Muslim Experience in America

[Michael]

If a majority of a schools students were muslims, do you think they'd stop them from praying ?, or wearing the hijab ?. Realistically, they couldn't, and shouldn't.

People can pray all they like in school so long as it's not disruptive to the other students. However, if it's a public school, then I am against building observatories to pray to Xenu or rooms to pray to Mecca. It sends the wrong message.


In the hypothetical story about your mother converting to Scientology. I wondered if you'd think she has been brainwashed? or do you suppose shaving one's head, painting a star on the top and praying 1 time every hour for 3 minutes facing Alpha Centauri is the behavior of a normal person who has found religous meaning and truth?

So? Brainwashed or normal?

Michael

[Mr.Spock]

i heard a lot of things about Scientologists. not good things.

[Gustav]

So? Brainwashed or normal?

you present bogus choices
one has to be clearly insane to believe either
sorry
try again

[Michael]

I met a Buddhist convert the other day, I asked him his definition of Buddhism, according to him it was escapism. Thats very apt and probably a good reason for conversion. When I said that, he said I was being spiteful. Very confusing

And I saw an interview about some non-religous English who converted to Islam. One girl said she liked that she didn't have to worry because she didn't have to think anymore.

Considering 99.9% of "religous" people simply take the religion of their parents and don't give two craps after that (meh, I'm going to heaven) the very few people that do convert do so for extra ordinary reasons. There's probably a similar percentage of people who invest in online Nigerian millionaire scams.

[Gustav]

i heard a lot of things about Scientologists. not good things.

take your bigotry elsewhere
scientologists do good works as is clearly evinced in this video



/frown

[S.A.M.]

And I saw an interview about some non-religous English who converted to Islam. One girl said she liked that she didn't have to worry because she didn't have to think anymore.

Considering 99.9% of "religous" people simply take the religion of their parents and don't give two craps after that (meh, I'm going to heaven) the very few people that do convert do so for extra ordinary reasons. There's probably a similar percentage of people who invest in online Nigerian millionaire scams.

You're wrong actually. Many people change their faith and many people do not follow their parents faith. My own family is mixed. We have Muslims, Hindus, Christians [by marriage] and Zorastrians. I'm probably the most religious person in my immediate family and I'm more learned in the religion than practising.

[Michael]

i heard a lot of things about Scientologists. not good things.

Chris joined Scientology and said it was very pro-family values and community responsibility.

you present bogus choices
one has to be clearly insane to believe either
sorry
try again

OK, suppose your friend meets a 50 years old Imam and after speaking with him a few times suddenly converts to Islam, she changes her diet, she changes her name to an Arab one, she now prays 5 times a day for 15 min facing an Arab city, she now only wears a Bukra when going outside, she spends all of her free time studying a 1000 year old religous book or Arabic (which she tells you is the Perfect language - God's tongue), she tells you that Mohammad (PBUH) is the Last Prophet, she will not have a glass of wine with you now, she tells you that only the Qur'an is perfect, she surrounds herself with only other people that are in this religion. She decides it is God's will she become this Imam's 4th wife.

She is now a Qur'an Muslim only.

So? What do you think? COULD it be possible she has been Brainwashed?
Would you worry about her?

Michael

[Mr.Spock]

take your bigotry elsewhere
scientologists do good works as is clearly evinced in this video



/frown

[Michael]

You're wrong actually. Many people change their faith and many people do not follow their parents faith. My own family is mixed. We have Muslims, Hindus, Christians [by marriage] and Zorastrians. I'm probably the most religious person in my immediate family and I'm more learned in the religion than practising.

I didn't say a lot didn't, but percentage wise it's extremely small. The overwhelmingly majority of people take the beleif of their patents.

[S.A.M.]

I didn't say a lot didn't, but percentage wise it's extremely small. The overwhelmingly majority of people take the beleif of their patents.

I have some figures for USAmericans

The U.S. religious marketplace is extremely volatile, with nearly half of American adults leaving the faith tradition of their upbringing to either switch allegiances or abandon religious affiliation altogether, a new survey finds.

The study released Monday by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life is unusual for its sheer scope, relying on interviews with more than 35,000 adults to document a diverse and dynamic U.S. religious population.

While much of the study confirms earlier findings — mainline Protestant churches are in decline, non-denominational churches are gaining and the ranks of the unaffiliated are growing — it also provides a deeper look behind those trends, and of smaller religious groups.

"The American religious economy is like a marketplace — very dynamic, very competitive," said Luis Lugo, director of the Pew Forum. "Everyone is losing, everyone is gaining. There are net winners and losers, but no one can stand still. Those groups that are losing significant numbers have to recoup them to stay vibrant."

The U.S. Religious Landscape Survey estimates the United States is 78 percent Christian and about to lose its status as a majority Protestant nation, at 51 percent and slipping.

More than one-quarter of American adults have left the faith of their childhood for another religion or no religion at all, the survey found. Factoring in moves from one stream or denomination of Protestantism to another, the number rises to 44 percent.

One in four adults ages 18 to 29 claim no affiliation with a religious institution.

Its from fauxnews, but the original source is valid.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,332590,00.html

[Mr.Spock]

the US is a big country. all those surveys dont say a lot. and in anyway, Michael is right.

[S.A.M.]

Its not true in my family and its not true in my friends either.

[Mr.Spock]

Its not true in my family and its not true in my friends either.

you are in the small minority.

[S.A.M.]

Minority what? I meet a wide swathe of people from different socioeconomic backgrounds. Last year, my devoutly Catholic Indian friend married an atheist British guy. What do you think their children will follow?

[Mr.Spock]

they will follow Jesus Christ.

[S.A.M.]

Hmm, I will tell her, it will make her very happy.

[Michael]

Once you eliminate atheism (or non-religous) which is becoming more normal in the USA the majority of converts are form one form of Xianity to another. Protestant to Catholic. Catholic to Mormon. Etc... very few people become Scientologist or Muslims.

That said, the way the world is connected now, I think more and more people will try out new beliefs.

By philosophy, Christianity is probably the most conducive for conversion. But, maybe Buddhism as well? We'll see. I for one have little doubt atheism will ultimately be the most prevelant IF societies continues to progress forward and poverty is mainly eliminated.

[Mr.Spock]

but they will convert to Islam later. when theyll grow up they will flood westerns forums with anti american propaganda and put on a stupid grim.

[S.A.M.]

Atheism has been prevalent at many times in history. However as a social system, it tends to individualism and hence has a tendency to collapse on itself. It can only be sustained as a part of a theist society.

but they will convert to Islam later. when theyll grow up they will flood westerns forums with anti american propaganda and put on a stupid grim.

You mean this --> ?

[Mr.Spock]

Atheism has been prevalent at many times in history. However as a social system, it tends to individualism and hence has a tendency to collapse on itself. It can only be sustained as a part of a theist society.

rubbish.