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StopS

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AS a non-believer I am confronted with religion on a daily basis and wish to learn more about the daily implications of Islam living in an Islamic country. I can ask my colleagues about general things, but avoid talking about religion.
I try and be nice and tolerant, but I do tend to get emotional at times.

I hope to have some nice discussions and learn things at a personal level.
 
Are you by any chance related to LauraS? Anyway.. welcome to the forum I hope you will benefit from it. If you don't mind may I ask what do you mean by getting emotional at times?
 
Hulk said:
Are you by any chance related to LauraS?
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Sorry, no.

Anyway.. welcome to the forum I hope you will benefit from it. If you don't mind may I ask what do you mean by getting emotional at times?
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Well, if I see remarks or questions which I have seen very often before which actually show the lack of trying to understand or sheer ignorance I get impatient or frustrated and use sarcasm and sound arrogant. That's what others have told me. I don't really want to sound like that but it seems I loose my rational approach at times and sound harsh, even if I am not.
 
Greetings and peace be with you StopS; welcome to the forum, I hope you find some answers too.

As a matter of interest, whats it like being an atheist and living in an Islamic country, and what country would that be.

In the spirit of praying to one God.

Eric
 
Eric H said:
Greetings and peace be with you StopS; welcome to the forum, I hope you find some answers too.

As a matter of interest, whats it like being an atheist and living in an Islamic country, and what country would that be.

In the spirit of praying to one God.

Eric
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Thank you.

It is no problem. Quite the contrary. I am not difficult and consider the adaptation to a loudspeaker blaring out the muezzin's comments a minor inconvenience. It is funny at times, when he loses track of his lines or suddenly sneezes or coughs straight into the microphone. People are very pleasant, extremely hospitable and my wife feels very safe.
You get the odd rich kid whose father is a big-shot and thinks he can get away with anything, but all in all it's modern, relaxed and accommodating. Now, during Ramadan it gets a bit awkward because we can't buy lunch like normally and need to send out for food and then we have to sit in a closed office, so as to not set a bad example for believers. Weekends will also be slow for the next 5 weeks.
 
Oh dear, I had a problem with the forum flaking, so I completely forgot to answer the question of where: mostly Doha, but sometimes a month or two in Abu Dhabi or Dubai, never Kuwait.
 
Qatar & Abu Dhabi are fairly liberal.. I can't imagine it getting awkward-I have many relatives there and Qatar especially is like a little piece of the U.S.
I think if you wanted to live without the Muslim experience there you can pretty much .. will this your first Ramadan there?
 
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Ello StopS.I can see you in UI as well :statisfie Hope you like being here too :statisfie


:welcome:
 
منوة الخيال;1530816 said:
Qatar & Abu Dhabi are fairly liberal.. I can't imagine it getting awkward-I have many relatives there and Qatar especially is like a little piece of the U.S.
I think if you wanted to live without the Muslim experience there you can pretty much .. will this your first Ramadan there?
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Hahaha, wishful thinking!!! No, I am being chucked out of bed at 4:22 by 4 mosques in the immediate vicinity. I hear the Friday prayer sermon from different directions and if I drive anywhere on weekends I hear it too. Also, if we go somewhere we adapt to the local culture and dress differently than we would in South Africa or the UK. My wife does not swim or tan topless, normal in other countries. If we meet Muslim friends at home we still need to adhere to customs and not look at a female or touch her by mistake.

No, I have been in the region for a few years.
 
StopS said:
Hahaha, wishful thinking!!! No, I am being chucked out of bed at 4:22 by 4 mosques in the immediate vicinity. I hear the Friday prayer sermon from different directions and if I drive anywhere on weekends I hear it too. Also, if we go somewhere we adapt to the local culture and dress differently than we would in South Africa or the UK. My wife does not swim or tan topless, normal in other countries. If we meet Muslim friends at home we still need to adhere to customs and not look at a female or touch her by mistake.

No, I have been in the region for a few years.
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Why don't you just leave there it sounds like hell?.. prayers here and prayers there and your wife can't go nude and you can't touch other women by 'mistake'....
 
Or you can always revert to Islam ;)

Welcome to the forum, StopS. I expect eventually you will get used to the various calls to prayer etc. One big disadvantages of being a Muslim living in a non Islam state, is we don't get the loud 'reminders' its prayer time.
 
منوة الخيال;1531006 said:


Why don't you just leave there it sounds like hell?.. prayers here and prayers there and your wife can't go nude and you can't touch other women by 'mistake'....
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Well, I see all this as a minor inconvenience. I can adapt to the local culture and have no problem accepting that Utopia does not exist.
So, for me it is not black or white and the way you make it sound is not at all how it is intended. Are you always grumpy or just today?
 
dqsunday said:
Or you can always revert to Islam ;)

Welcome to the forum, StopS. I expect eventually you will get used to the various calls to prayer etc. One big disadvantages of being a Muslim living in a non Islam state, is we don't get the loud 'reminders' its prayer time.
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Thank you. You are right, it is a matter of getting used to it - but it is not as though it does not exist.
Then you might want to buy an Android phone because it took me a while to figure out how to stop the very loud reminders - even very early in the morning. And this is an app I can't disable or let alone delete.
 
StopS said:
Well, I see all this as a minor inconvenience. I can adapt to the local culture and have no problem accepting that Utopia does not exist.
So, for me it is not black or white and the way you make it sound is not at all how it is intended. Are you always grumpy or just today?
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Only with people whose idea of utopia includes animal like regression and subjugation of women!

best,
 
منوة الخيال;1531026 said:

Only with people whose idea of utopia includes animal like regression and subjugation of women!

best,
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:) Maybe a decade ago I would have thought about this. Today I prefer a civilised approach and consent to force and violence. Would that be incompatible with my personal version of Utopia? Nope!
 
StopS said:
:) Maybe a decade ago I would have thought about this. Today I prefer a civilised approach and consent to force and violence. Would that be incompatible with my personal version of Utopia? Nope!
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There's nothing civilized about nudity and rejection or rather being appalled at the call of prayer especially when you're a guest in a country!
If it is nothing more than an inconvenience then why post your grievances?

best,
 
OK, I got the message. I can be insulted and slandered, but I am not allowed to defend myself or even clarify a situation.
 
^ Nope, that is not the case

Welcome to the forum, StopS

God-willing, you will learn a lot here and find it beneficial.
 
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