

Hey, try the typical Christian flavor -- you disagree with me therefore you are Satan. Nice, ehy?

[monkeyshine]

some are interested in the more active practice that Islam offers.

This is interesting. Does Catholicism not have an "active practice", i.e. they 5 prayers a day?

Judaism has 3 prayer services a day, and also many other prayers that must be recited, when waking up, before lying down, before and after eating, etc. Is that what they mean? Judaism does not actively seek converts, though.

It also seems to me that some of the Protestant faiths might find "converts" among the Hispanic Catholic population as well. But what interests me most about this sentence is the curiosity of knowing what they find lacking in the Catholic faith. Is this a call for a more active Catholicism?

[jlogajan]

I gotta agree with Sci Fi Guy that 40,000 out of bazillions is like a non-non-story. Statistically insignificant.

[McGavin999]

What is really interesting is that most of the converts don't speak english.