1. what was your motiviation for joining this board, and what keeps you coming back? (honest answers please, as befits a practising Christian).
2. are there any Christian boards similar to this, where Muslims are welcome to participate, ask questions, and debate about both Islam and Christianity?
2. are there any Christian boards similar to this, where Muslims are welcome to participate, ask questions, and debate about both Islam and Christianity?
I hope you don't mind me posting... I started a thread about that and was not able to find a good forum. The forum I sis join was way less tolerant than LI. Even when all I did was refute false claims they had made about Islam, I was told of for promoting my religion!
I came to realise that LI is one of those rare finds.
I'm also not a christian, but I do visit some christian boards. And I've had a similar experience to the above. Muslims are given that whole "rabid terrorist" sterotype and often not allowed to speak or write long enough for that slander to be exposed for what it is.
I must say on those boards I find myself defending muslims and islam a lot more than I ever imagined I would. SImply being an outsider and seeing the vitrol that is thrown at some groups makes you want to leap to their defence, even if you're not one of them and wouldn't normally support them. its a really odd phenomenon. Being an atheist I too belong to a "category" of people many of these boards love to hate and purposefully misunderstand so it makes me feel some kind of kinship with the muslims on those boards and chat programs.
2nd question first. I participate in the following other boards:
Catholic Answer Forums -- I have met some Muslims on this forum. But I do not think I would recommend it. It would be a good place to learn what Catholics believe, and while the forum administrators seems very tolerant of all manner of questions and comments, the participants themselves are a more conservative type of Catholic than I meet in day-to-day existence and are less tolerant of other ideas of attacking Protestantism, Mormonism, and particularly Islam with strawmen characitures. You get some of that with certain posters here on LI, but thankfully that is not the dominant response.
Christian Forums, is undergoing a transition. It was established as a Christian Forum, but it became open to all varieties of ideologies, many decidedly non-Chrsitian. Many Christians actually left the forum for that reason, as they often felt attacked by non-Christians on what they thought was a place for Christians to come together and talk. I, myself, have rarely participated in the larger forum community there, preferring to stay within a subform group located within it (Wesley's Parish) that is designed specifically for United Methodists, Nazarenes, and others that have our roots in the teachings of John Wesley. We rarely have even Christians of other denominations visit that sub-forum and so hardly ever have any conflict within it, as it is not a group that debates much. On the rest of the forum there are many debates of all types. I think a Muslim could post there, but would face the same type of response that a Christian would here who would say that the Qu'ran was not a message from Allah to Muhammed.
I also participate in Youth Ministry Exchange -- this one is designed to be a place where folks involved in youth ministry can come and converse with one another about a whole range of topics. So, of course, some theological discussion take place there. But mostly it is about practical and personal issues. Anyone can join, there is a subscription fee, and not everyone who is a part is a Christian, let alone a youth worker. But that calling is how the board began and what it continues to center around. I believe that anyone who came there and showed respect for the others with whom they were debating would be well received. Those who came just to stir up trouble, to troll, or otherwise create dissension would find themselves quickly ostracize regardless of theological views. We have only a few theological debates, but all manner of political ones. They can get heated, but we try to remain free from attacking the person. One of the former owners of the forum was recently kicked off for violating that spirit.
Now, as to why I am here. I came because I have a love for Muslim people and an interest in being sure that I correctly understand Islam -- not just as a static book, but as a living faith by knowing and learnig from the people who practice it. My motivation for that is that I have a daughter who is Muslim. One day, in the above forum, some people were speaking poorly of Islam speaking in ways that I took to be falsely characterizing the religion as a whole as violent. They specificially put to me questions about why Muslims were not speaking out against some recent violent acts done by a man who claimed to do them in the name of Islam. Well, I knew that those acts did not truly represent Islam, but I also didn't have much to say in response. So, I came here to learn more so that I could answer those who were objecting. I have stayed because I enjoy the intellectual stimulation provided by those who challenge my beliefs, or who ask questions about Christianity that I might be able to answer. I find so many operating under preconceptions as to what Christianity is, what the major tenets of the Christian faith are and with other characterizations of the Christians faith that just are not true to my experience that where I can provide a different response than perhaps the stereotypical response, I am glad to stay and be a part of that continuing discussion.
I remember the Catholic forum and all I can say is wow....that place is simply nasty to any non-catholics (let alone christians).
Christian forums is pretty good. The non-christian section seem to be Islam vs. Christians but at least there is equal participation and everyone debate forum on there is alot more open.
This is actually the only forum I participate in. Found it by accident and after reading a few posts as a guest I signed up. I just like the overall layout of the site and it seems to attract interesting people from all walks of life.
"Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not, and a sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is."
1. what was your motiviation for joining this board, and what keeps you coming back? (honest answers please, as befits a practising Christian).
2. are there any Christian boards similar to this, where Muslims are welcome to participate, ask questions, and debate about both Islam and Christianity?
I would appreciate any answers.
kind regards and peace to all
hola ummzayd,
my name is annette, it is nice to make your acquaintance. gracias for your questions... in regards to your first question, curiosity prompted me to join, along with some questions which i rarely have the opportunity to ask... since (i hope to put this delicately as possible) responding to many of the misconceptions muslims here hold about christianity has held my attention longer and subsequently remains the biggest reason i stay.
with regards to your second question, there are many internet forums, i suppose foru.ms is the one i like the most. there are many places there where you can ask questions or discuss, one section is called 'questions from non christians' and another is called 'ask a pastor.' there is a more polemical section called non christian religions which is largely a polemical insult forum between christians and muslims (primarily), you might find that part of the forum hostile.
there are two million members though so it is difficult to say anything in general about the place. there is a no promotion of non christian religions rule, and there are rules that bar people from making slanderous or flamming posts about other non christian religions.
1. what was your motiviation for joining this board, and what keeps you coming back? (honest answers please, as befits a practising Christian).
2. are there any Christian boards similar to this, where Muslims are welcome to participate, ask questions, and debate about both Islam and Christianity?
I would appreciate any answers.
kind regards and peace to all
1. I came here as a Christian and it was to learn about Islam from Muslims rather than have to rely on outside sources.
2. I do know of some Christian boards from the Baptist faith, but Muslims are not really invited or welcomed without conflict or an attempt to convert.
1. I came here as a Christian and it was to learn about Islam from Muslims rather than have to rely on outside sources.
2. I do know of some Christian boards from the Baptist faith, but Muslims are not really invited or welcomed without conflict or an attempt to convert.
I understand that you are on a faith journey, as I think we all are, so I don't want to disrespect either you nor the place that you are at right now. But I would like to ask a question.
A few months ago you made a wonderful statement that really resonates with me:
36 years of believing that Jesus did die on the cross and rose from the dead 3 days later keeps me from accepting Islam.
Do you now disregard all of that as having been a lie? Something manufactured by disciples who, even knowing that it was a made up story, still laid down their lives to tell it to others?
I truly smile to see Christians and other religions or atheists that come to this Muslim forum... I'm hypothesizing here, but i truly believe that Allah prefers you to a point, where he brought you amongst the Muslim... Maybe one day you'll read something in here and the epiphany of your lives may just happen.... Keep your searches alive! and may god guide you ;^)...
I understand that you are on a faith journey, as I think we all are, so I don't want to disrespect either you nor the place that you are at right now. But I would like to ask a question.
A few months ago you made a wonderful statement that really resonates with me:
36 years of believing that Jesus did die on the cross and rose from the dead 3 days later keeps me from accepting Islam.
Do you now disregard all of that as having been a lie? Something manufactured by disciples who, even knowing that it was a made up story, still laid down their lives to tell it to others?
I don't know what i consider it to be honest, and it is something that i am still dealing with and probably will as long as God allows me to walk this earth.
I just came to the point of realizing that if Islam is true and Muhammad (PBuH) is a prophet, then i must have the faith to believe what God has revealed to him.
I don't know what i consider it to be honest, and it is something that i am still dealing with and probably will as long as God allows me to walk this earth.
I just came to the point of realizing that if Islam is true and Muhammad (PBuH) is a prophet, then i must have the faith to believe what God has revealed to him.
hola
i hope you don't mind my observation... but the converse of that bottom statement is true for me. if Christianity is true and Christ is Lord then i must have the faith to believe what is revealed through Him... i would think that is the same for any Christian, which is why we do not regard the claims of mohamed as true...
so how do you reconcile believing (to some extent) that Christ died and rose from the dead, with the belief that mohamed is a prophet when he said this did not happen? it is kind of a difficult dichotomy i would imagine... or do you consider whatever lingering belief in Christianity to be some kind of natural (but false) psychological imprint due to time and the way you were raised, that you need to take an active role in abandoning? it does not sound like you believe this will go away with time if it is something you believe you will always struggle with...
I just came to the point of realizing that if Islam is true and Muhammad (PBuH) is a prophet, then i must have the faith to believe what God has revealed to him.
Obviously you are correct. If Islam is true, and if Muhammad (pbuh) is a prophet, then you must believe what he claims to have received from God. For me, believing that Jesus did indeed die on the cross and that he did indeed rise again from the grave, and that the disciples were not liars but simply passing on what they experienced and was revealed to them by God and Jesus himself, in the light of all of that, I don't have any trouble answering the question as to whether or not one who claims that it was revealed to him that Jesus never died on a cross (a message no other living person ever heard to confirm), if that message is true or not.
That doesn't mean you shouldn't investigate it. I have. I just know that my investigation has left me more firm in my Christian faith than ever before. I serve the God who gave his life for me on a cross that I might live with him forever.
Last edited by Grace Seeker; 11-10-2007 at 10:19 PM.
Do you now disregard all of that as having been a lie? Something manufactured by disciples who, even knowing that it was a made up story, still laid down their lives to tell it to others?
Howdy, long time no speak,
I didn't want to jump in, but please start a thread or something with a discussion on the following, some points which perplex me.
I think we have spoken a bit about the possible authors of the Gospels, I don't remember it ending properly, or it being much of a discussion, I think it mainly fizzled out under the broad topic of threads. So I'd like some reasons why you truly feel the apostles wrote the Gospels and why that is a more probable position than any other.
Also please cite some evidence for the death of any of the disciples of Jesus, which can be said to be historically probable.
See Basics in Christianity Thread for the discussion
Last edited by Umar001; 11-13-2007 at 03:25 PM.
The path is long but I hope we meet,
After the grave and the Day, in paradise in bliss upon a reclined seat.
A traveler traveling - travelled from shirk to tawheed,
If I'm remembered for anything - let it be the Mercy I seek.
As I was reading through the first page of this thread I looked forward to responding, then it went completely off topic. My posting on page two now seems to be the off-topic one. Did not Al Habeshi state:
I didn't want to jump in, but please start a thread or something with a discussion on the following, some points which perplex me.
Why did you not hearken?
Ummzayd asked:
1. what was your motivation for joining this board, and what keeps you coming back? (honest answers please, as befits a practising Christian).
I read the Qu’ran after reading the Bible several times, and I saw a few contentious verses and realised that they could be interpreted to either be in harmony with the Bible or to be in conflict. As you are probably aware, there are several denominations or sects within Christianity. These sects exist because someone convinced a set of people that their interpretation of certain verses in the Bible was correct and the others were incorrect. I am sure that if the people would simply read the Bible for themselves, and discuss the contentious verses honestly with the goal of knowing the truth and not defending their sect’s position, all of the doctrinal differences would disappear.
Few people want to examine evidence, and instead prefer to be lead by those whom they trust. That is an efficient approach provided that the teacher is correct. However, the follower risks being misled. Most evolutionists are like that. They much prefer to be misled by their teachers rather than honestly looking at the evidence to learn the truth.
My motivation therefore was to see whether Muslims had allowed their Islamic traditional beliefs to cause them to refuse to examine the teachings in the Qu’ran.
The second question was:
2. are there any Christian boards similar to this, where Muslims are welcome to participate, ask questions, and debate about both Islam and Christianity?
hi all, thanks to everyone who replied, I was genuinely curious. I have come across Christians elsewhere who feel they have a 'special mission' to 'reach out' to Muslims and who get a bit cross and resort to thinly-veiled insults when their overtures are politely declined. whereas on LI I have to say that for the most part the Christian (& few Jewish) members are courteous and well mannered masha'Allah and there are some interesting discussions.
Wanting to correct some misconceptions which Muslims may have about Christianity is a very good reason for Christians to come here, and even better (from my point of view) is to learn about Islam in order to correct one's own misconceptions about Islam and Muslims. It's not good to be ignorant about other faiths if it is something you like to discuss with people, and that applies equally to Muslims and Christians.
I asked about other inter-faith message boards only because I was curious as to whether they existed, not because I wanted to join them. Personally I don't feel inspired to go around the net debating with people but I guess if anyone has the spiritual zeal to take that on, well fair play to them! Whatever their faith (provided they truly do respect others' God-given right to follow the path of their choosing whether it is right or wrong).
anyway seems to me that LI is fairly unique, masha'Allah.
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