New Face

[rinard]

Although religion is no longer dominates everyday life in Western society, Islam becomes the fastest-growing religion in America and in the world?


A NATION CHALLENGED: AMERICAN MUSLIMS; Islam Attracts Converts By the Thousand, Drawn Before and After Attacks
By JODI WILGOREN
Source: The New York Times: October 22, 2001, Monday
Section: National Desk

http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/3016/fastest.htm

"Islam is the fastest-growing religion in America, a guide and pillar of stability for many of our people..." Hillary Rodman Clinton, Los Angeles Times, May 31, 1996, p.3

Famous people are affected too:

Singer "Cat Stevens" Hear his story as told him
http://www.islamtomorrow.net/converts/yusuf_islam.htm

[RAY16]

O_o...

[Chimera[NL]]

.....ooo.......kay.....

[Jaredster]

threads these days are getting really stupid.

[Docta Beeeer]

I know I'm known for my shitty threads... But, this one is just... :confused:

[Downfall]

erm.....is this here for our edjumacation?

[Hobbes874]

Originally posted by Downfall
erm.....is this here for our edjumacation?
I no want to be learnered!

[Smapdey]

My learnin' is a burnin' evar sense that acsadent wif te pain-t and the leadd.

[rinard]

From what I've heard from different friends of mine who have converted to Islam, there are a few main reasons for most conversions.

1. Islam is a religious lifestyle, not just a quick Sunday morning church visit and a label. Although some Christians do pray before each meal and spend much time with their Bible, etc.many don't in the USA. Islam is something that can't be shunted into a few spare hours. You pray five times a day. Your dress code is affected; even your food choices are explained in the Qur'an. Many converts like it because they feel actively involved and as if they are truly religious.

2. For women, it is a big and welcome change from the "in your face" sexuality of western culture. Women are not required by the Qur'an to veil. They are required to dress modestly and it is *recommended* that they cover their hair. However, most do veil and some go farther with niquab (the face screen) or other traditional clothes. Women dressed like this consider themselves marked as religious women, not easy dates. They don't get hit on. No one gawks at their bodies. They are clearly off limits sexually and many that I personally know say it is liberating not to have to conform to western standards of sexy dress, makeup and spending so much time and money on appearance. You buy a five-dollar hijab, put your hair in a ponytail and cover, wear long skirt and a tunic shirt -you're set.

3. Islam is also growing because many people are not satisfied with Christianity. They feel it is too liberal, too fluid and changes for the culture. Islam on the other hand is more rigid and does not as a whole allow much for modern changes and the whims of society. Many like it because they feel other religions have loose standards.

That's what I got from the new Muslimah's group at Yahoo, Islamway women's board and a few other friends of mine. Stats taken by many college groups say that women convert 4 times more often then men.


This is an example:


Why Are Women Turning to Islam
At a time when Islam is faced with hostile media coverage particularly where the status of women in Islam is concerned, it may be quite surprising to learn that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world, and even more ironic to discover that the majority of converts to Islam are WOMEN.
The status of women is society is neither a new issue nor is it a fully settled one, and where Islam is mentioned, for many the term 'Muslim Women' prompts images of exhausted mothers chained to the stove, 'victims' suppressed in a life of indoctrination, frantic to be westernized and so on. Others will go to great lengths to explain how the hijaab is an obstacle, clouding the mind, and comment that female converts are either brainwashed, stupid or traitors to their sex. I reject such accusations and pose to them the following question: why is it that so many women who have been born and brought in the so called 'civilized' societies of Europe and America are willing to reject their 'liberty' and 'independence' to embrace a religion that supposedly oppresses them and is widely assumed to be prejudicial to them?
As a Christian convert to Islam, I can only present my personal experience and reasons for rejecting the 'freedom' that women claim to have in this society in favor of the only Religion that truly liberates women by giving us a status and position, which is completely unique when compared with that of non-Muslim counterparts. Before coming to Islam, I had strong feminist tendencies and recognized that where the women was concerned, a lot of shuffling around had been going on, yet without being able to pin her on the social map. The problem was ongoing: new 'women's issues' being raised without the previous ones being satisfactorily resolved. Like the many women who shared my background, I would accuse Islam of being a sexist religion, discriminating, oppressing and giving men the greater privileges. All this coming from a person who did not even know Islam, one who had been blinded due to ignorance and had accepted this deliberately distorted definition of Islam.

However, despite my criticisms of Islam, inwardly I wasn't satisfied with my own status as a woman in this society. It seemed to me that society would define such terms as 'liberty' and 'freedom' and then these definitions were accepted by women without us even attempting to question or challenge them. There was clearly a great contradiction between what women were told in theory and what actually happens in practice. The more I pondered, the greater emptiness I felt within. I was slowly beginning to reach a stage where my dissatisfaction with my status as a women in this society, was really a reflection of my greater dissatisfaction with society itself. Everything seemed to be degenerating backwards, despite the claims that the 2000 was going to be the decade of success and prosperity. Something vital seemed to be missing from my life and nothing would fill this vacuum. Being a Christian did not do anything for me, and I began to question the validity of only remembering God one day a week - Sundays! As with many other Christians too, I had become disillusioned with the hypocrisy of the Church and was becoming increasingly unhappy with the concept of Trinity and the deification of Jesus. Eventually, I began to look into Islam. At first, I was only interested in looking at those issues, which specifically dealt with women. I was surprised. What I read and learned taught me a lot about myself as a woman, and also about where the real oppression of women lies: in every other system and way of life outside of Islam. Muslim women have been given their rights in every aspect of the religion with clear definitions of their role in society - as had men - with no injustice against either of them. As Allah says: Whoever does deeds of righteousness, be they male or female, and have faith, they will enter paradise and not the least injustice will be done to them [Nisaa 4:124]
So having amended my misconceptions about the true status of women in Islam, I was now looking further. I wanted to find that thing which was going to fill the vacuum in my life. My attention was drawn towards the beliefs and practices of Islam. It was only through establishing the fundamentals that I would understand where to turn and what to prioritize. These are often the areas, which receive little attention or controversy in society, and when studying the Islamic Creed, it becomes clear why this is the case: such concise, faultless and wholly comprehensive details cannot be found elsewhere.

[Hitman]

Ok this isn't the education network.. this is just as bad as some kkk penis pumper who tried recruiting some kids on another site before.

[Jaredster]

To much to read. :o

[future man]

Oh yeah Mr. Recruiter? Well, tell your buddy Allah he can kiss my ass.

[Shadow]

Hey, We'll look it up if we want to know!

Anyways, I can prove to you [almost] that you're wrong, and there is no god/allah/wtf?!?

[Chimera[NL]]

Yeah I just love it when people take a book and base their damn lifes on it....I find that so weak! People feel insecure in life and need someone else to guide them through it....or a book in this case. I think you should create your own lifestyle, but that's just me I guess.

[NirvanaFan2006]

Originally posted by Chimera[NL]
Yeah I just love it when people take a book and base their damn lifes on it....I find that so weak! People feel insecure in life and need someone else to guide them through it....or a book in this case. I think you should create your own lifestyle, but that's just me I guess. I totaly agree... you should live your dream, and not some one elses.

[Trustkill]

I'll get the rubber gloves, hitman will get the pliers, and future man is bringing the drill. Smapdey, you're on cleanup this time. Let's welcome our new found holy roller OUR way.

[Docta Beeeer]

Originally posted by Trustkill6six6
I'll get the rubber gloves, hitman will get the pliers, and future man is bringing the drill. Smapdey, you're on cleanup this time. Let's welcome our new found holy roller OUR way.
Hey, hey, let's not go starting some Jihad shit.

[rinard]

I don't outbid on Islam. Islam a brilliant religion by itself and doesn't need any preaching or missionary work or me.

We cay say there are so many sects, cults, religions, philosophies, and movements in the world, all of which claim to be the right way or the only true path to God. How can one determine which one is correct or if, in fact, all are correct? The method by which the answer can be found is to clear away the superficial differences in the teachings of the various claimants to the ultimate truth, and identify the central object of worship to which they call, directly or indirectly. Can we either claim that all men are Gods or that specific men were God or that nature is God or that God is a figment of man's imagination.

It may be argued that all religions teach good things so why should it matter which one we follow. I made some searching and I couldn’t find a sharp answer but I found something interesting stated in the Koran:
Creation-worship is the greatest sin that man can commit because it contradicts the very purpose of his creation. Man was created to worship Allah alone, consequently, the worship of creation, which is the essence of idolatry, is the only unforgivable sin. One who dies in this state of idolatry has sealed his fate in the next life. This is not an opinion, but a revealed fact stated by Allah in his final revelation to man:
"Verily Allah will not forgive the joining of partners with Him, but He may forgive (sins) less than that for whom so ever He wishes"(Soorah An- Nisaa 4:48 and 116)

Buddha was a reformer who introduced a number of humanistic principles to the religion of India. He did not claim to be God nor did he suggest to his followers that he be an object of worship. Yet, today most Buddhists who are to be found outside of India have taken him to be God and prostrate to idols made in their perception of his likeness.
This is also what I found regarding Racism in Quran:

The noblest of you in the sight of Allah*, is the most pious (righteous) of you” (Qur'an 49:13).


As a result of following these teachings, many people have banished racism from their thoughts and actions. You can still see racial harmony today in the mosques of cosmopolitan cities. You will find people of various colors worshipping together, all with equal status before God. Rich or poor, black or white, kind or pauper all line up side by side to worship. No special preference is given to anyone based on color or social status. The leader in a mosque is appointed for his learning in the religious sciences, regardless of skin color. There is no such concept as a 'black mosque' or 'white mosque'. Islam removes such destructive concepts.


I really don’t like misunderstanding of my intentions in this post .It is not an assault on Christianity or any other religion. It is indispensable for me to look for the truth and study comparative religion because if I would like to know whether a religion is true or false, I should not depend on my emotions, feelings, or traditions. Rather, I should depend on my reason and intellect. When God sent the prophets, He supported them with miracles and evidences, which proved that they were truly prophets, send by God and that the religion they came with was true.


God revealed a holy book to Jesus called the Injeel, some parts of which may be still available in the teachings of God to Jesus in the New Testament. But this does not mean that the Bible we have today because it is not the original scriptures that were revealed by God. They underwent alterations, additions, and omissions. This was also said by the Committee charged with revising The Holy Bible (Revised Standard Version). This Committee consisted of thirty-two scholars who served as members of the Committee. They secured the review and counsel of an Advisory Board of fifty representatives of the co-operating denominations. The Committee said in the Preface to The Holy Bible (Revised Standard Version), p. iv, “Sometimes it is evident that the text has suffered in transmission, but none of the versions provides a satisfactory restoration. Here we can only follow the best judgment of competent scholars as to the most probable reconstruction of the original text.
The Committee also said in the Preface, p. vii, Notes are added which indicate significant variations, additions, or omissions in the ancient authorities (Mt 9.34; Mk 3.16; 7.4; Lk 24.32, 51, etc.).

My question is do we believe in the information declared in the following sites or not:

THE REAL STORY OF MARY
http://geocities.com/SoHo/Gallery/3001/storyofmary.htm

THE TRUTH ABOUT JESUS
http://sultan.org/articles/Jesus.html

Who Was Jesus According to Jesus?
http://www.islaminfo.com

IS THE BIBLE GODS WORD?
http://www.jamaat.net/bible/Bible1-3.html

Women in Christianity and Islam
http://www.beconvinced.com/women/CH_IS.htm

The Bible - A Closer Look!
http://www.todayislam.com/bible.htm

[Chimera[NL]]

Dude, you're starting to bore the living crap out of me!!

[Shadow]

Originally posted by Chimera[NL]
Dude, you're starting to bore the living crap out of me!!

I just skip what he types, then laugh loudly. Works well for me.

[sideshowbob]

Islam is gay. Its like converting to Judism if you aren't Jewish. Be proud of what you are, you heathen-piece-of-shit. Now burn in hell!!

[xenophage]

Originally posted by future man
Oh yeah Mr. Recruiter? Well, tell your buddy Allah he can kiss my ass.

Dude that's not a very nice thing to say even if you don't mean it.




Islam is gay. Its like converting to Judism if you aren't Jewish. Be proud of what you are, you heathen-piece-of-shit. Now burn in hell!!

What gives you the right to call other religions gay??

[rinard]

To those who believe and who don’t believe, I will tell you something; the natural inclination for religious faith is an integral part of the human essence. This is an indisputable fact of history. All scholars of comparative religion, regardless of their own religious backgrounds, agree that religious belief is a natural human condition. They differ, however about its origins.

It is indispensable for everybody to look for the truth now or later but who guarantee life and how long we are going to live and when the last moment will come. No body knows.
We have all the capabilities and resources to recognize and distinguish using for example the Internet. We will have no excuse, maybe the people in The Amazon do?
We will be asked then.

[Hitman]

:Click: Loads pistol and hands it to the new guy.. then I immediately slip out the window.

Note attached:
Don't worry the safety is on just put it to your head and pull the trigger.

Ohh don't worry about your family it has a silencer they won't hear you, just pull the trigger.

[Chimera[NL]]

Originally posted by rinard
To those who believe and who don’t believe, I will tell you something; the natural inclination for religious faith is an integral part of the human essence. This is an indisputable fact of history. All scholars of comparative religion, regardless of their own religious backgrounds, agree that religious belief is a natural human condition. They differ, however about its origins.

It is indispensable for everybody to look for the truth now or later but who guarantee life and how long we are going to live and when the last moment will come. No body knows.
We have all the capabilities and resources to recognize and distinguish using for example the Internet. We will have no excuse, maybe the people in The Amazon do?
We will be asked then.


Although some of your posts aren't really easy to read, I still want to have some comment on them. First of all, religion is born because man is weak by nature. It needs answers to things they don't know. Like in the old days lightning and thunder were said to be done by the gods. And death a life were also explained as if it was done by the gods since man didn't have a clue as how things happened and why. Now that we're wiser and we now that death is as simple as an engine whos parts are worn down. Nothing like "the gods want you to die" nope, just plain old wear and tear. Also when a person dies....the brain still wants to emit signals but when it doesn't receive blood the signals get weirder just like when your walkman's batteries are almost dead, the music will sound really weird an slow. So people saying they saw a tunnel have infact only seen the result of a failing brain at the end of their lives....(well ALMOST the end of their lives).

I personally don't have any religion and I think religions regardless of which one are bad. It means that people are either living by the bible or the coran (sp?), instead of their own ways. I've said this before but I really think religion should be a thing of the past and that people must learn to take responsibility for what they do. If something happens, it's either their own fault or it has some other cause, god has nothing to do with it, so don't try and ask for help from god cause you're on your own!

[TheKua]

Originally posted by Chimera[NL]
Although some of your posts aren't really easy to read, I still want to have some comment on them. First of all, religion is born because man is weak by nature. It needs answers to things they don't know. Like in the old days lightning and thunder were said to be done by the gods. And death a life were also explained as if it was done by the gods since man didn't have a clue as how things happened and why. Now that we're wiser and we now that death is as simple as an engine whos parts are worn down. Nothing like "the gods want you to die" nope, just plain old wear and tear. Also when a person dies....the brain still wants to emit signals but when it doesn't receive blood the signals get weirder just like when your walkman's batteries are almost dead, the music will sound really weird an slow. So people saying they saw a tunnel have infact only seen the result of a failing brain at the end of their lives....(well ALMOST the end of their lives).

I personally don't have any religion and I think religions regardless of which one are bad. It means that people are either living by the bible or the coran (sp?), instead of their own ways. I've said this before but I really think religion should be a thing of the past and that people must learn to take responsibility for what they do. If something happens, it's either their own fault or it has some other cause, god has nothing to do with it, so don't try and ask for help from god cause you're on your own!

very well spoken...hear that Rinard!

[future man]

Originally posted by xenophage
Dude that's not a very nice thing to say even if you don't mean it.

I did fucking mean it, him and his God can kiss my ass. I hate it when pole smokers feel the need to advertise their over-sized cults in places where it's completely inappropriate.

[TheKua]

in short, religion is born out of fear as well as stupidity and ignorence

[xenophage]

Originally posted by future man
I did fucking mean it, him and his God can kiss my ass. I hate it when pole smokers feel the need to advertise their over-sized cults in places where it's completely inappropriate.

Dude if that's how you feel flame the fuck out him but there's no need to insult his religion or his god. I agree he's an ass for advertising all this on a gaming forum but still dude....

Btw chimera that was pretty well said and the sp is Koran. Man always needs some kind of a crutch in life..
The ending of your para reminded me of a line from End of Days ( dont rem the exact line though )..Something about how when people r happy they r like Thank u god but when they'r fucked up they'r like God moves in mysterious ways.

[Trustkill]

That was poetry Chimera. Awesome dude, totally awesome.

[Odm]

Well said Chimera, but religion also serves as something to lean on when bad things happen. When someone dies a relative might think, "God meant for this to happen," or, "He's in a better place now." So it's not just an explanation, but a comforter.

[xenophage]

Originally posted by Odm
Well said Chimera, but religion also serves as something to lean on when bad things happen. When someone dies a relative might think, "God meant for this to happen," or, "He's in a better place now." So it's not just an explanation, but a comforter.

When someone dies it's just plain fate. That's why some ppl die early while some live really long lives, that's why some ppl are born in rich house while some in poor.. ( btw that's just what i think )

[Chimera[NL]]

Originally posted by xenophage
When someone dies it's just plain fate. That's why some ppl die early while some live really long lives, that's why some ppl are born in rich house while some in poor.. ( btw that's just what i think )

Exactly...that's what I thought!!

[xenophage]

Originally posted by Chimera[NL]
Exactly...that's what I thought!!

Great minds think alike :)