Islam is just a religion like any other religion

[eusuphxai]

When you are willing to do the lengthy explanation I will ask my other question. Because when you say something about religion you represent your "version" of it.

Secondly you said religion is for people to teach morality. Where do people, who don't believe in religion, learn morality from?

[MeemWawMeemNoon]

Do I have to follow every single religion in order to accept all as deserving of equal respect, tolerance, appreciation, and value? I don't think so. I'm a Muslim, but that doesn't mean my religious values are better than all non-Muslims' religious values.

It's possible that I find the concept of monotheism of Islam more reasonable, or that I prefer some other aspects or teachings of Islam to those of other religions. But that STILL doesn't make Islam better than other religions to me. It remains of equal importance and respect as all other religions.

You have just shot down everything you have said in this thread.

You find the concept of monotheism more reasonable? You have just explicitly hinted that there is one religion that is right. Therefore, the reason why you don't want to be a Hindu is because of the concept of God and vice versa for a Hindu.

Leave religion teachings aside, let us stick only to the concept of God.

[Roshina]

Therefore, Islam and Hinduism might have commonalities in that they both have moral teachings, however, based on the sole way to find God is to know His Oneness, this alone stands in the way of Hinduism to ever be "equal" to Islam.

So that means you believe that the concept of monotheism is worth more, or is better, than the Hindu concept of God, or of polytheism. See, THIS, I don't agree with. We have different beliefs about God, and for someone to believe that MY beliefs are better than everyone else's is narrow-minded and, in my opinion, intolerant and unacceptable.

Just because we don't understand the beliefs of other people, or just because we don't follow them, or just because we follow our own does not make OUR beliefs better than theirs.

Then you believe that they're of unequal value just because they teach different things and the ones you follow are "better." I coudln't live with that, and it's not something I believe.

[Roshina]

You find the concept of monotheism more reasonable? You have explicitly hinted that there is one religion that is right.

Leave religion teachings aside, let us stick only to the concept of God.

This discussion has absolutely NOTHING to do with God.

It's all about the equal value of ALL religions despite their differences.

Like I said, I need someone to prove me wrong that all religions are NOT of equal value. Someone prove to me how Islam's value is more than another religion's -- and I need the opinion of an unbiased mind, NOT of someone who goes, "I'm a Muslim, so Islam is better than all other religions. And here's why: God doesn't approve of polytheism."

[MeemWawMeemNoon]

So that means you believe that the concept of monotheism is worth more, or is better, than the Hindu concept of God, or of polytheism. See, THIS, I don't agree with. We have different beliefs about God, and for someone to believe that MY beliefs are better than everyone else's is narrow-minded and, in my opinion, intolerant and unacceptable.

Just because we don't understand the beliefs of other people, or just because we don't follow them, or just because we follow our own does not make OUR beliefs better than theirs.

Then you believe that they're of unequal value just because they teach different things and the ones you follow are "better." I coudln't live with that, and it's not something I believe.

What you fail to realize is that you keep contradicting yourself.

Let us take your argument that I don't Hinduism and you understand Hinduism.

By the fact that you are a Muslim proves that Hinduism cannot be right.

Do you see the flaw in your logic when you are arguing that all religions are "equal."

[Roshina]

You have just shot down everything you have said in this thread.

You find the concept of monotheism more reasonable? You have just explicitly hinted that there is one religion that is right. Therefore, the reason why you don't want to be a Hindu is because of the concept of God and vice versa for a Hindu.

You should read my post carefully. While I may be a Muslim and find certain concepts of Islam more reasonable than other religions', you should not assume that I find it "right" just because I find it more reasonable than others. If *I* find it more reasonable, it means others must find their OWN religions or religious values more reasonable, too. Would that make THEIR religions correct and mine false? No. It'd just mean they don't find mine reasonable enough to accept them, just as I don't find theirs reasonable enough to accept them.

I'd said (note the boldened words):

It's possible that I find the concept of monotheism of Islam more reasonable, or that I prefer some other aspects or teachings of Islam to those of other religions. But that STILL doesn't make Islam better than other religions to me. It remains of equal importance and respect as all other religions.

[Musafira]

If one did not believe in the superiority of his or her religion then why would they continue to adhere to it and not leave it for another? What would motivate someone to spread his or her religion and convert others if they did not believe in the superiority of it?

Doesn't almost every Muslim, Christian, Jew etc think that what they are following is the RIGHT path?

Isn't believing in that correctness part of what makes you an adherent to that particular faith?

By keeping in mind that almost every faith is taught to believe they are the only ones correct I have learned to respect other faiths even though I may not agree with them I can respect something but still disagree with it.


It might be incorrect/wrong for any of us to think our particular, race, religion, culture, language or whatever is superior but it isn't that very belief in superiority what keeps that thing alive and somewhat pure ?

[MeemWawMeemNoon]

This discussion has absolutely NOTHING to do with God.

It's all about the equal value of ALL religions despite their differences.

Like I said, I need someone to prove me wrong that all religions are NOT of equal value. Someone prove to me how Islam's value is more than another religion's -- and I need the opinion of an unbiased mind, NOT of someone who goes, "I'm a Muslim, so Islam is better than all other religions. And here's why: God doesn't approve of polytheism."

Qrratagai khore, please leave accusations aside. I am not a Muslim because I was born a Muslim.

What is the purpose of religion? I don't think you have grasped this. If you had you would not be going around and saying that ALL religions are equal.

And, by you stating that it is NOT about the concept of God then you are in deep waters.

I don't think you understand religion. I just think you have a good heart and you want everyone to be happy. Sorry, life does not work like that. I am pretty sure that not everyone can get a Ph.D. just because they whine and cry.

[Roshina]

What you fail to realize is that you keep contradicting yourself.

Let us take your argument that I don't Hinduism and you understand Hinduism.

By the fact that you are a Muslim proves that Hinduism cannot be right.

Do you see the flaw in your logic when you are arguing that all religions are "equal."

LOL :P MWMN wrora, please answer this question of mine:

Does a religion's being right (a belief every person of any religion holds about her/his own religion) make it of more importance than other religions? Does a religion become superior to all others just because its followers believe it's right?

If your answer is yes, then THIS is where we disagree. And nothing can be done about this, since it can't be proven by any means.

My accepting Islam as a religion for myself does not make other religions any less important than or less equal to Islam. They don't have the same teachings, but they don't have to have the same teachings in order to be respected equally or hold equal value.

[MeemWawMeemNoon]

If one did not believe in the superiority of his or her religion then why would they continue to adhere to it and not leave it for another? What would motivate someone to spread his or her religion and convert others if they did not believe in the superiority of it?

Doesn't almost every Muslim, Christian, Jew etc think that what they are following is the RIGHT path?

Isn't believing in that correctness part of what makes you an adherent to that particular faith?

By keeping in mind that almost every faith is taught to believe they are the only ones correct I have learned to respect other faiths even though I may not agree with them I can respect something but still disagree with it.

This post hit the nail on the head.

It is impossible that you be part of two religions at the same time.

Now, the job is to deal with why Islam claims to have completed religion.

[Roshina]

If one did not believe in the superiority of his or her religion then why would they continue to adhere to it and not leave it for another? What would motivate someone to spread his or her religion and convert others if they did not believe in the superiority of it?

Doesn't almost every Muslim, Christian, Jew etc think that what they are following is the RIGHT path?

Isn't believing in that correctness part of what makes you an adherent to that particular faith?

By keeping in mind that almost every faith is taught to believe they are the only ones correct I have learned to respect other faiths even though I may not agree with them I can respect something but still disagree with it.

Correct. ALL people believe their own religions are superior to all others. Muslims are no exception.

But that's a belief, not a fact. Just because a Christian believes his religion is superior to all others doesn't make Christianity INDEED a superior religion. On the same token, just because a Muslim believes his religion is superior to all others doesn't make Islam INDEED a superior religion.

But my argument isn't that something is more correct than something else.

My argument is instead that just because we believe it's correct doesn't give it any MORE value or respect or appreciation than all other religions.

[MeemWawMeemNoon]

LOL :P MWMN wrora, please answer this question of mine:

Does a religion's being right (a belief every person of any religion holds about her/his own religion) make it of more importance than other religions? Does a religion become superior to all others just because its followers believe it's right?

If your answer is yes, then THIS is where we disagree. And nothing can be done about this, since it can't be proven by any means.

My accepting Islam as a religion for myself does not make other religions any less important than or less equal to Islam. They don't have the same teachings, but they don't have to have the same teachings in order to be respected equally or hold equal value.

Forget about the people, the Quran itself says it. Sister, please don't take me for an idiot.

Qrratagai, what concept of Hinduism do you follow in your daily life? What concept of Christianity do you follow in your daily life. Please answer this honestly.

[MeemWawMeemNoon]

My argument is instead that just because we believe it's correct doesn't give it any MORE value or respect or appreciation than all other religions.

It is very very very clear you have not studied religions. Sorry to say. The people don't claim superiority the books do.

Sister, I think you are a nice person but you are totally misguided.

[Saifullah]

If you are muslim, u follow the Quran. So just read it and you find many ayats which go against wat u are proclaiming

[Roshina]

Qrratagai khore, please leave accusations aside. I am not a Muslim because I was born a Muslim.

I've never said that you are a Muslim because you were born Muslim. I said, instead, that most people follow the religion they were born into, and others grow to learn about a certain religion (or religions) to accept or reject them. You may fall into the latter category of people -- those who accept or reject a certain belief system after studying it.

Nonetheless, that doesn't take away the fact that all religions hold equal importance and deserve equal respect and tolerance. You can be a Muslim and reject Hinduism and all other non-Islamic religions while STILL believing that all other religions have the same right to exist that Islam does.

This is pretty much the most simple way I can put it in. If you STILL don't grasp this, then ... well, maybe you'll understand it with time.