posted
Islam is Fastest Growing Religion in United States
Muslims, those who believe in Islam, are everywhere in the United States. They may be your doctor or drive your taxi. They may serve you in restaurants or advise you in law. And if you’re in the military, they increasingly may be in the same foxhole, manning the same position or working on the same aircraft as you.
Islam is the second-largest religion in the world, with more than 1.3 billion believers. In the United States, it is the fastest growing religion, a trend fueled mostly by immigration. There are 5 million to 7 million Muslims in the U.S., including between 10,000 and 20,000 members of the American military. One of them is Army Chaplain (Capt.) Abdul-Rasheed Muhammad, a Muslim Imam stationed at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington. In his chaplaincy, he ministers to all faiths.
Imam Muhammad said that all Muslims believe in the Five Pillars of the Faith. "The foundation of the faith, or Shahada, is the testimony in the belief in one God and that Muhammad is the messenger of God," he said.
Another of the pillars is prayer. Muslims pray to Allah five times a day, at dawn, midday, afternoon, evening and night. Wherever they are, they bow in the direction of Mecca, the Saudi Arabian city where Muhammad was born, for their prayers.
Charity is another pillar, Imam Muhammad said. "One gives a minimum of 2.5 percent of their wealth to the Islamic community yearly," he said.
Another requirement is fasting during the month of Ramadan each year. Ramadan begins Nov. 18 this year.
Finally, Muslims are expected, if possible, to make a pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime. This is the Hajj to the Grand Mosque.
In addition to prayer, a requirement of Islam is to not eat pork and not consume alcohol. Muslims gather at mosques for religious services, called Jumah, on Fridays just after mid-noon. Like many other religions, men typically do not mix with women during worship.
Muslim women wear the headscarf, or hijab, and all Muslims must dress modestly. Men may wear a head covering called a kufi, but it is not a requirement of the faith. The chaplain said one of the obstacles for Muslim women serving in the U.S. military is that commanders may authorize them to wear the hijab or not. "Some do, some don't," he said.
Muslims accept vast portions of the Bible and accept many Judeo-Christian teachings. Although many Americans believe that all Muslims are Arabs and all Arabs are Muslims, in fact less than 20 percent of the Muslims in the world are Arab. Even the most Islamic Arab countries have citizens who believe in other religions. In Indonesia, for example, which has the world's largest Islamic population, 88 percent of its 280 million people are Muslims.
Islam regards Jesus Christ as a very holy man, but not as the Son of God. Muslims believe that the Prophet Muhammad received the revealed word of God -- and that is Islam's holy book, the Koran.
Like the Bible, the Koran is open to interpretation, up to a point. "Those terrorists must be reading a completely different Koran than the rest of us," said Marine Corps Capt. Aisha Bakkar-Poe. Bakkar-Poe is from Kentucky. Her father comes from Syria and her mother is American-born. She said her co-workers have been asking her about Islam since the attacks in New York and Washington. "The question I get most often is, 'Who is this Allah guy?'" she said. "And how could these fanatics make these attacks?”
"I try to answer their questions and explain that Islam does not believe in killing innocent men, women and children."
Army Capt. Arneshuia Balial, a nurse instructor at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and a Muslim, said the terrorists claiming to act in the name of Islam was "like a knife through my heart -- that people would practice Al-Islam, but do deeds like what they've done. It's not true faith. Some people twist religion to the way they think." Balial converted to Islam in 1987. She said the religion is more than just a set of beliefs, it is a way of life.
Army Sgt. Jamal Abdel-Wahed is a medical supply specialist at Walter Reed. Born in Jordan, he moved to the United States in 1986 and is now a citizen. Abdel-Wahed said he has a good working relationship with his co-workers.
"The people I work with are all professionals, and we deal with each other in a professional manner," he said. Like many other Muslims in America he worries about the effect the terrorist strike will have on his family. He said he hasn't experienced any discrimination, but has heard reports. "I am proud of what I am, who I am and what I believe in," he said.
All of the Muslim service members said they would have no problem going to war against terrorism. "This isn't about Islam," Bakkar-Poe said. "It's about terrorism." President Bush has stressed that the United States is not against the religion of Islam--"Islam is peace," he declared--but against those who pervert the religion to support terrorism and mass murder.
Chaplain Muhammad said service members must understand that their fellow soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who are Muslim are just like they are. "It's important for all of us to see ourselves as coming from the same origin," he said. "It's too easy for people to get off on what's different.
"People have a way of just being people," he continued. "That nature God has already put into us. There's not one Polish nature or Italian nature or Muslim nature or Christian nature. It's just human nature. When people get to the essence of what makes us who we are, then that's what binds us together.
"The Koran says that God created us different nations and tribes that we may come to know each other, not that we should hate or despise each other."
Posts: 130 | From: foggy bottom | Registered: Apr 2007
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posted
And your point is what? That there's lots and lots and lots of Muslim immigrants?
Posts: 758 | From: Here. There. Everywhere. | Registered: Mar 2008
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Matthew 7:13-14 “Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and MANY are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and FEW are the ones finding it.
Posts: 370 | From: England | Registered: Feb 2008
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posted
ِQuran ( The word of Allah) (The family of Imran/20)
"So if they dispute with you (Muhammad SAW) say: "I have submitted myself to Allah (in Islam), and (so have) those who follow me." And say to those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) and to those who are illiterates (Arab pagans): "Do you (also) submit yourselves (to Allah in Islam)?" If they do, they are rightly guided; but if they turn away, your duty is only to convey the Message; and Allah is All-Seer of (His ) slaves."
Posts: 338 | Registered: Oct 2007
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quote:Originally posted by Barryrob: But Jesus said:-
Matthew 7:13-14 “Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and MANY are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and FEW are the ones finding it.
Christianity was confused by several factors; ancient Egyptian trinity, ancient Egyptian mythologies "Osiris, Isis and their son Horus" , the conflict between Osiris and his evil brother Seth, ancient Greek philosophy, Roman deities, the Jewish complicated closed religion and the desire of the religious pioneers to add more followers. Nature of Jesus Christ is the most problematic issue while the nature of God is not less chaotic.We are trapped in this life, while there is only one true religion among thousands of religions including all pagans. We have to choose and be responsible of our choice. Logically, no one can accept that a man with face, in need to his eyes ears hands legs, stomach, in need to eat and go to the rest room, would die if he doesnt have a cup of water,very weak that his enemies catch him, crucify him and he suffers pain, this poor man can be a God. God doesnt need to eat or drink, God doesn't need to sleep, God is old with no begginning, last with no end, God is absolute in power, no one can harm God, God is complete in majesty and beauty.
Posts: 130 | From: foggy bottom | Registered: Apr 2007
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posted
I think when another religion comes into a country and becomes popular, in only little time it will make the original population stronger aware of their own religion and people ought to spend more time on their ( in this case Christian) indentity. So, the contradictions between the two religions shall appear stronger in both camps. Stuff for problems...
-------------------- “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I will meet you there.” Posts: 7202 | From: EU | Registered: Nov 2006
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quote:Originally posted by Barryrob: But Jesus said:-
Matthew 7:13-14 “Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and MANY are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and FEW are the ones finding it.
Christianity was confused by several factors; ancient Egyptian trinity, ancient Egyptian mythologies "Osiris, Isis and their son Horus" , the conflict between Osiris and his evil brother Seth, ancient Greek philosophy, Roman deities, the Jewish complicated closed religion and the desire of the religious pioneers to add more followers. Nature of Jesus Christ is the most problematic issue while the nature of God is not less chaotic.We are trapped in this life, while there is only one true religion among thousands of religions including all pagans. We have to choose and be responsible of our choice. Logically, no one can accept that a man with face, in need to his eyes ears hands legs, stomach, in need to eat and go to the rest room, would die if he doesnt have a cup of water,very weak that his enemies catch him, crucify him and he suffers pain, this poor man can be a God. God doesnt need to eat or drink, God doesn't need to sleep, God is old with no begginning, last with no end, God is absolute in power, no one can harm God, God is complete in majesty and beauty.
False Christianity is confused, true is not!
For True Christianity Jesus is NOT God, but his ressurected and apointed Prophet-King (like Moses & David) over this Earth now!
Posts: 370 | From: England | Registered: Feb 2008
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quote:Originally posted by Barryrob: But Jesus said:-
Matthew 7:13-14 “Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and MANY are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and FEW are the ones finding it.
Christianity was confused by several factors; ancient Egyptian trinity, ancient Egyptian mythologies "Osiris, Isis and their son Horus" , the conflict between Osiris and his evil brother Seth, ancient Greek philosophy, Roman deities, the Jewish complicated closed religion and the desire of the religious pioneers to add more followers. Nature of Jesus Christ is the most problematic issue while the nature of God is not less chaotic.We are trapped in this life, while there is only one true religion among thousands of religions including all pagans. We have to choose and be responsible of our choice. Logically, no one can accept that a man with face, in need to his eyes ears hands legs, stomach, in need to eat and go to the rest room, would die if he doesnt have a cup of water,very weak that his enemies catch him, crucify him and he suffers pain, this poor man can be a God. God doesnt need to eat or drink, God doesn't need to sleep, God is old with no begginning, last with no end, God is absolute in power, no one can harm God, God is complete in majesty and beauty.
False Christianity is confused, true is not!
For True Christianity Jesus is NOT God, but his ressurected and apointed Prophet-King (like Moses & David) over this Earth now!
Orthosox Christians, what do you see? he says that false Christians beleive that Jesus Chrisit is a God, is this true?
Posts: 130 | From: foggy bottom | Registered: Apr 2007
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posted
The trinity doctrine took hundreeds of years to develop it took 300 years for the idea that Jesus was god to take firm root and several hundred more to elevate the Holy spirit to the same status.
There is not one verse in the Bible that says the Father is God, Jesus is God and the Holy Spirit is God. NOT ONE . There are innummerable verses where Jesus says he is lower in authority , knowledge and power than God.
Trinitarians use very tenuous associatiosn in verses that mention all three but tney are looking at them through a trinitarian lens rather than letting the verses speak for themselves.
You will porbably see examples of their verbal gymnastics in response to this post.
The trinity doctrine is an absurdity that contradicts everything the bIBLE TEAHCES AND STANDS FOR.
Furthermore it is a borrowed pagan doctrine as can clearly be seen by looking at ancient Egyptian , Babylonian and other religions . Greek philosophy also played its part in shaping modern "Christianity" into an unintelliglble system of belief that only confuses people.
The truth as found in the Blble is simple and clear. One Almighty God, Jesus a created being who had a beginning and was sent to earth as one subordinate to God. And the Holy spirit (Heb Ruach and Greek Pneuma) is God's active force (power) NOT a person.
God names all the stars (Isa 40:26) but forgot to name the Holy Spirit ! Why if it is a person? the very words in Hebrew and Greek give us the meaning - both have to do with the thought of a wind /breeze(hence pneumatic tyres /drill from the same root Pneuma)
Posts: 148 | Registered: Nov 2007
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quote:Originally posted by ?????: I think when another religion comes into a country and becomes popular, in only little time it will make the original population stronger aware of their own religion and people ought to spend more time on their ( in this case Christian) indentity. So, the contradictions between the two religions shall appear stronger in both camps. Stuff for problems...
THe problem is not to be aware to protect your own religion, the issue is where is the truth?
Posts: 130 | From: foggy bottom | Registered: Apr 2007
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posted
Nobody can proof the one and only truth in a religion, otherwise it would be science. In my opinion it isn't worth the arguement. People are free to believe in whatever they want, as long as they don't harm another...
-------------------- “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I will meet you there.” Posts: 7202 | From: EU | Registered: Nov 2006
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quote:Originally posted by ?????: Nobody can proof the one and only truth in a religion, otherwise it would be science. In my opinion it isn't worth the arguement. People are free to believe in whatever they want, as long as they don't harm another...
And as long as they don't try and convert me, in any way shape or form.......... Posts: 643 | From: Over there | Registered: Aug 2007
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quote:Originally posted by Barryrob: But Jesus said:-
Matthew 7:13-14 “Go in through the narrow gate; because broad and spacious is the road leading off into destruction, and MANY are the ones going in through it; 14 whereas narrow is the gate and cramped the road leading off into life, and FEW are the ones finding it.
Christianity was confused by several factors; ancient Egyptian trinity, ancient Egyptian mythologies "Osiris, Isis and their son Horus" , the conflict between Osiris and his evil brother Seth, ancient Greek philosophy, Roman deities, the Jewish complicated closed religion and the desire of the religious pioneers to add more followers. Nature of Jesus Christ is the most problematic issue while the nature of God is not less chaotic.We are trapped in this life, while there is only one true religion among thousands of religions including all pagans. We have to choose and be responsible of our choice. Logically, no one can accept that a man with face, in need to his eyes ears hands legs, stomach, in need to eat and go to the rest room, would die if he doesnt have a cup of water,very weak that his enemies catch him, crucify him and he suffers pain, this poor man can be a God. God doesnt need to eat or drink, God doesn't need to sleep, God is old with no begginning, last with no end, God is absolute in power, no one can harm God, God is complete in majesty and beauty.
False Christianity is confused, true is not!
For True Christianity Jesus is NOT God, but his ressurected and apointed Prophet-King (like Moses & David) over this Earth now!
Orthosox Christians, what do you see? he says that false Christians beleive that Jesus Chrisit is a God, is this true?
Yes that is true, as they beleive what Jesus did not teach!
Posts: 370 | From: England | Registered: Feb 2008
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