What is the appeal of Islam? Particularly for those not born into it?

[LuisDantas]

I have been wondering about that for a while. Help me there, what does attract in Islam?


Appreciation of social order and clear, unambiguous goals and virtues?

Social commitment to higher purposes?

Clear and definite monotheism with several authoritative answers?

The aesthetical and theological merits of the Quran?

The connection to Arabic culture?

Far as you can figure it, what are the draws towards Islam?

 

[StarryNightshade]

In my experience, many people who converted to Islam like how it defines itself as strict monotheism; especially those who convert from Christianity. No incarnations. No "son of God". God is God, end of story.

Likewise, many claim that the Qur'an upheld accurate scientific claims long before science as we know it came around, and that it promotes values fit for a healthy society.

Then again, I'm the guy who adopted Hinduism, so maybe my opinion on the matter doesn't mean much.

 

[Renji]

Likewise, many claim that the Qur'an upheld accurate scientific claims long before science as we know it came around, and that it promotes values fit for a healthy society.

I've read some stuff like those. Not convinced anyway.

Going back to the topic, I kinda find Islam fascinating at some point, knowing the similarity of some accounts in the quran to some of gnostic gospels from 2nd to 4th century AD, christian legends and the difference compared to the christian scriptures. In other words, it makes some appeal to me in terms of literature.

 

[Gnostic Seeker]

I find Islam appealing only in a totally exotic kind of way. Its a culture other than my own. It has its own architecture, its own language, its own fashion, etc. I don't agree with most of its dogmas, but like other religions, I do find the beliefs fascinating in a hobby kind of way- like one might get fascinated about old coins or stamps.

 

[Sabour]

I have been wondering about that for a while. Help me there, what does attract in Islam?


Appreciation of social order and clear, unambiguous goals and virtues?

Social commitment to higher purposes?

Clear and definite monotheism with several authoritative answers?

The aesthetical and theological merits of the Quran?

The connection to Arabic culture?

Far as you can figure it, what are the draws towards Islam?

You will get different answers for that question. You will probably get different answers as much as you ask.

Here is one reason for example.

 

[LuisDantas]

Other possibilities that I failed to mention in the OP:

- Admiration for the Prophet Muhammad and/or his example and values.

- Appreciation of the presentation of all people as equally worthy and respectable (which under certain circunstances can be perceived, fairly or otherwise, as a big advantage over competing faiths such as Hinduism)

 

[Woodrow LI]

My path in life brought me to Islam. I did not seek Islam, the road of life led me home to Islam

It took 65 years to travel down the road, but eventually it took me home, where I belong and now know I was born into.

My road went as such

Birth to Roman Catholic to Protestantism to Fundamentalist to Atheist to a deep personal experience to Islam

Each step of that long road was necessary and because I walked each step I came to my destination.

 

[DawudTalut]

I have been wondering about that for a while. Help me there, what does attract in Islam?


Appreciation of social order and clear, unambiguous goals and virtues?

Social commitment to higher purposes?

Clear and definite monotheism with several authoritative answers?

The aesthetical and theological merits of the Quran?

The connection to Arabic culture?

Far as you can figure it, what are the draws towards Islam?

Understanding of Alive God Who guides to comprehensive success.
More @ Islam

 

[illykitty]

Speaking from personal experience, regardless of if you agree or not with it, it has answers, for pretty much everything.

There's right conduct for almost any situation you can think of, don't know if you see this as good or bad but some people like that.

For its time, it had some quite forward ideas (like women owning property, having her own money that she decides how to spend, etc). Can't be said of western civilisation until 1800's.

 

[seeking4truth]

I accepted Islam because it seemed to me, and has continued to do so for more than 40 years, to be the true explanation of our existence.
Accepting it a the truth I found that practicing it gave me an even clearer insight into the relationship between God and creation.

 

[Ultimatum]

Speaking from personal experience, regardless of if you agree or not with it, it has answers, for pretty much everything.

Can't argue with personal experience!

There's right conduct for almost any situation you can think of, don't know if you see this as good or bad but some people like that.

Right conduct? Right? I'm sorry, but I disagree with this.
So when you meet "disbelievers", terrorizing them is a good idea? Is this right conduct? (Qur'an:2:193, Quran 8:12, Quran 2:191)
Looking down on handicapped people is right conduct? (16:75-76)
Refusing to make friends with "disbelievers" is right conduct? (4:144)

For its time, it had some quite forward ideas (like women owning property, having her own money that she decides how to spend, etc). Can't be said of western civilisation until 1800's.

Requiring women to cover themselves is forward? The fact that women are regarded as less than men is forward? A raped woman being shunned is forward? Beating women is forward?

 

[Sees]

Many European women pre-Christianization could have control over property and money. Romans actually didn't like this about the "barbarians"....for Germanic culture specifically even if a man technically owned property, if he had a lady she was the boss of home and finances.

Speaking from personal experience, regardless of if you agree or not with it, it has answers, for pretty much everything.

There's right conduct for almost any situation you can think of, don't know if you see this as good or bad but some people like that.

For its time, it had some quite forward ideas (like women owning property, having her own money that she decides how to spend, etc). Can't be said of western civilisation until 1800's.

 

[illykitty]

Many European women pre-Christianization could have control over property and money. Romans actually didn't like this about the "barbarians"....for Germanic culture specifically even if a man technically owned property, if he had a lady she was the boss of home and finances.

Ok thanks, I admit I don't know that much about pre-Christian Europe but during the time period Islam came about all of the above flew out of the window because Christianity came around and replaced those old beliefs.

In the meantime, Islam, although it too is Abrahamic and patriarchal, did give women those rights that were taken away and took centuries to get back... Some people converting to Islam like that it did that.

I don't agree with Islam anymore but it's a perspective that some converts have.

 

[nazz]

I have been wondering about that for a while. Help me there, what does attract in Islam?


Appreciation of social order and clear, unambiguous goals and virtues?

Social commitment to higher purposes?

Clear and definite monotheism with several authoritative answers?

The aesthetical and theological merits of the Quran?

The connection to Arabic culture?

Far as you can figure it, what are the draws towards Islam?

I can only answer for myself. Part of the draw was that I got involved with Sufism and wanted to explore its roots. When I read the Qur'an the "voice" I heard sounded like the same one I heard when reading the Bible. And the way things were explained made a lot of sense to me. But eventually I decided there was too much in Islam that contradicted my beliefs and spiritual orientation.