This is not really a question about Islamic beliefs,

although they are not irrelevant. One of the Iranian men I was talking to at church told me that he actually encourages Muslim friends to read the Koran for themselves. Why? Because he is so convinced that the ideas are ridiculous that he believes if Muslims understood their own faith better, it would be easier to convince them of Christianity!

it is more a question about why people would find it attractive to become a Muslim.

I’m particularly interested in first-hand accounts rather than speculation. If there are people reading this thread who are Muslims, or if you have had conversations with Muslim friends, or if you were converted from an Islamic background, then it would be great if you were able to say something about that here.

The question’s partly inspired by Justin Taylor’s blog entry here, where he comments in passing that “Islam appears to offer more for the black man [than Christianity]”.

Hi Gordon

There seems to be a growing realisation that western Christianity is effeminate (not ‘feminine’). As the church discards the Bible, we end up “ruled by women and children” as a judgment from Christ. A way of removing the lamp from a terminal church is to “cut off her generations,” and an emasculated church is just that. We get women in the roles that the Bible designated for men, or we get effeminate men (of whom Spurgeon said “Throw her down!").

I just read “Why Men Hate Going to Church.” Men will not follow women unless they are threatened with getting fired or a court-martial. We need to encourage and train more men to take up spiritual leadership roles in church (besides the clergy) and also at home.

I’m not advocating the “redneck” WILD AT HEART masculinity that makes men even more selfish and domineering over women. That’s usually where Islam ends up. Christianity should offer a brotherhood that demontrates the sacrificial masculinity of Christ, the ‘authority to serve’ as Tony Payne illustrated in his ‘Fatherhood’ book.

Douglas Wilson has written a lot about this subject. His church has a men only service once a month on Sunday night, where they make leaders and practice singing the Psalms. If we have a problem with this, we have a problem with the Bible. The church becomes Babel, sitting as a queen proclaiming ‘I am no widow,’ and refusing to multiply and fill the earth. Jerusalem, on the other hand, only has eyes for her Husband, and she is always fruitful. Men are to image the bridegroom in our worship services, handling the word, sacraments and church government (James Jordan has a lot about this at www.biblicalhorizons.com).

Women in leadership roles alienates men. Men in leadership, truly sacrificial, courageous, godly leadership, makes for security for the women and children. If we get back to the Bible, we can certainly show Islam, Judaism and even Greek and Roman Christianity what a true brotherhood is, because as it stands, they outdo us.

Imagine a church that is no longer the domain of “women, children and little old ladies of both sexes.” I think God has raised up Islam for the same reasons He raised up the Assyrians and Babylonians! To discipline us, to separate the faithful from the unfaithful, and to provide a large vehicle for Christianity when Nebuchadnezzar converts! Like Zedekiah, we are already losing our sons.

Things are beginning to change and it is encouraging, but we need more role models who are still alive. Adam needs to lead Eve so she no longer has to carry the slack.

I had a number of Muslim friends when I was in university. These are my thoughts:

1. We can see how it panders to sinful human nature: Islam denies total depravity.

2. The daily practice of Islam is formulaic and does not require any real thought: Prayer in Islam is formulaic and at prescribed times. Muslims consider reciting the Qur’an a virtue in itself regardless of whether a single word is understood. This appears to give rise to a ‘do the motions and it’ll be all right’ mentality.

3. I think, as a whole, Muslims put Christians to shame when it comes to a sense of community. At Muslim events I’ve been to, there appears to be a great sense of being part of the group, encouragement and long-chains of people networks. Everyone appears to be friends at these Muslim events and in the case of people who don’t know each other, everyone is very friendly, anyway.

4. Related to 3, but concerning other factors as well, it is easy to find a spouse within an Islamic community. This would appeal to young adults. Muslims are not into ‘going out’ for its sake - which I think is a good thing - and once a person ready to take a spouse, the offers start flowing in with the helpful assistance of parents.

Surprisingly, I’ve heard it said that women feel very well off in Islam. Perhaps this is compared to the very public sexualism of western societies?

Women in leadership roles alienates men.

Doesn’t bother me in the slightest.
The worst bosses I have ever had were all male!

Owen, I wonder if the people who are least likely to be bothered about that question would be the most likely to say that they weren’t bothered (not that there’s anything wrong with saying it!)

If you were bothered, and you spoke up, you put yourself in a difficult position.

But that is probably another thread.

Andrew, they are great observations, thanks.

Dannii, are you speaking about people that you know? I’m particularly interested in direct observation or first-hand accounts.

Having read large parts of the Koran, I was struck by how tedious it was.  A fair degree of repetition, but in a different manner to the bible’s repetition of ideas.  God’s revelation throughout the course of the bible is an ongoing revelation of greater and greater elements of his character, culminating in the total revelation of God through Jesus in his earthly incarnation.

The repetition in the Koran however was just that - repetition.  Not an increasing revelation of more of Allah, simply restatement of the same thing. 

i also found it very much a demanding book, in that it became clear early on that Allah demands total submission to the practices set out in the Koran, yet there is no assurance of salvation at all - it is left to the believer to try and be good enough, but without ever attaining any certainty that it will be acceptable to Allah. 

I don’t know whether my views are clouded by the fact I was familiar with the bible when I read the Koran, but having tried to think back to when I first (seriously and thoughtfully as opposed to a “sunday school” unthinking approach) encoutered the bible, I do recall I was interested to read more and more.  With the Koran however it was a struggle to keep reading. 

So for those reasons I don’t think the Muslim faith would have attracted me based upon its writings alone, whereas christianity I found attractive from its writings alone. 

Just my thoughts for what they’re worth.  Others are likely to have had opposite views and experiences, as only the regenerating work of the holy spirit can open our eyes to the treasures in the bible, we cannot do so by our works alone.

Islam is very legalistic and that can be very attractive. Lots of people are quite happy being told what to think and do.

David Palmer - 03 June 2008 06:15 PM

Islam is very legalistic and that can be very attractive. Lots of people are quite happy being told what to think and do.

That’s an interesting point David. Behind prison walls, there has been quite a vigorous campaign to convert folk to Islam. When I have heard these ( and other ) converts talk, they often talk about how Islam has given them purpose and direction.

There is an interesting “ Muslims4Jesus “ channel on YouTube that has lots of interesting tales of Islamic conversions to Christianity :

Muslims4Jesus

There is also an illuminating article of what is attractive about Islam to new converts in the West on Jihad Watch :

Praying to Allah in Mexico

A few pertinent quotes :

“In Islam, race plays no role,” the young man says joyously. His enthusiasm is understandable. After all, in his home state of Chiapas, Mexico’s poorest, the indigenous people are viewed as second class humans, and whites and Mestizos treat the Indian majority as if they weren’t there.

“In Islam, the Indians rediscover their original values,” claims Esteban Lopez, the Spanish secretary general of the Muslim community. “The Christians destroyed their culture.” He presents the use and abuse of alcohol as proof. Alcoholism is wide-spread under Tzotzil Indians and the strict ban on spirits in Islam helps many to break the vicious circle of addiction and poverty.

Dannii, are you speaking about people that you know? I’m particularly interested in direct observation or first-hand accounts.

Not really, just on an internet forum. These are the same sort of people that love the idea of sharia law, while living comfortably in western society.

I think being Muslim is more about being part of a culture, than studying the theology. I hear that about 80% of Muslims have not read the Qu’ran. It is really blind faith to a culture.

It’s something that people are born into, which they dare not question.

They certainly are not prepared to compare Islam to say Christianity, and look deeply into the differences. If they did do this, I think more would be challenged to convert. Comparing Mohammad to Jesus as a role model is like comparing chalk to cheese, really. (ever tried eating chalk?)