Converting to Islam

[LovelyLadyLux]

It was a serious question,a topic worthy of discussion...but once again...the sound of silence shone through!
That really surprises me...cos my Muslim friends and family in Luxor will talk about Islam for hours on end!

@ST - From reading your first post a) you're asking pretty compound complex questions containing different reasons for the action of converting b) for some your questions could be deemed really personal and private and c) I think you're asking a question(s) that can only be answered fully and completely by those few who have actually converted. That being said I do think your topic is a pretty interesting topic worthy of discussion.

When you say your Muslim friends will talk on for hours re: Islam (and I'm sure they will) do you ever talk to them about the possibility of converting to a different faith? Is that a topic they would discuss? Am asking as I'm pretty darn sure as in with like 99.9% certainty my Muslim friends would never ever even consider the possibility that they would convert. They are Muslim and the notion of converting just isn't there.

[Glyphdoctor]

You didn't ask people to talk about Islam, you asked them to talk about themselves. And if there were a woman here who converted for reasons that had nothing to do with faith and had to do instead with personal benefits, do you think she would actually admit that here and if she actually admitted it, it wouldn't cause her some serious problems because it would basically be admitting to being an apostate?

Of course there are some women who will pretend to convert and that there are those who stupidly admit it, but I wouldn't assume that about anyone or ask them whether they did that. I don't think you really understand what a horrible thing it is to assume or even suggest about someone, if they really ARE Muslim.

[Glyphdoctor]

When you say your Muslim friends will talk on for hours re: Islam (and I'm sure they will) do you ever talk to them about the possibility of converting to a different faith? Is that a topic they would discuss? Am asking as I'm pretty darn sure as in with like 99.9% certainty my Muslim friends would never ever even consider the possibility that they would convert. They are Muslim and the notion of converting just isn't there.

If you start asking people such questions chances are you will be on a plane out of the country within 24 hours and not by your own choice. The authorities draw a real red line when it comes to proselytizing and it is an immediately deportable offense. And they keep a close eye on those they suspect may be doing it too.

[Dusak]

I think one or two are having trouble from a prostate, talking from the lower bowels of understanding to a simple question. Dam dyslexia again, misread the word.

[Robbo70]

Not so much the sound of silence from me, as much as a 'nothing to declare'. I have not nor would i ever convert, and I am married to a muslim man who would never ask me. We just repsect each others beleifs and get one with it

[timetraveller]

I think one or two are having trouble from a prostate, talking from the lower bowels of understanding to a simple question. Dam dyslexia again, misread the word.

You really are very naughty Dusak!!!

[Stevepj]

It was a serious question,a topic worthy of discussion...but once again...the sound of silence shone through!
That really surprises me...cos my Muslim friends and family in Luxor will talk about Islam for hours on end!

@ST - From reading your first post a) you're asking pretty compound complex questions containing different reasons for the action of converting b) for some your questions could be deemed really personal and private and c) I think you're asking a question(s) that can only be answered fully and completely by those few who have actually converted. That being said I do think your topic is a pretty interesting topic worthy of discussion.

When you say your Muslim friends will talk on for hours re: Islam (and I'm sure they will) do you ever talk to them about the possibility of converting to a different faith? Is that a topic they would discuss? Am asking as I'm pretty darn sure as in with like 99.9% certainty my Muslim friends would never ever even consider the possibility that they would convert. They
are Muslim and the notion of converting just isn't there.

If they wanted to convert to another religion would they have a choice? From what I've read (and correct me if I,m wrong) all four schools of Sunni jurisprudence and Shia Islam prescribe the death penalty for apostasy.
Maybe this is such a sensitive question because your religion can be a matter of life and death in that part of the world.
Thank god I'm an atheist.
Jonesy.

[Stevepj]

It was a serious question,a topic worthy of discussion...but once again...the sound of silence shone through!
That really surprises me...cos my Muslim friends and family in Luxor will talk about Islam for hours on end!

@ST - From reading your first post a) you're asking pretty compound complex questions containing different reasons for the action of converting b) for some your questions could be deemed really personal and private and c) I think you're asking a question(s) that can only be answered fully and completely by those few who have actually converted. That being said I do think your topic is a pretty interesting topic worthy of discussion.

When you say your Muslim friends will talk on for hours re: Islam (and I'm sure they will) do you ever talk to them about the possibility of converting to a different faith? Is that a topic they would discuss? Am asking as I'm pretty darn sure as in with like 99.9% certainty my Muslim friends would never ever even consider the possibility that they would convert. They
are Muslim and the notion of converting just isn't there.

If they wanted to convert to another religion would they have a choice? From what I've read (and correct me if I,m wrong) all four schools of Sunni jurisprudence and Shia Islam prescribe the death penalty for apostasy.
Maybe this is such a sensitive question because your religion can be a matter of life and death in that part of the world.
Thank god I'm an atheist.
Jonesy.

[Zooropa]

Mmmm, I can see theres no need for me to come charging back to throw a grenade into the mix.

My fiancée has things nicely covered!

Here we go again with religion.

Intolerance, intolerance, intolerance.

A number of you will be aware that im an atheist and this very thing is one of the many things I detest about religion.

Religion, in my opinion, does not deserve or warrant special treatment.

Why is that its seen as perfectly acceptable to question my view on politics, music, art, film, architecture, football team, books, colours, décor and yet if our "faith" is questioned its some how deeply offensive and deeply personal and has no right to be queried or questioned.

Isn't it curious, you can not question a person's faith if it does not match yours especially if you are a non believer but its perfectly ok for them to sail/fly to a foreign land, set up a missionary and go about converting often using bribery techniques such as food, medicine etc.

Why cant these people/organisations just do that for the good of doing it?

Why cant they just give a person who is starving a sandwich without attaching A membership form to it?

As for the comment that says some people may suffer unpleasant consequences if they admitted the truth or answered the question kind of says it all about religion.

Intolerant.

Part of the reason that religion is still, in this day and age so prevalent is because most if not all faiths, or at least the people than run them insist that debates like this that question faith and why you have it should be forbidden.

As for "proselytizing" I wish that policy existed everywhere both now and in the past, especially in the case of societies who had not been previously subjected to it.

It may well have made this discussion redundant.

[Glyphdoctor]

Why is that its seen as perfectly acceptable to question my view on politics, music, art, film, architecture, football team, books, colours, décor and yet if our "faith" is questioned its some how deeply offensive and deeply personal and has no right to be queried or questioned.

Frankly, I wouldn't answer questions about any of those topics from a total stranger online whose name and identity I have no clue about to begin with. Who the hell are they and why is it their business to know any of that about me? It's rude to ask any of those questions and hide behind a screen name.

[Zooropa]

Why is that its seen as perfectly acceptable to question my view on politics, music, art, film, architecture, football team, books, colours, décor and yet if our "faith" is questioned its some how deeply offensive and deeply personal and has no right to be queried or questioned.

Frankly, I wouldn't answer questions about any of those topics from a total stranger online whose name and identity I have no clue about to begin with. Who the hell are they and why is it their business to know any of that about me? It's rude to ask any of those questions and hide behind a screen name.

Frankly, its funny how it took a question about religion to spark this over the top reaction.

If ST were asking peoples opinions on anything else i'm sure there would not have been this vehement outburst of displeasure.

As has been said several times already, nobody has to answer so I don't understand why you feel you have to take offence for not only yourself but everyone else as well.

As for "hiding" ive no reason to believe ST or anyone else anything other than they appear to be, she didn't ask for your pin number or the combo to your house alarm.

In any case aren't you by the same token "hiding"

How do all of us know for sure you are not who you appear to be?

And again, its up to you of course if you don't want to answer questions on "any of those topics" but im not sure how much risk you are putting your self under by commenting that your favourite colour is blue, that you prefer Take that over Westlife and that you prefer middle eastern architecture over Greco Roman.

[Zooropa]

I do not know anyone who has converted to Islam but I did once have a work friend who's friend (a man) converted to Hinduism in an attempt to appease the family of his now wife.

The initial objection to the marriage was that he was not Hindu.

Naively, he thought if he converted and observed all the customs and practices of this faith he would be accepted.

Nope.

"why don't you marry a nice Indian man"? was their attitude.

There are some people who might argue that their objection extended to, or included one based on race.

But im guessing there are others still, who would consider that an outrageous thing to suggest?

Its an interesting one!

[Glyphdoctor]

Sure, I could just ignore the question if I didn't want to answer it. And I don't have any interest in answering it, but that's not why I commented on this thread.

The reason I commented is because I think it is reprehensible behavior no matter who it is directed at and who it comes from, and in this case if you re-read the first post in this thread you will see that MD was singled out, not me. And she has seen this thread, and hasn't answered the questions either.

Just the other night there was an American male convert to Islam (unmarried by the way) being interviewed on one of the Egyptian channels. One of the question he was asked, by the Muslim interviewer, was what made you decide to become Muslim? I felt sorry for him and it just came across as so discriminatory. The interviewer would never ask an Egyptian such a question, so why does a convert be subjected to it? Why should someone's faith be questioned simply because they are a convert? I just don't think it is right.

If you grilled a born-again Christian in the same way I'd come to their defense as well.

There's some people who do enjoy sharing their stories and usually those kind of people will tell you their stories if they want to do so without any prompting. But if someone doesn't volunteer, you shouldn't ask.

[Zooropa]

Questions and peoples opinions are always being asked on here and lots of other places as well.

To suggest that we should wait on the off chance that someone "unprompted" should avail us of their opinion is to be quite frank, ridiculous.

To liken ST's question in a forum such as this to a tv interview is quite simply apples and pears.

There has been no "grilling" respectfully, in my opinion, its an almost comic over reaction.

[Glyphdoctor]

The question she asked was basically this: Are you all real Muslims or are you fake doormats just trying to please your Egyptian husbands? What's acceptable about a question like that?

Read this and you will see I'm not the only person who feels this way:
http://www.shiachat.com/forum/index.php ... n-muslims/
http://jamericanmuslimah.wordpress.com/ ... co-worker/

[BENNU]

if you re-read the first post in this thread you will see that MD was singled out, not me. And she has seen this thread, and hasn't answered the questions either..

If you re-read the first post in this thread, you will see that Mad Dilys was not asked any question. Mad Dilys used a term that may have been new to the poster, but she is not a convert.

some wives/ex-pats,etc in Luxor are Muslim/Muslima (think that's the term Mad Dilys used)
If you have converted to Islam since moving to Luxor,then what were your reasons for doing so?

[Mad Dilys]

I have been involved in discussions about whether or not I was this, that or the other regarding my faith on this forum - and on more than one occasion - that's enough, I think.

[Scottishtourist]

The question she asked was basically this: Are you all real Muslims or are you fake doormats just trying to please your Egyptian husbands? What's acceptable about a question like that?

Read this and you will see I'm not the only person who feels this way:
http://www.shiachat.com/forum/index.php ... n-muslims/

If you read the first point(question)I asked...then you will see that I was not asking primarily if anyone converted to "please"their husband.
I also did NOT single out Mad Dilys...I merely referred to a term she used.
You have totally over-reacted to this post.
You don't want to answer it or talk about your experiences..well fair enough,don't!
You have contributed nothing to the debate,have offered nothing constructive,just constantly re-iterated your own version of etiquette.
It was a GENERAL question being asked...not a grilling or interrogation,as you seem to think it was.
P.s. Thank you Robbo and TT for your contributions.Straight answers to a straight question!

[Zooropa]

The question she asked was basically this: Are you all real Muslims or are you fake doormats just trying to please your Egyptian husbands? What's acceptable about a question like that?

Read this and you will see I'm not the only person who feels this way:
http://www.shiachat.com/forum/index.php ... n-muslims/
http://jamericanmuslimah.wordpress.com/ ... co-worker/

Then you are not the only person with whom I disagree!

From what I can see ST was listing several reasons as to why someone would or may convert.

Some where spiritual reasons, some were political and some were practical.

It appears that you have "cherry picked" in order to accuse her of things for which there is no evidence.

I think its probable that all the reasons suggested and perhaps more besidest have or will form the bases for such a decision.

I Would like to ask you what's acceptable about cherry picking in order to make accusations?

It takes a lot to make me cry but in my opinion I find your post the distasteful one.

Hopefully people on here know that I have no reason to back ST up in argument, its normally the two of us who are locking horns!

[Zooropa]

Would you be so outraged if I accused you of having an ulterior motive for saying that your favourite colour was blue?