Interested in Islam?

[loversrock]

Ok so I'm interested in looking into Islam. I think I believe in god but I wouldn't say I'm religious at all. I know little bits about Islam but I'm not full of knowledge. I'm quite a factual person so need something to 'blow my mind' to believe if that makes sense? Any reverts here that could point me in the right direction? Also what made you revert did you suddenly become a believer or did it take time to read and look into it? Thanks :)

I don't think pork or prawns are any less hygienic than beef or fish are they?

I don't think pork or prawns are any less hygienic than beef or fish are they

They go off a lot quicker in the desert, which is why some abrahamic religions consider them "unclean"

But imagine you are living in a violent and unstable society and really want to hear how it can be made peaceful and safe. Who would you listen to - some nice guy (who might just want to be king) or a guy who says he is getting instruction from The Big Man himself

Indeed, or if you want a lot of people to follow you (islam, when it was incepted was quite violent) then it's probably best to say you are getting instructions from the big man as so to bring everyone round to your way of thinking.

I'm not having a go at islam here, according to history and the quran itself, it's beginnings/spread are undeniably violent.

Email Dr Mona Siddiqui at Edinburgh University she is the lady that does "Thought for the day " . She will give you a accurate perspective without trying to convert you.

"One would suggest you could do that quite easily without submitting to religious/cult instructions."

Yes emphasis on one there, on an individual scale you can but then how to get other people who arent especially altruistic or hygeinic or scrupulous or meditative to take part in habits that have a communal benefit?

islam made and still makes sense to people from hot tropical climates - not just desert regions - where it is the majority religion today because its rules were seen as early public health measures.

The islamic rules of cleanliness and purity as well as enhancing group cohesiveness also have real life/world benefits. burying the dead quickly to avoid spread of disease, the necessary ablution of washing hands/mouth/face etc 5 times a day before prayer: cleanliness next to godliness. the obligation of washing after you go to the toilet for cleanliness, and the obligation of having a full ritual bath each time after sex, all were early measures to prevent disease or the spread of disease. the right hand strictly for eating, the left hand for unclean and toilet purposes was to prevent possible cross contamination. rules on what constitutes water clean enough for drinking/bathing/ablution were really adhered to even in climates where water was a scarce commodity. people saw the sense of it and other people who didnt went along because it was 'just the rules'.

old ancient hygeine rules can make sense in the modern age. most muslim women dont wear nail polish or false nails because it affects the validity of washing for the daily prayers. in the NHS you are not meant to wear nail polish as it causes bacteria to harbor beneath. a simple devout woman wouldnt know about infection control but she would say 'thats the rules'.

Again, I feel I'm straying into an offensive area here but I will repeat, your belief in a superstitious deity shouldn't outrank my opinion about not believing in it.....

.....the very fact that you have to pray every day and "submit" just proves to me that it's a cult.

I don't think it's got anything to do with climate.

Hi

There's some really interesting convert/revert stories on YouTube and some interesting lectures too. Check out 'the purpose of life' by khalid Yaseen

To counter that, there are also some really interesting "apostate" stories on youtube. There is a great one by the BBC - Leaving Islam.

the prayer itself is just compulsory meditation and recentring five times a day. the postures taken in the muslim prayer are very similar to yoga, so imagine muhammad got a wide swathe of people who otherwise wouldnt do any daily exercise etc to all take this time out each day to do these common basic yogic postures mvslim.com/5-ways-yoga-is-a-basic-practice-for-muslims/. thats very beneficial for health reasons.

all the rituals in and around the prayer are to effect a whole lot of behaviourial change to the religion's adherents who come from very widely spread apart cultures languages etc. and i think climate has a big part to play but not just hot dry desert, hot tropical humid climates where infectious disease is rife and can spread quickly see the sense in what are to us in the west maybe anal retentive rules.

Daddiii, are you ok? You seem to have a bee in your bonnet. Chill out dude. Much love.

I fine thanks, Sparkster, I just wish people would believe in themselves more rather than having to rely on something superstitious to help them.

I believe humanity can't achieve it's true potential until we move away from cultism/religion.

Much love back at you.

I read a book called a very short introduction to islam (malice ruthven) - which is more a factual look at the faith from an outsiders perspective but it was very interesting. I also read the Christianity one.

The thing that struck me most was if you are into the Abrahamic religion, it didn't require understanding the trinity which is a bit of a relief

Dadddi, this concept of self-reliance is strange. Humans can never be and will never be self reliant.

Of course we can, we can evolve.

It's the key to our survival and the key to reach our true potential.

I believe humanity can't achieve it's true potential until we move away from cultism/religion. Less religion more spiruality I believe for humanity to move forward, true experience and knowing of the presence can change a person for the better and the good of humanity.

Dadddi, what steps have you taken so far to evolve?
That us a genuine question. Small steps and all that

Exactly, Peace&Love

• what steps have you taken so far to evolve? That us a genuine question. Small steps and all that*

The very fact that I believe that if we step away from cultism/religion and that it will improve humanity, shows I'm "evolving"

...that and the fact that I'm on a female dominated forum in the hope I can learn some things about being a better daddi and a better man.....

In my mind following a book written 1400 years ago (quran) or 2000 years ago (bible) or 2800 years ago (torah) is regressive behaviour.

that and the fact that I'm on a female dominated forum in the hope I can learn some things about being a better daddi and a better man..... That's lovely, a wise man.
Are you spiritual then Dadddi?
I must say though, although I don't follow any particular religion I think the essense is there in the books, it has been terribly corrupted and change to suit whoever had the power to do so. I found out today that the Catholic church took out a load of passages from the Bible in the 1600's.

Am I spiritual? Only in the sense that I feel that we're connected to the planet and that all life is precious. Every single living organism on the planet is related, we all came from each other, this is undeniable scientific fact.

I believe that life in the universe is incredibly rare, especially life that has the ability love and to nurture, it's a sign of how we've evolved. Love has nothing to do with any supernatural being, it's actually what we are.

This is why I'm against cultism/religion, they don't promote love, they've hijacked love and in turn this is why I believe if we can turn away from that we can truly reach our potential as human beings/plant Earth

It's a shame that any thread on Islam attracts lots of negativity. The op asked for Muslims to reply but of course, it has been taken over by others trying to sway the op to their way of thinking. Op, I'm sure you are aware that you don't have to cover your face and that you can be 'successful and high powered' as a female Muslim should you wish! I can't imagine myself ever jumping onto an 'I'm interested in Christianity' type thread to ask the op to consider my way or to have a go at Christianity.

I don't believe there has been any actual negativity, only people exercising their right to express their opinions in a hopefully non intolerant matter.

Dadddi, well done for evolving so formidably.
Perhaps you could evolve some more by on this female dominated forum by learning that your beliefs do not trump someone else's beliefs and you may get more of a dialogue if you engage with those with differing views in a more dignified manner. Chances are, you may learn a thing or two and vice versa.
followers of the Abrahamic religions are entitled to hold their beliefs as much as you are entitled to hold yours. Why are you trying to enforce your beliefs on others?