The thing I respect about Islam

[loverofhumanity]

It does matter.
We might have an intention to show others how "good we are", for some worldly reason .. we might not even be consciously aware of it.
That is the reason the intention behind why we do things is important.
Everything we think and do affects us spiritually.

It is very easy to claim that we do "good deeds" because we are "good"
Almighty God knows what is deep in our hearts.

If indeed, an atheist [ or believer ] does good with a pure intention, then their soul will be nourished by it.
..claiming "we have no soul", is likely to negate that, unfortunately.

Intention is of the utmost importance. A shepherd may feed and care for his flock but the intention in the end is to slaughter the sheep and be sold for profit.

 

[ronki23]

Hi, Sikhs don't believe in God who reward some with wine, girls and others with fire after death. According to Sikh theology we all are part of God but unaware of it due to five vices. Sikhi is about this self-realization.

I prefer Sikhism to Hinduism because it's far less complicated. We have 33 Gods whereas Sikhism only has 10 Gurus (12 if you count Ravidass and Banda Singh Bahadur). Rituals are there but less than Hinduism. Unlike Islam and Hinduism Sikhs don't fast. Sikhi preaches equality for all while some types of Hinduism discriminate based on caste; unfortunately Islam does this with Muslims and non-Muslims.

Sikhs know right from wrong: the Sikhs voluntarily fought for Britain in both World Wars.

@muhammad_isa this is why I prefer Sikhism. But I believe Mahabharat happened

@Father Heathen I should've added "and Sikhism" to the title. You get atheist Hinduism so that's where it differs from Islam and Sikhism

 

[muhammad_isa]

..unfortunately ..Islam does this with Muslims and non-Muslims. [discriminate]

How does it discriminate?

 

[LuisDantas]

How or why would belief in god

 

[LuisDantas]

How or why would belief in a deity's existence be advisable or admirable?

It isn't.

 

[Sheldon]

they honestly believe the Universe was created by someone. Maybe 3 Muslims I know drink alcohol and don't fast on Ramadan, and 1 eats pork, but they never renounced Islam despite flaunting the rules.

How is any of that admirable?

Quite a lot of Christians I know are atheist

That's a logical contradiction.

A large percentage of Israelis are atheist

Risible, but please do offer a citation to support this, and possibly some point to the claim?

Hinduism/Buddhism are open to atheism.

I don't think atheism means what you think it means.

Only Muslims and Sikhs (that I know) truly believe in God

A truly risible no true Scotsman fallacy.

 

[ronki23]

How does it discriminate?

In many Muslim countries a woman from that country is not allowed to marry a non-Muslim. A lot of Mosques do not allow non Muslims to enter. Apostasy from Islam is death.

This used to be the case with UAE but if I'm not mistaken the UAE now allows non Muslims to enter the Mosque. Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yemen still go by this.
Saudi Arabia (previously for Muslims only) is allowing non Muslims entry for tourism purposes now so its only a matter of time before we see temples and churches there.

 

[ronki23]

How is any of that admirable?



That's a logical contradiction.



Risible, but please do offer a citation to support this, and possibly some point to the claim?



I don't think atheism means what you think it means.


A truly risible no true Scotsman fallacy.

Israelis are generally against the Haredi (Ultra Orthodox Jews) because they refuse to partake in national service and are able to live in Israel for free as they're funded by the taxpayer.

 

[ronki23]

How or why would belief in a deity's existence be advisable or admirable?

It isn't.

How is any of that admirable?



That's a logical contradiction.



Risible, but please do offer a citation to support this, and possibly some point to the claim?



I don't think atheism means what you think it means.


A truly risible no true Scotsman fallacy.

I am someone who is influenced by his surroundings: I was brought up in a Hindu household and went to an Anglican school. From my interactions with atheists (especially on social media) they tend to go around saying "religion is for idiots" , "religion has brought us war and misery", "FAIL",etc.

I think that the laws of physics and the Big Bang can't have spontaneously happened: there can't have been 'nothing'. Yes the Higgs Boson is real but what's to stop it from being created by God ?

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

A large percentage of Israelis are atheist (I don't think I know any Jews personally) and ...

So, "Israeli" equals "Jew"? I didn't know that. Still, would you mind sharing how you came to this understanding?

 

[muhammad_isa]

In many Muslim countries a woman from that country is not allowed to marry a non-Muslim. A lot of Mosques do not allow non Muslims to enter. Apostasy from Islam is death.

This used to be the case with UAE but if I'm not mistaken the UAE now allows non Muslims to enter the Mosque. Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yemen still go by this.
Saudi Arabia (previously for Muslims only) is allowing non Muslims entry for tourism purposes now so its only a matter of time before we see temples and churches there.

You assume that Islam is represented by certain nations..
If you want to know about Islam and Christianity, you need to study the religions from the Bible and Qur'an, and NOT quote from custom or culture.

 

[LuisDantas]

I am someone who is influenced by his surroundings: I was brought up in a Hindu household and went to an Anglican school. From my interactions with atheists (especially on social media) they tend to go around saying "religion is for idiots" , "religion has brought us war and misery", "FAIL",etc.

I think that the laws of physics and the Big Bang can't have spontaneously happened: there can't have been 'nothing'. Yes the Higgs Boson is real but what's to stop it from being created by God ?

That is really not the point.

Rather, we should consider the responsibility that comes with our beliefs, and how reliance on god-beliefs is disastrous almost as a matter of course.

There is no substitute for discernment - and there are are very few things more anathema to it than unchecked theism.

 

[ronki23]

So, "Israeli" equals "Jew"? I didn't know that. Still, would you mind sharing how you came to this understanding?

David Ben Gurion and Menachem Begin are examples of atheist Jews.

As for Jews and Israel, the Neturei Karta (Jews against Israel) don't really care for Palestine / non Jews as they want to replace Israel's secular government with a Jewish theocracy. Quite a lot of Jewish Israelis dislike them and if the Muslim Israelis/Palestinians really knew what they wanted then they too would be against them .

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

David Ben Gurion and Menachem Begin are examples of atheist Jews.

As for Jews and Israel, the Neturei Karta (Jews against Israel) don't really care for Palestine / non Jews as they want to replace Israel's secular government with a Jewish theocracy. Quite a lot of Jewish Israelis dislike them and if the Muslim Israelis/Palestinians really knew what they wanted then they too would be against them .

Your point?

 

[Sheldon]

I would say that to be a Christian requires a belief in God.
It is possible to be a Christian but live life as if God did not exist and Christianity is not true however. This would be termed "practical atheism", where a person may have a head belief but that is all.

I think what you're describing is cultural Christianity, this is quite common in some Scandinavian countries, which have a largely secular populace, but who have retained many cultural traditions from their Christian past.

I celebrate Christmas for example, but it's entirely secular for me as an atheist. Though I'd not personally describe myself as a cultural Christian, others might.

 

[Sheldon]

It's ignorance and/or greed.
We are all human, regardless of faith.
We are all sinners.

We ask God to forgive us, and inrease our iman [faith] Amen.

You need to start using a qualifying precursor, like "I believe that" or "In my opinion...", rather than reeling off your subjective beliefs and opinions as if they're facts.

I don't believe in sin, so don't accept any unevidenced subjective opinions citing it. Human fallibility as evolved mammals is all too well evidenced, but no deity and nothing supernatural is required to explain this fact.

Instead of seeking the approval of deities they imagine they've offended, it might be more practical to strive to behave better in the first place, learning from mistakes we inevitably will make.

 

[Sheldon]

..and the Creator of the universe and all that it contains is not aware of how mankind should behave?

There's no objective or empirical evidence to support it.

Maybe you just can't see it, and think that you know better, although you can't even create a fly.

A very clear appeal to authority fallacy, you can't claim your subjective opinions and beliefs are validated by a deity, as an argument for belief in that deity, it is both a begging the question fallacy and an appeal to authority fallacy.

Irrational arguments are extremely weak and poorly reasoned, and that's not just a subjective opinion or belief.

 

[Brian2]

I think what you're describing is cultural Christianity, this is quite common in some Scandinavian countries, which have a largely secular populace, but who have retained many cultural traditions from their Christian past.

I celebrate Christmas for example, but it's entirely secular for me as an atheist. Though I'd not personally describe myself as a cultural Christian, others might.

Yes practical atheism is certainly not the right expression. Cultural Christianity is closer no doubt and I suppose it might be more widespread than I realise.

 

[Muffled]

Every Muslim I know believes in God / Allah. Whether it be through social media or Dawah, they honestly believe the Universe was created by someone. Maybe 3 Muslims I know drink alcohol and don't fast on Ramadan, and 1 eats pork, but they never renounced Islam despite flaunting the rules.
I also like how they pay Zakat

I don't know many Sikhs but I'm not too sure if the ones I know are theist. Most likely they're theist because they go to Gurdwara. Sikhs are big on seva too but not all of them do that.So maybe I respect Sikhs and Muslims about the same things.

Quite a lot of Christians I know are atheist so I shouldn't really call them Christians. A large percentage of Israelis are atheist (I don't think I know any Jews personally) and Hinduism/Buddhism are open to atheism.

Only Muslims and Sikhs (that I know) truly believe in God.

I believe you are correct that Sikhs believe in God and call him Sat which means truth.

True Christians believe in God. Hindus believe in a god but maybe the concept of Him is too vague to correctly identify Him. Buddhist are not required to believe in God but some do anyway.

 

[Muffled]

Well, yeah. If they didn't believe in god then they couldn't be Muslim or Sikh.

I believe that is the no true Scotsman fallacy. I suppose that depends on how one defines adherents.