why you think Muslims invite you to Islam?!

[Hado]

In Islam
when you find something good you will invite others to it
in other word when I invite some one to Islam I invite him/her Cz I love them
but what our none Muslims brothers and sisters think about that ?
why you think Muslims invite you to Islam ?
with best regards..

[dauer]

Hado,

I think it's multilayered and I don't think it's much different than why Christianity or Buddhism do it.

On the one hand, you believe very strongly that you're right and the non-Muslim is wrong. If that is the case, their accepting your view would improve their life (and afterlife.)

On the other hand, I think many of these types of religions feel a certain threat in other groups that assert a different view of the world and set of traditions. Removal of this threat to the community's worldview is sometimes done by the sword and sometimes by a less violent but no less troublesome tactic which is dialogue, not to find commonality or discuss differences with respect for each other, but to prove you're correct and force your own view onto the other person. I don't think a good dialogue is very possible if one member of the conversation is trying to convert the other.

-- Dauer

[Hado]

Originally Posted by dauer

Hado,

I think it's multilayered and I don't think it's much different than why Christianity or Buddhism do it.

On the one hand, you believe very strongly that you're right and the non-Muslim is wrong. If that is the case, their accepting your view would improve their life (and afterlife.)

On the other hand, I think many of these types of religions feel a certain threat in other groups that assert a different view of the world and set of traditions. Removal of this threat to the community's worldview is sometimes done by the sword and sometimes by a less violent but no less troublesome tactic which is dialogue, not to find commonality or discuss differences with respect for each other, but to prove you're correct and force your own view onto the other person. I don't think a good dialogue is very possible if one member of the conversation is trying to convert the other.

-- Dauer

I can understand your point dear brother
still in Islam the mission of someone who want to invite to Islam is convey the MSG of Islam only not try to convice people
so it`s not matter of trying to convert someone to Islam(I do not know about other religions) it`s matter of convey the MSG
and about respecting each others in Islam we allready respect None Muslims CZ there are our brothers and sisters from Adam and Eve
and in Islamic Sharia even the islamic government should support building place for worship for none Muslims
you may ask why you do not see that on the earth
the issue that some Muslims practice what they like only in Islam
anyway I still believe that the truth will overcome false so if every one invite others to a religion one day we will find all people have same religion
and that will surely finish conflict thus we all will live togather in one peacefull world

Hado~

[dauer]

Hado,

sharia doesn't treat non-muslims equally. It penalizes them for not being Muslim. Other places of worship are allowed but they aren't allowed to be higher than a mosque.

I don't think the way is to invite each other to different religions. The fact is that there are many religions inviting and people switching in all directions. It also is a subtle way of saying, "My religion is more right than yours." I think the best way to become more peaceful is to stop trying to convince each other that they should be like us but to instead respect each other's differences and value the diversity of religious expression and belief as something to be cherished rather than ended. I would really hate to see a world where everyone shared the same religion.

-- Dauer

[Dondi]

Originally Posted by dauer

Hado,

sharia doesn't treat non-muslims equally. It penalizes them for not being Muslim. Other places of worship are allowed but they aren't allowed to be higher than a mosque.

I don't think the way is to invite each other to different religions. The fact is that there are many religions inviting and people switching in all directions. It also is a subtle way of saying, "My religion is more right than yours." I think the best way to become more peaceful is to stop trying to convince each other that they should be like us but to instead respect each other's differences and value the diversity of religious expression and belief as something to be cherished rather than ended. I would really hate to see a world where everyone shared the same religion.

-- Dauer

Interesting discussion.

On this side of eternity, I can see why. We segregate ourselves toward what is most comfortable and familiar to us, even if we aren't dogmatic about our beliefs. Most people who are entrenched in their religion aren't going to be swayed. Usually, it's those that have a marginal association with their faith they grew up with that are succeptable to change. For example, if I were a Christmas and Easter Christian, not really practicing my faith or ignorant of it, but just chugging along for the free ride, the reins are held loosely. Til someone through some persuasive means convinces me to get interested in Islam. I've known people just like that. And isn't that how Malcolm X was introduced to the Black Muslim movement (mind you, I'm going by what I observed in the movie).

If there is an afterlife, do you think the divisions would change, seeing as we would finally know the Truth? Or would we still find our comfort zone?

[dauer]

Hey Dondi.

Sorry I missed your post, just found it.

I honestly don't know what would happen. If all we knew is that there is an afterlife I don't think much would change. If we all knew the details and how our actions in this world effected our experiences (or lack of experiences) in the next then I think people would do here whatever they had to do in order for things to be good for them there. What do you think?

-- Dauer

[Dondi]

Assuming that their is an ultimate "Truth", which may or may not be reflected in any particular religion here on earth, I would think that there would have to at least be some kind of adjustment time while we integrate toward whatever the truth may be, you know what I mean. My feeling is that we would initially gravitate toward groups of people we are most familiar with and then experience the process of integration, taking the best parts of what we have already learned.

On the other hand, I don't see us melding to the point where we would all be the same. That would be rather boring, I should think. There is the idea in the Christian faith that nations, as well as individuals, would be judged, which would indicate some kind of segregation.

[dauer]

Dondi,

That's very interesting. Is Christianity considered a nation in that sense or something that overlaps many nations? For example, would an Armenian Christian and an Irish Christian be judged as members of the same nation or of different nations or, in algorithmic fashion would both Armenian/Irish and Christian be considered variables? What if those are only their nations of origin, a piece of their cultural identity that describes some of their folkways, the Armenian now being American and the Irishman now Canadian?

-- Dauer

[Dondi]

Originally Posted by dauer

Dondi,

That's very interesting. Is Christianity considered a nation in that sense or something that overlaps many nations? For example, would an Armenian Christian and an Irish Christian be judged as members of the same nation or of different nations or, in algorithmic fashion would both Armenian/Irish and Christian be considered variables? What if those are only their nations of origin, a piece of their cultural identity that describes some of their folkways, the Armenian now being American and the Irishman now Canadian?

-- Dauer

I didn't mean to imply that Christianity is a nation in and of itself. Nor am I'm implying that nations would be judged based on their adherance to some form of Christianity. Rather, and this is IMO, that nations will be collectively judge by God according to their righteousness. Not according to what belief systems are prominent, but on the basis of have treated other nations, other peoples. Has that nation been kind to the world. Have they helped the world be a better place, and so forth. Even the Hebrew scriptures seem to indicate judgement of God at a future time:

"And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." - Isaiah 2:4

The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
"O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah." - Psalm 67:4

"All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee." - Psalm 22:27

"For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations." - Isaiah 61:11

You get the idea. The same kind of verses can be found in the Christian scriptures as well.

I find it interesting this last verse in Isaiah 61. Kinda gives an image of God tending a garden. Now we know that gardening takes time and effort to care and nuture. Which means there will be some growing pains before we see all the nations bringing forth righteusness and praise.

ETA: But we are kinda getting offtrack from the OP. I don't want to be rude, especially since we are a Jew and a Christian discussion such issues in the Islam forum. Maybe someone of Islamic persuasion could shed some perspective on this?