No Compulsion in Religion

Submitted by That Other Guy (United Kingdom), May 8, 2007 at 16:01

There is no compulsion in religion, i.e. Islam. So line "everyone will be converted, willingly or not." is just plain ignorance at best. Forcing someone to convert to Islam will not result in that persons declaration of faith being valid; they must convert out of their own free will, be of a sane mind and must have not been coerced into accepting Islam.

I cant help but think you have a picture in your mind of Islam sweeping through the West, forcing people like you to convert at the point of a sword, when this is just plain ridiculous! Conversion cannot happen like that! Muslim would prefer to allow people to convert out of their sincere desire and wish to do so...it means they convert for themselves and not just to impress/appease you, and also means you dont have to chase up on them to see if they really are sincere in their faith. Islam doesnt want to employ the deceitful tactics used by Christian missionaries (that I have witnessed in my own land) of virtually bribing people to accept Jesus Christ as their saviour in return for money, food or aid.

And before you respond with the question of apostasy, I say this. Regardless of what you do to an apostate, you cannot FORCE them back into the religion, just as you cannot FORCE a non-Muslim into Islam. There is no forcing to be done on any sides. Point still stands - no compulsion in religion.

You're right - if Islam will dominate your life sooner of later (which it most probably will, if not then that of your children, etc) then you really should learn more about it. You can start off by throwing out these ridiculous and biggoted assumptions you have, and try to actually learn what Islam is really about.

Furthermore, what problem do you have with people freely and openly converting to Islam? This is the west remember, they are in no way obliged to even come near Islam let alone listen to someone telling them they MUST convert. But why then do so many do so? It is quite clearly out of their own desire. If they want to become a Muslim, then great, its none of your problem. Maybe either Christianity should have made more sense as a religion so they would have stayed, or atheism/secularism should have tried harder to make more sense...because obviously for these people, both paths failed and they obviously see fit to follow Islam as the true religion. All truth will prevail, dont you be the one to try and resist that.

Peace.

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