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Hi all, I really appreciate participating in your forum and will start my posting with new information.
After the tragic attack on 9/11 and the war on terrorism, Islam remain the fastest-growing religion in America and in the world although religion is no longer dominates everyday life in Western society.

http://www.therevival.co.uk/revivali...onversions.htm
http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9704/14/egypt.islam/

"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 too:

Singer "Cat Stevens" Oh, baby, baby it's a wild world
Hear his story as told him

http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.n...2569BA0007D998

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. Muslims and Christians agree that God is self-existent.* This means that He does not derive his existence from anyone.*also they both believe in Jesus, love him, and honor him. In fact, no Muslim can be a Muslim unless he or she believes in Jesus, on whom be peace.

The Quran teach that Jesus is prophet or messenger from Allah and not a God so Quran denies the divinity of Jesus.The Qur'an says that Jesus was born of a virgin, that he spoke while he was still only a baby, that he healed the blind and the leper by God's leave, and that he raised the dead by God's leave.

2. 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.Some people also studied Buddhism, flirted with Roman Catholicism or spent time with Quakers, but ultimately found them lacking.

3. 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.

4. 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.

A person like me who is unfamiliar with Islamic teachings might be surprised to hear that Islam does not rely upon blind faith to make its case, but rather, encourages to use minds. For example, the Qur'an invites to ponder upon the wonders of creation, and challenges with intellectual arguments. Further study of the Qur'an demonstrates that sound reasoning and scientific knowledge confirm rather than contradict authentic revelation and its ability to satisfy the intellect whilst bringing peace to the soul.

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.

We cannot steer people's personal faith. Islam is now a part of western culture, wheither you like it or not. It's not just for people in prison, or rock stars looking for a new thing. Some people just associate with Islam more than Christianity. That does for the other side of things too - 70% or so of Americans are Christians, and although many don't like that, it's just the way it is. It's a fact, it can't be changed, and those people are entitled to follow their faith. Acts in the name of christianity have been responsible for some pretty fuc.ed up consequences in the last 50 years.

Trico says: Don't double post!

Originally Posted by sara8

2. 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.Some people also studied Buddhism, flirted with Roman Catholicism or spent time with Quakers, but ultimately found them lacking.

3. For women, it is a big and welcome change from the "in your face" of western ure. 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 ually and many that I personally know say it is liberating not to have to conform to western standards of 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.

That's the difference between Christianity and Islam. There is not strict set of rules, that is called legalism, when following the rules make you feel superior to others and the rules get in the way of loving others. Jesus offers us unconditional love, and if you are truly a Christian, you will want to pray, but you are not forced to. You will want to respect Him with you clothes, but you are not forced to. Sure there are guidelines such as shilding yourself against ual immorality, but again, you will not want to be ual immoral if you are in Him. There is no schedule to follow, but you will want to spend time with Him.

K.M.

you will want to pray, but you are not forced to.

how is that any different from what sara said? the only reason a person would convert to islam, or any other religion, is because they want to do so, right? and if theyre converting, then i think that means they are happily accepting both what that religion asks of them and offers them, no?

Originally Posted by kokiri_musician

Jesus offers us unconditional love, and if you are truly a Christian, you will want to pray, but you are not forced to. You will want to respect Him with you clothes, but you are not forced to. Sure there are guidelines such as shilding yourself against ual immorality, but again, you will not want to be ual immoral if you are in Him. There is no schedule to follow, but you will want to spend time with Him.

In the end, your point is: you have to pray if you want to be a real Christian, or else you are not a Christian.

Basically, the point on where you stated: "if you are truly a Christian, you will want to pray", that pretty much said: "you have no choice but to pray" and the latter part about "you are not forced to" is irrevelant because your first point already stated more than enough. And what does dressing in clothes that you like to wear have to do with "respecting" Him? You don't expect people wearing those slave garments or long white robes and drive to work, do you?

Originally Posted by Lone Wolf

In the end, your point is: you have to pray if you want to be a real Christian, or else you are not a Christian.

Basically, the point on where you stated: "if you are truly a Christian, you will want to pray", that pretty much said: "you have no choice but to pray" and the latter part about "you are not forced to" is irrevelant because your first point already stated more than enough. And what does dressing in clothes that you like to wear have to do with "respecting" Him? You don't expect people wearing those slave garments or long white robes and drive to work, do you?

Ok, I'll break it down. If your are a christan, you will want to talk to God, that's what praying is. You can go a day without praying and be a christan, but you can also go a day doing nothing but pray and not be a christan. You're not forced to pray. The God police won't bust down your door and force you to pray. God is a God of second chances, you can sin and screw up your life, and God will forget everything you did wrong.

Dressing doesn't apply as much to men as women, but it still plays a part. You aren't supposed to wear shirts that look like sinful things, and what you wear effects what people think of you. Like if wear a geogia bulldogs shirt and say you like georgia tech, then that's very odd. As for women/girls? Trampy, crapy, tiny and tight things. It makes men lust, and if you cause someone to sin, then that's a sin. Good job, you just screwed someones life up.

~ganon not gannon

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

The Islamic and Christian views of Jesus: a comparison
http://www.soundvision.com/Info/Jesus/inIslam.asp

Christ in Islam
http://home2.swipnet.se/~w-20479/Christ.htm

Mary & Jesus in Quran
http://www.islamworld.net/

Is Jesus the Same as God?
http://home2.swipnet.se/~w-20479/Samegod.htm

None of the Bible’s Writers Believed That Jesus is God
http://www.islam-guide.com/ch3-10-1.htm

Jesus Will Descend at the End of Time
http://www.islaam.com/Article.aspx?id=77

Women in Christianity and Islam
http://www.jamiat.org.za/isinfo/wchristian.html

http://www.jamaat.net/letters.htm

The Scientific Miracles in the Holy Quran:

http://www.islampedia.com/ijaz/Html/..._All/Index.htm
http://islamicity.com/science/
http://www.islam-guide.com/frm-ch1-1.htm

Islamic Contributions to Science: History
http://198.65.147.194/english/Scienc...rticle12.shtml

ISLAMIC CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCIENCE
http://web.umr.edu/~msaumr/reference...tribution.html

Islamic Contributions to Science and Math
http://www.netmuslims.com/info/contributions.html

Muslims and medical history
http://www.islamicmedicine.org/history.htm

Quran:
11/51 O people! I ask of you no reward for this (Message). My reward is from none but Allah Who created me: will ye not then understand?

11/88 I only desire (your) betterment to the best of my power; and my success (in my task) can only come from Allah. In Him I Trust, and unto Him I look.


Surah 3 ( Chapter No 003 ) Titel The Family of Imran

003/055 Behold! Allah said: "O Jesus! I will take thee and raise thee to Myself and clear thee (of the falsehoods) of those who blaspheme; I will make those who follow thee superior to those who reject faith, to the Day of Resurrection: Then shall ye all return unto me, and I will judge between you of the matters wherein ye dispute.


003/059 The similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him: "Be". And he was.

Surah 5 ( Chapter No 005 ) Titel The Table Spread


005/116. And when Allah saith: O Jesus, son of Mary! Didst thou say unto mankind: Take me and my mother for two gods beside Allah? he saith: Be glorified It was not mine to utter that to which I had no right. If I used to say it, then Thou knewest it. Thou knowest what is in my mind, and I know not what is in Thy mind. Lo! Thou, only Thou art the Knower of Things Hidden.

005/117. I spake unto them only that which Thou commandedst me, (saying) : Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord. I was a witness of them while I dwelt among them, and when Thou tookest me Thou wast the Watcher over them. Thou art Witness over all things.

005/118. If Thou punish them, lo! they are Thy slaves, and if Thou forgive them (lo! they are Thy slaves). Lo! Thou, only Thou art the Mighty, the Wise.

005/119. Allah saith: This is a day in which their truthfulness profiteth the truthful, for theirs are Gardens underneath which rivers flow, wherein they are secure for ever, Allah taking pleasure in them and they in Him. That is the great triumph.


Surah 4 ( Chapter No 004 ) Titel The Women

004/157. And because of their saying: We slew the Messiah Jesus son of Mary, Allah's messenger They slew him not nor crucified, but it appeared so unto them; and lo! those who disagree concerning it are in doubt thereof; they have no knowledge thereof save pursuit of a conjecture ; they slew him not for certain.

004/158. But Allah took him up unto Himself. Allah was ever Mighty, wise.

004/159. There is not one of the People of the Scripture but will believe in him before his death, and on the Day of Resurrection he will be a witness against them

004/170. O mankind! The messenger hath come unto you with the truth from your Lord. Therefor believe; ( it is) better for you. But if ye disbelieve, still, lo! unto Allah belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth. Allah is ever Knower, Wise.

004/171. O People of the Scripture! Do not exaggerate in your religion nor utter aught concerning Allah save the truth. The Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was only a messenger of Allah, and His word which He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers, and say not "Three". Cease! (it is) better for you! Allah is only One God. Far is it removed from His transcendent majesty that he should have a son. His is all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allah is sufficient as Defender


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 unreasonable to think that so many Westerns converted to Islam without careful consideration and deep contemplation. before concluding that Islam is true. These Americans came from different classes, races and walks of life. , and every other sort of person imaginable"

Trico says: Don't double post!

Such truth.



Forgive me if I'm missing something obvious... but...what are you trying to discuss?

It seems to me that your entire point is to get people to convert to Islam.

I don't outbid on Islam .Islam a brilliant religion by itself and doesn't need me or any preaching or missionary work. i wrote in this community not to convince people to be converted to Islam because this is completely their choice and believe which I respect very much, i have participated to correct the picture and reputation which have been intentionally ravaged by west media.

Hmm... I personally am a Christian, and that means that my beliefs are ALWAYS going to conflict with that of others. I would not be able to pray 5 times a day, eat certain things etc. I can only admire the commitment to their faith. It is more a complete way of life, rather than a belief.

Christianity is sort of good like that. People like missionaries and ministers that dedicate their life to the Lord, and normal people that attend church when they can, and pray when they remember, and don't read the Bible that much, will all be accepted with open arms into heaven.

I won't push my faith onto others, but I will pray and be an example to them. Everyone has the God-given right to believe what they choose to believe.