I am an ex-Muslim and I always wondered why so many people from prosperous nations with decent public education choose to convert to Islam, and after some thinking and observation I think I know why. (TL;DR below)
My theory is that compared to Western or other prosperous nations where capitalistic individualism has taken hold, the sense of community and looking after the individual members of the group/community is a lot stronger in nations that are majority Muslim. When, say, an Austrian or Japanese who particularly feels lonely due to their particular conditions (whatever they may be) come across a Muslim community (in the form of a nearby mosque, or simply a group of friends who are practicing Muslims), what strikes them the most is the sense of unity that the Muslim group displays.
As their bonds are strengthen with this group and as they are slowly accepted by the group as a friend, they wrongly attribute the sense of calm and security that comes with being part of a bigger group to the religion of that group. As the desire to convert non-Muslim people to Islam is strong among Muslims, they eventually ask the friend if she/he would want to consider converting to Islam. As the person misidentifies the source of their new-found security, they become inclined to convert, in most cases enthusiastically.
So if you are at a stage of your life where you feel particularly empty and you happen to come across a group of practicing Muslims who you befriend, you are very likely to be converted simply because they’ll make you feel as though you are part of something bigger than your mere individual self (assuming you do not have a particular prejudice against Muslims).
TL; DR: Many westerners convert to Islam because they interpret the sense of security that comes with being part of a tight group as though it is the inner peace that results due to the righteousness of Islam.
Is this a joke??15 months?? I’ve watched many documentaries about Westerners who joined ISIS and after they lost they have the audacity to want to return to their countries. And in some cases without any consequences or they just take a slap on the wrist. Personally, I wouldn’t feel comfortable living next to a person like that.
Wow
Less than 2 years punishment for someone who engaged in genocide & terrorism
They should lose their citizenship as an enemy combatant and be deported
Need to stop allying with Saudi which openly propagates extremism. Need to stop funding extremist proxies to battle in the Middle East. The equivalent is China funding right wingers with hundreds of billions to fight in civil wars in other countries for decades. Do it long enough and today’s enemy becomes tomorrow’s ally. ‘Al-Qaeda is our side”: https://mronline.org/2022/04/23/al-qaeda-is-on-our-side
7 comments
15 months?Really ?…
I am an ex-Muslim and I always wondered why so many people from prosperous nations with decent public education choose to convert to Islam, and after some thinking and observation I think I know why. (TL;DR below)
My theory is that compared to Western or other prosperous nations where capitalistic individualism has taken hold, the sense of community and looking after the individual members of the group/community is a lot stronger in nations that are majority Muslim. When, say, an Austrian or Japanese who particularly feels lonely due to their particular conditions (whatever they may be) come across a Muslim community (in the form of a nearby mosque, or simply a group of friends who are practicing Muslims), what strikes them the most is the sense of unity that the Muslim group displays.
As their bonds are strengthen with this group and as they are slowly accepted by the group as a friend, they wrongly attribute the sense of calm and security that comes with being part of a bigger group to the religion of that group. As the desire to convert non-Muslim people to Islam is strong among Muslims, they eventually ask the friend if she/he would want to consider converting to Islam. As the person misidentifies the source of their new-found security, they become inclined to convert, in most cases enthusiastically.
So if you are at a stage of your life where you feel particularly empty and you happen to come across a group of practicing Muslims who you befriend, you are very likely to be converted simply because they’ll make you feel as though you are part of something bigger than your mere individual self (assuming you do not have a particular prejudice against Muslims).
TL; DR: Many westerners convert to Islam because they interpret the sense of security that comes with being part of a tight group as though it is the inner peace that results due to the righteousness of Islam.
Is this a joke??15 months?? I’ve watched many documentaries about Westerners who joined ISIS and after they lost they have the audacity to want to return to their countries. And in some cases without any consequences or they just take a slap on the wrist. Personally, I wouldn’t feel comfortable living next to a person like that.
Wow
Less than 2 years punishment for someone who engaged in genocide & terrorism
The fuck….
Pretty much every other day in /r/ireland there are complaints about light sentences. We’ve needed more prison space for years but can’t get it moving anywhere due to local NIMBY pushback and politicians unwilling to make hard choices.
[Here’s one from last week](https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2022/07/11/brothers-jailed-over-attempt-to-butcher-garda-in-dublin-8/)
They should lose their citizenship as an enemy combatant and be deported
Need to stop allying with Saudi which openly propagates extremism. Need to stop funding extremist proxies to battle in the Middle East. The equivalent is China funding right wingers with hundreds of billions to fight in civil wars in other countries for decades. Do it long enough and today’s enemy becomes tomorrow’s ally. ‘Al-Qaeda is our side”: https://mronline.org/2022/04/23/al-qaeda-is-on-our-side