As for myself, I almost converted to Islam a while ago for that very reason. I wanted something black and white.
Anyway...where was I going with this post?? I believe a lot of people are converting to Islam, because of the rigidity of the religion. Personally, I really do not see hypocrisy (well, a lot of it) within that religion, and perhaps that appeals to the masses...???
I cannot speak for them, and I can only speak about my perceptions.
In my opinion, if they want to convert to Islam, then go for it. Whatever makes them happy...seriously. I'm not going to whine and moan about whether or not they're forsaking Jesus Christ...because how do we know we're right about Christianity, and they're wrong????
What makes us so special, and our religion right???
This is what makes Christianity special to us...and it is in this little fact, why we hold it so dear to our hearts, and would never ever convert to something else....
Because we were raised to believe it is right.
We have the Bible...Muslims have the Qu'ran. Jews have the Torah...we each have our own little segment of what God really is. But, nobody knows what God REALLY is.
I find it highly ironic when some people state Islam is nothing more than a religion...a man-made fallacy, which is a one-way ticket to a lifetime with Lucifer...no, no, no...
I can say the EXACT same thing about Christianity. It's just a religion...out there with Animism, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism...
We're all just people trying to find out who God really is. Ya know?? There's only one problem...we can't.
God is too powerful, and too complicated...and I find it sad that we really do limit our belief system to the Bible, and what it has in store between the covers. Yes, the Bible is great, and grand--I cannot believe I'm going here...but, it's not near enough.
Why is the Qu'Ran so controversial, and Islam so far-fetched??? Just cuz they believe in the Jinn, and seven levels of Hell--ya know? They think we're whacked in our beliefs.
*sighs*
I just dislike people who are so closed minded to the world. (My personal opinion.) Sorry!
I really and honestly don't know anymore if Christianity is the only way to get to Heaven...and if I'm wrong, I'm wrong--but at least I have enough faith in God to start asking questions....
Maybe we're all wrong, and we just can't take off the shades covering our eyes...maybe we're all wrong. (The world.) What if the world was wrong about God???
What if God created these little diversions called "RELIGION" as an amusement for Him...and watch us fight useless battles about who is right and who is wrong, and about how my God is better than your God, and your belief is an abomination to my God--and for that, I'm going to stone you to death...
and in our useless battles, in our constant bickering about who is right, and who is worng...in our incessant bible/qu'ran/torah/athiest-thumping attitudes...
WE...as a world...are losing sight of God. Faster than we ever imagine.
Islam doesn't seem like such a bad idea to an outsider. If they take an overview of Christianity...they see nothing but churches splitting up, and hundreds of new denominations showing up every day--just because a pastor, or a preacher, or a member wants a g-d they can carry in their pocket. They want a g-d they can worship on their own terms, in their own church, in their own time.
With all these sects of Christianity...it COMPLETELY dissipates our whole reason for being here, and our motto. Well...not our motto--but our belief system. If we're supposed to love our neighbor, why can't we love them cuz he's Mormon? Why can't we love him cuz he's Baptist? Why can't we love him cuz he's Pentecostal??? And, can somebody tell me what Pentecostal means?? (lol)
I see Christanity not gaining a stronghold on the world--but slipping away. Because we've lost sight of God. Instead of GOD...we have our own little g-ds in our pockets...and every time we open the Bible...we worship g-d.
(Just my opinion. I know...I'm being harsh..sorry! But, I'm frustrated with my religion.)
I guess I'm just sooooo tired of hearing we're right. We're always right. We're only men, and women, and don't have the slightest idea of what God is...or what God does. From an outsiders view...They would look at Islam, and be like, "Wow! They really follow their religion." There's less hypocrisy. Yes, you have the Shiites, and all of the other -ites, that want to take it to the extreme; however, doesn't every religion have that???
This is a crude example to use--so forgive me if I cannot think of another one to use. But, it's like throwing rocks in a lake.
Christianity would pick the rock up, begin to throw it...hold on...and wonder if it was a rock, or a pebble, or a stone, or a piece of gravel....and then they'd fight over what to name it.
Islam people would pick it up and throw it--because there can't be any room for error in their judgement.
Any of this make sense? Darrel
Just some random thoughts going through my head, today....
-- Edited by Darrel at 09:37, 2006-07-17
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That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
As you know, "Big-D", I too am VERY opinionated...ESPECIALLY about the issue of religion. I think that the main problem behind church splits, the current conflict in the Middle East, and friction between conflicting religions is "fundamentalism".
Yes, I am a "fundie" myself, but ONLY in the sense in that I have a passion for my beliefs. There is nothing "hateful" behind that. But where things goes wrong is when someone, of any religion (even ATHEISM), tries to use their beliefs to do a "power-play" and uses religion to MAKE people to do whatever they want done. They say things like "You're not a real Christian if you're GAY!" or "A real Muslim would gladly blow himself up to kill these Western INFIDELS!" Such ideas are straight from the devil, NOT from religion!
I am reading "Stranger at the Gate" by Mel White (I have been so busy lately with work and all that I haven't finished it) and from what this guy says about his past friendships with the likes of Jerry Falwell and Tim and Beverly LaHaye, these guys have only one thing on their minds: POWER! To read about the way that these "fundamentalists" talked and acted with White when they thought that there wasn't any "faggots" around them, you would see why Ghandi said that he would have become a follower of Christ, himself...IF IT WASN'T FOR THE CHRISTIANS!
A true Christian just wants Christ...but a fundamentalist just wants CONTROL!
And it is these people that are in danger of hellfire and brimstone...not someone who is just different from themselves!
That's way too deep for me! I just want to love Jesus!
AH! Now see here: THIS is the mark of a "true" Christian! It isn't about how many theological degrees that you have on your wall; or about how many people that you have "converted" to your church; or about how many "infidels" that you can kill that will make Allah pleased with you and give you 72 virgins to "pleasure" you for all eternity in Paradise...
It is just a plain and simple trusting love for Jesus that brings you to God, and brings God to live inside of you...NOTHING ELSE IS REQUIRED, PERIOD.
, I too am VERY opinionated...ESPECIALLY about the issue of religion. I think that the main problem behind church splits, the current conflict in the Middle East, and friction between conflicting religions is "fundamentalism".
