Conversion to Islam

[MichaelNZ]

I talked with my girlfriend this weekend, and she told me that she would still marry me even if I was Muslim. That has been the main thing stopping me converting to Islam - I don't want to lose her. She is a catechumen in the Orthodox Church, and I told her that she could still be Christian, as Islam allows Muslims to marry "People of the Book". Furthermore, I think we could get married as soon as I accept Islam, because marriage in Islam is simple, the writing of a contract between the husband and wife. We could then have the wedding party (walimah) back in Malaysia, where she is from.

I think that I am going to become a Muslim, but I'm going to do quite a bit more reading before I do. The mosque here is just 5 mins away from the university, and I have no classes in the afternoons, so I'll go to the mosque library to read the Qur'an and to read more about Islam. The mosque is pretty much open during the day in Ramadan. I know I could convert right now, though, which is far better than the Orthodox system, where a priest tells you when you can convert and be baptized. Apparently your prayers aren't as strong until you're baptized, so it seems that the priest is withholding the full power of the grace of God (glorious and exalted is He). My girlfriend has also talked about being baptized in the Coptic Church, because 1) the priest might baptize her quicker than the Antiochian Orthodox priest and 2) she likes the falafels there.

 

[Michael G]

Just one question: why?

 

[MichaelNZ]

Because it seems to be the truth. To worship God (glorious and exalted is He) alone and not to associate partners with Him in worship. No one has the right to be invoked, supplicated, prayed to or shown any act of worship but God alone.

 

[Thekla]

the "Orthodox system", though it takes "longer", provides for not only instruction and growth but requires patience and a sense of commitment ... I don't understand why patience and commitment are "negatives" ?

 

[Jacob4707]

Because it seems to be the truth. To worship God (glorious and exalted is He) alone and not to associate partners with Him in worship. No one has the right to be invoked, supplicated, prayed to or shown any act of worship but God alone.

So, you are willing to deny the crucifixion, the resurrection, Jesus's own words about Himself, and the words of the New Testament that testify to his Deity - for 72 white raisins?

Just a question: Muslims consider Jesus to have been a true prophet. You write that "no one has the right to be invoked, etc., but God alone." Yet Jesus allowed persons to do those very things to Himself, and the New Testament clearly records supplications, prayers and worship to Jesus. So ... was Jesus a true prophet?

 

[Michael G]

Because it seems to be the truth. To worship God (glorious and exalted is He) alone and not to associate partners with Him in worship. No one has the right to be invoked, supplicated, prayed to or shown any act of worship but God alone.

Allah and the Trinity are not one in the same. Muslims do not believe in the same God as Christians do.

 

[MichaelNZ]

Allah is the Arabic word for "God". Arabic-speaking Christians call God "Allah". In the service books in my Antiochian church there is a book of the Divine Liturgy with English and Arabic side-by-side, and "Allah" is used for "God".

The Arabic word "Allah" is actually better than the English "God" because "Allah" has no plural form (gods) and no feminine form (goddess).

 

[Jacob4707]

Allah is the Arabic word for "God". Arabic-speaking Christians call God "Allah". In the service books in my Antiochian church there is a book of the Divine Liturgy with English and Arabic side-by-side, and "Allah" is used for "God".

The Arabic word "Allah" is actually better than the English "God" because "Allah" has no plural form (gods) and no feminine form (goddess).

The Biblical Hebrew usage, beginning with Genesis 1:1, of the word Elohim - a plural - for God, predates Christianity and, of course, Islam.

 

[Oblio]

Allah is the Arabic word for "God". Arabic-speaking Christians call God "Allah". In the service books in my Antiochian church there is a book of the Divine Liturgy with English and Arabic side-by-side, and "Allah" is used for "God".

The Arabic word "Allah" is actually better than the English "God" because "Allah" has no plural form (gods) and no feminine form (goddess).

This doesn't mean that Muslims worship the Triune Allah of Christian Arabs any more than English speaking pagans worship our God simply because they use the common term 'god'.

 

[MichaelNZ]

I am not going to get into a debate on the Trinity.

But I am excited that my girlfriend and I can get married as soon as I convert.

 

[DarkNLovely]

Well, my advice is to read the Koran along with critiques by non-Muslims. If you can somehow reason away those critiques and questians logically and not just because of the aestetics of Islamic religion(note: I said it's religion not it's doctrine; all religions contain beauty), then that's between you and God. I can honestly say that every single critque I have read from or been told by Muslims about Chritianity is so easily refuted it's comical. No joke. Also, consul former Muslims, who are the best to go to as they have been in a similar position as you- the cross roads between Islam and Christianity.That being said, these Orthodox folks here have always been nice to you and have supported you and I can't help but feel that you may be trying to stir their pots. You are just 22 and I suggest not making any descison until you are at least 26! That's what I'm gonna do! If you feel the same way in 4 years, then that's you. Think about it: how similar are you beliefes now to what they were 4 years ago? If Mohamed and Jesus are both prophets, it's beyond obvious who the better prophet is. Also, thereis no guarantee that your g/f will stay with you. She is saying that now but a LOT can happen in 4 months, let alone years. If she becomes more devout, she may choose to leave you. The stats for divorece are rediculous anyway but for interfaith they are equally bad. You will just start off with problems. If she is pulled more ad more into the teachings of Orthodoxy, she may decide to get a Christian husbend! Just a reality check for you. It does happen.

http://www.answering-islam.org/

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/1313290/posts

 

[-Kyriaki-]

I'm going to say my piece and then leave this thread, I think, as I don't think it would be wise for me to stay. But given that I'm here, based on your OP:

Your fiance is a catechumen, yes? For one thing, she seems to be taking it rather lightly if she's so happy to switch to the Coptic church over things so meaningless as felafel and time... and you do realise that getting married to you might not be an issue in Islam, but Orthodoxy's not particularly happy about its members marrying non-Christians.

This all seems rather strange...but that's between you and God I suppose.

May God open your eyes to the truth.

 

[Philothei]

Because it seems to be the truth. To worship God (glorious and exalted is He) alone and not to associate partners with Him in worship. No one has the right to be invoked, supplicated, prayed to or shown any act of worship but God alone.

And the fact that Islam is a violent religion and group does not bother you? They have killed thousands even millions of Christians...... I find it very difficult to understand how you can ... while being a catechumen in the One Catholic and Apostolic Church would suddenly want to convert to a religion such as Islam... A man made religion with such a doubtful revelation .... similar to modern time Mormonism and with the excuse... what that you can say "I believe..... etc." and magically you are a muslim???

And second: Your wife will be Christian and you will be a mulsim? This sounds completely off the wall excuse me for saying but truth be said here....


I think you are making a big mistake and going down a slippery slope my friend. Hope you realize the extend of your folly someday and change your mind.

God bless you,
Philothei

 

[AureateDawn]

I'm sorry, Michael.

My prayers.

 

[Orthosdoxa]

It was only about a month ago that you were admonishing and excoriating the rest of us for not being as "Orthodox" as you are.

Now you're abandoning Christ completely.

As someone mentioned above, things can change VERY quickly.

I would ask that you not do ANYTHING until you read "The Sword of the Prophet" by Serge Trifkovich, a thorough Christian study of Islamic history and the life of Muhamed, but sadly, I fear the only thing you're interested in right now is Islamic propaganda, of which there is no shortage. If you do promise you will at least read it once, though, I will mail you a copy, free of charge.

Islam is the same as any other cult that borrows stuff from Christianity but says they need their own "prophet" to "fix" what Christianity "messed up". Mormons say the exact same thing. So did the Branch Davidians, Heaven's Gate, Jonestown... Truly, you might as well join them, resurrect them, or start your own. They are all essentially the same thing - a pathetic attempt to "improve" on Christ's message - though of course Islam has slaughtered millions, possibly billions, more people than all of the above put together.

Your own words a month ago acknowledge that Islam is one of the violent religions in the history of our planet, now you're buying into the propaganda that it doesn't matter how violent Muslims are, and it doesn't matter that Islam teaches violence (think of all the innocent people Muhamed ordered slaughtered.)

Or perhaps the violence doesn't bother you, after all, Muhamed's own words (and actions) encourage it. If you end up among Muslims who actually aren't violent, is it going to be enough for you? It seems that nobody here is TAW was militant enough or fundamentalist enough about Orthodoxy to be good enough, in your judgment. I've watched you go through a couple of religions now, and it seems that in all of them, nobody is hardline enough to meet your "standards". Perhaps a religion that encourages the death of unbelievers was the logical conclusion to your need for an unbending fundamentalism that doesn't allow for individual human needs.

Heaven cries tonight, and the demons in hell are rejoicing to see a soul has abandoned the only One who can defeat them.

 

[HumbleSiPilot77]

If I open my mouth at this state, it would make those demons happy, so I am going to let cartoons do the talking...

 

[HumbleSiPilot77]

Call it hijacking or whatever... Nothing muslims didn't do...

 

[ConanTheLibrarian]

From just having read your story on your blog, I'd say you need to call a "time out," and do some seeking about such basic questions as the nature of God, how do we know truth, and so on. By all means, investigate, but this most serious of all possible decisions is not one to be made lightly. Take time to think things through.

Probably many here are familiar with C.S. Lewis. Another author who covers much the same ground is Peter Kreeft, perhaps more concisely. Both said, and I agree, that those who honestly seek the Truth will find it.

http://www.peterkreeft.com/home.htm

 

[nikolayalexandroff]

Kidding, guy, eh?

 

[HumbleSiPilot77]

From just having read your story on your blog, I'd say you need to call a "time out," and do some seeking about such basic questions as the nature of God, how do we know truth, and so on. By all means, investigate, but this most serious of all possible decisions is not one to be made lightly. Take time to think things through.

Probably many here are familiar with C.S. Lewis. Another author who covers much the same ground is Peter Kreeft, perhaps more concisely. Both said, and I agree, that those who honestly seek the Truth will find it.

http://www.peterkreeft.com/home.htm

He is not interested in truth, he has been posting his duped way into Islam detail by detail, reason by reason, IGNORING every damn response from the educated Christians how grave dangerous the results are into converting Islam, DENYING the VERY OWN CREATOR of this UNIVERSE and HIS PERSON, giving glory to the Enemy of God, author of Islam. Score one to the mullahs...