New Face

[rinard 0]

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

[tunaplanet 0]

This is where everyone flames him because it's a "deep" topic and he's only posted twice.

Forty-two

[quade 4]

Hopefully not.

He hasn't violated any Rules as far as I can see and I would encourage others to not violate any in responding to him.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[tunaplanet 0]

I agree. Last few people who have posted topics like this who were new got flamed by others. Pretty childish.

Forty-two

[rinard 0]

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.

[mr2mk1g 10]

funny that - in England the fastest growing religion (if you can call it that) is Atheism.

[souleh 0]

I think I converted to Atheism from Catholicism almost 4 years ago. Freedom!

'buttplugs? where?' - geno

[Skyrad 0]

Maybe you are right. But interesting to note that in England we also have the largest population of unmarried mothers, the highest divorce rate in Europe, are in the middle of a epidemic in sexualy transmitted diseases. Top the league in Europe for STDs. AND have more violent crime in London than in any European city. Kinda makes you think eh?

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[skymama 37]

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They don't get hit on. No one gawks at their bodies. They are clearly off limits sexually

Well forget it, I'm not joining then.

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[Dumpster 0]

I've said it before in these forums, and I will say it again - -

Religion is for the weak-minded!

Easy Does It

[kmcguffee 0]

Atheism is for egotistical sociopaths!

"Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." Ben Franklin

[Blahr 0]

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They don't get hit on. No one gawks at their bodies. They are clearly off limits sexually

Well forget it, I'm not joining then.

ROFL
I love a woman that knows what she wants from life!

[McDuck 0]

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I've said it before in these forums, and I will say it again - -

Religion is for the weak-minded!

My take is less antaognistic, but relatively the same. I feel that religion is there for those who need it, and simply put, I don't need it. I don't belittle those who do, I just do my own thing and let them do theirs.

I feel that a person can be spiritual without being religious.

Kevin - Sonic Beef #5 - OrFun #28
"I never take myself too seriously, 'cuz everybody know fat birds don't fly." - FLC
Online communities: proof that people never mature much past high school.

[Blahr 0]

On a more serious note, I was interested in what this post had to say until it started bashing another belief system.

The fact that some people are poor examples of how Christian religeons would want us to behave is not a reflection
on the religeon itself anymore than a bunch of hoodlums flying a highjacked airplane into an office building is an example of how Islam wants people to behave.

[dixieskydiver 0]

I went to a catholic school for grades 1-8. I was raised methodist. Now I am Atheist. I thought the Mormon church (aka Church of Latter Day Saints) was the fastest growing religion in the world. Could be wrong about that, might be the fastest growing Christian sect.

Dixie
HISPA #56 Facil Rodriguez
"Scientific research has shown that 60% of the time, it works every time."

[happythoughts 0]

The fastest growing religious group is "ex-Catholics".

[Blahr 0]

ALL of the worlds major religeons preach the same basic fundimental concepts.

Faith, temperence, respect, love, fidelity, tolerance, etc.

NONE of them, as far as I know, promote violence or self indulgance.

Its HUMANS that pervert the words of god (whatever you believe that to be) to suit his own needs and ambitions and to justify his absurd behavior.

Western culture is not the way it is because of the failings of Christian philosophies anymore than the middle east is the way IT is because of the failings of Islam.

Its the failings of humans and our tendancy to allow our animal passions to govern our behavior that has caused our world to become the way it is.

This is true for all cultures and all religeons.
Laying blame and pointing fingers is another way for humans OF ALL RELIGEONS to justify their own self indulgance and avoid having to try to do anything about it.

Well, not all. I've never heard of a rogue sect of Shinto pratitioners blowing anything up in the name of god or anyone else

[happythoughts 0]

There is a large difference between theory and practice of religion. When people look at a religion, they think of how it is applied.

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for many the term 'Muslim Women' prompts images of exhausted mothers chained to the stove, 'victims' suppressed in a life of indoctrination

In Saudi Arabia, women cannot drive. Cannot teach at a level beyond secondary education. In Iraq, they are "allowed" to teach at a university level. Actually, I see very little respect of women from people of the middle east when they were in the US.

How Islam is practiced in the US is different than that of the Middle East, but since that is the largest example, that is how people perceive it.

I have the same criticism of Islam that I have of Christianity and all religions. The practice is almost totally different from the teachings.

[Zenister 0]

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funny that - in England the fastest growing religion (if you can call it that) is Atheism.

Atheism is a religion, with a set of beliefs just like any other...and equally unprovable.

____________________________________
Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed.

[Zenister 0]

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I have the same criticism of Islam that I have of Christianity and all religions. The practice is almost totally different from the teachings.

i'd be interested in your observations as to how Buddhism and Tao are practiced significantly different than they are taught??

____________________________________
Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed.

[Dumpster 0]

I guess I am kind of harsh in that statement, I really don't have a problem with spirituality or religion, except when people let thier "faith" do thier thinking for them.

These people can't manage thier day-to-day lives without thier "faith" dictating (or "guiding") thier actions.

Easy Does It

[happythoughts 0]

Generally, my views look at groups. Practictioners by culture, and leaders by culture. I don't mean individual practioners, but large groups.

In most cultures, being a leader involves cash. Ok if you are a politician, but religion is not about that. Therefore, if you have a temple/church with a gold-plated Jesus/Buddha/Virgin Mary in it, they need to peel the gold off and build a hospital with the money or you get zero respect in my book. I haven't seen that in the US among Buddhists.
As a group, Buddhists tend to follow the lifestyle pretty well also. You always meet exceptions, but I look at stuff as a 90% rule. What are 90% of the followers doing?

My only thought is that I think they can be unrealistic sometimes. You can't rely on the goodness of others and you need to be prepared.

Being prepared means making harsh choices about politics and stuff.

[zyne 0]

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Atheism is for egotistical sociopaths!

Now I resent that statement. I'm neither egoistical nor a sociopath.

[zyne 0]

Somehow I seriously doubt you can blame atheism for that.
Religions teachings teach moral, respect for your fellow man and so forth. Yet I find it amusing that most spiritual people have no problems what so ever to just forget all about that and sling shit on us atheists or agnostics ... Should be an 11 commandment "Keep thy religion to thy self!" to quote a famous comedian.
Regardles of religious views, belief, and so forth it all bottoms down to the fact that we all inhabit the same chunk of rock in space, we're all flesh and blood, we all make mistakes. So lets get off of our high horses and realize that the choice of religion doesnt make anyone a damn bit better than anyone else.
My two cents worth ....

[gmanpilot 0]

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The practice is almost totally different from the teachings.

Not me. I'm a dyslexic, agnostic, insomniac. I stay up at night wondering if there really is a dog.

_________________________________________
-There's always free cheese in a mouse trap.