Right, My first post so I will try and keep it as concise as possible.
I have been raised in the UK, and live in an area which has a reasonable amount of Muslims. We have a Masjid nearby where I would go to learn about Islam when I was younger. Unfortunately due to some circumstances I drifted away from the Masjid, but i remember some of the things that were taught there. For example, the teachers there made it very clear to us children that the only way to Heaven, and to god was if you accepted Islam as your faith. Those that did not accept Islam would ultimately not be accepted by God, and sent to hell.
As I grew up, I met people from different areas of the world, with different faiths and different ideas. I met good people with good hearts and good intentions. I've thought about what teachers have taught me and others, and I'm afraid this whole concept has become completely irrational to me. A few of the reasons why I consider it irrational are as follows
1) This way of thinking completely defeats the good deeds that other people have achieved. There are many people in history who were not Muslims, but have done more for Islam than many Muslims themselves. If we consider people in history who have tried to live for others and when they have left the world, many people have considered them to be a positive influence on the earth, why would their reward be eternal ****ation? This process of thought is irrational, and if I consider Allah to be much more rational than I am then I can't see how he would allow this.
2) Out of the people that decide to read this post, I believe many will have been born to Muslim parents, and possibly in Muslim communities. This would have played a big part into why they are Muslim. I can say that I was born to Muslim parents. I would even suggest that If I was born to a Christian family in Central USA I would have grown up believing that Jesus is the son of God. If I was born to a family in Mumbai, India, I could well have grown up a Hindu. The point that I am making is, we don't have a choice as to where we are born. Where we are born can play a big part in what religion we follow as we grow up. Excluding reverts, if Islam is amongst around 1/6 of the world population, it would be fair to assume that 1 out of 6 children will grow up following Islam at the current time. If Islam is the only way to god, then 5/6 children may be massively disadvantaged in reaching god. Once again, this is very irrational to me and is more like a game of chance, where the consequences for those 5/6 children are potentially eternal suffering, and therefore I have problems accepting this point of view.
Any thoughts and comments regarding my views would be appreciated. For those that oppose my sentiments, I would be more than happy to hear your rationale as to why you do oppose what I have said.
I have been raised in the UK, and live in an area which has a reasonable amount of Muslims. We have a Masjid nearby where I would go to learn about Islam when I was younger. Unfortunately due to some circumstances I drifted away from the Masjid, but i remember some of the things that were taught there. For example, the teachers there made it very clear to us children that the only way to Heaven, and to god was if you accepted Islam as your faith. Those that did not accept Islam would ultimately not be accepted by God, and sent to hell.
As I grew up, I met people from different areas of the world, with different faiths and different ideas. I met good people with good hearts and good intentions. I've thought about what teachers have taught me and others, and I'm afraid this whole concept has become completely irrational to me. A few of the reasons why I consider it irrational are as follows
1) This way of thinking completely defeats the good deeds that other people have achieved. There are many people in history who were not Muslims, but have done more for Islam than many Muslims themselves. If we consider people in history who have tried to live for others and when they have left the world, many people have considered them to be a positive influence on the earth, why would their reward be eternal ****ation? This process of thought is irrational, and if I consider Allah to be much more rational than I am then I can't see how he would allow this.
2) Out of the people that decide to read this post, I believe many will have been born to Muslim parents, and possibly in Muslim communities. This would have played a big part into why they are Muslim. I can say that I was born to Muslim parents. I would even suggest that If I was born to a Christian family in Central USA I would have grown up believing that Jesus is the son of God. If I was born to a family in Mumbai, India, I could well have grown up a Hindu. The point that I am making is, we don't have a choice as to where we are born. Where we are born can play a big part in what religion we follow as we grow up. Excluding reverts, if Islam is amongst around 1/6 of the world population, it would be fair to assume that 1 out of 6 children will grow up following Islam at the current time. If Islam is the only way to god, then 5/6 children may be massively disadvantaged in reaching god. Once again, this is very irrational to me and is more like a game of chance, where the consequences for those 5/6 children are potentially eternal suffering, and therefore I have problems accepting this point of view.
Any thoughts and comments regarding my views would be appreciated. For those that oppose my sentiments, I would be more than happy to hear your rationale as to why you do oppose what I have said.