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Theme Changer

 Topic: Why young men are attracted to Islam

 (Read 29023 times)
  • Previous page 1 2« Previous thread | Next thread »
  • Re: Why young men are attracted to Islam
     Reply #30 - October 20, 2011, 02:24 AM

    As a teenager I took Ti Kwon Du lessons. Some of us would play car assault. Hmmmm... just for fun.


    Sorry, I just couldn't resist.



    "Live a good life. If there are god(s) and they are just, you will be rewarded based on virtue. If they're unjust, then you shouldn't want to worship them. If there are no gods, you will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of others."

    -Re-interpretation of Marcus Aurelius
  • Re: Why young men are attracted to Islam
     Reply #31 - October 20, 2011, 03:37 AM

     Cheesy

    Got some anger issues there you wanna let us know about, Ryu?

    how fuck works without shit??


    Let's Play Chess!

    harakaat, friend, RIP
  • Re: Why young men are attracted to Islam
     Reply #32 - October 20, 2011, 05:52 AM

    It worked the other way around for me. Yes, at first, I started glorifying Hamas and Hezbollah and al-Qaeda, but then I realized how much better the Israelis and Americans are at, as one poster here put it, "dominating, destroying and conquering". So I switched my allegiances and started dreaming of being a katsa or a kidon Tongue Daniel Silva and Andy McNab's books helped.

    قل للمليحة في الخمار الأسود
    مـاذا فـعــلت بــناسـك مـتـعـبد

    قـد كـان شـمّر لــلـصلاة ثـيابه
    حتى خـطرت له بباب المسجد

    ردي عليـه صـلاتـه وصيـامــه
    لا تـقــتـلــيه بـحـق ديــن محمد
  • Re: Why young men are attracted to Islam
     Reply #33 - October 20, 2011, 08:41 AM

    I think that it has something to do with psychological development fuelled by religion. When we are young, we intend to think in dualistic terms, good versus bad. We also intend to seek comfort and support form others and a purpose in life.
    Add to that a religion in which everybody close to you believes in, which promotes heaven, warns for hell and has an unquestionable authority. Religion seems to offer all the answers to our questions and needs. All other ways of explanation of our world are labelled wrong or better being caused by the devil himself.
    So any ideology which offers a goal, a system  of beliefs and satisfaction for our psychological needs has a good chance of finding enough supporters, no matter what the insanity level is. example from other religion : Jim Jones and his followers

    Islam does it's job well. Many activities are in group which not only lead to strong feelings of belonging together and enough support to handle the daily struggles, but also to enormous social control. In return it only demands to sacrifice several liberties (and occasionally some body parts) through guilt and fear. Among them the most important one of them all: freedom of thought.
    The evidence of the disadvantages can how ever be found in the psychological health of the followers. Islamic answers aren't generally deeply meaningfully about how to deal with the inner self, emotions and feelings. You have to suppress them for the sake of Allah ! To point this out, a not daily example:
    I remember a discussion I had once with a (liberal) mother who has lost her son years ago. I tried to convince her that he was now in a better place. (I was young and religious, what did I know). She said that she only wanted to see him around in the house. To talk to him, to be there for him.
    I think the damage is there, but the person has to allow him or herself to feel it, and not hide it behind the farces of religion. In many cases people have to choose between own grief and the happinesses ( being in Heaven) of the deceased. On the other hand they have to choose between them self and the will of God. How can they be selfish ? So they suffer. . . but it wasn't our choice to be created, never mind the question of why the person had to die in the first place.

    An interesting article about burring emotions : google > Why Talk Therapies Cannot Heal
    Talk therapies do as much as religion. Don't focus on the pain and don't let it out !
    ( For the record: I found it a interesting article because it supports my personal view which is based on philosophical/psychological books and idea's. I don't know much about the centre self, nor do I want to. I am not promoting anything. )

    The problems with religious belief start when you start to realise the complexity of life and the insufficiency of religious answers  Old geezer



    This post expresses my own opinion, I could be wrong.
  • Re: Why young men are attracted to Islam
     Reply #34 - October 20, 2011, 03:27 PM

    Sorry, I just couldn't resist.




    I couldn't see the picture you posted, I don't have wifi at my house to rural. So I'm on my cell phone that doesn't alway let me see pictures. I can take my lap top into town and get wifi but alot of time I don't look at terrorist pirtures. To close to home. My Sister's niece was killed by homicide bomber at the Hebrew University. I saw on TV, without knowing it was her until after, her burned body being carried out. I cried many tears that day but my heart pained in ways untold at that one scene. Now when I see pictures of war and senseless violence the emotion is far to great.

    The point of my post however was something different.  I guess I was unclear.

    I live in the US now. When I was young I lived in Indonesia, went to an Islamic school, took Ti Kwon Du lesson, played car assault and wild games of team hide and seek. It never entered my mind to become a terrorist or a violent person.

    In fact now I'm very religious (not Muslim never was) and a conscientious objector and have been for a long time.

    However A LOT of people who know my bcckground ask if I was ever influenced to be a terrorist.

    If at first you succeed...try something harder.

    Failing isn't falling down. Failing is not getting back up again.
  • Re: Why young men are attracted to Islam
     Reply #35 - October 24, 2011, 06:12 PM

    I’ve been pro–Palestine for many years now, and I was never about militancy.
  • Re: Why young men are attracted to Islam
     Reply #36 - October 24, 2011, 06:28 PM

    LIAR!

    Prove your point by sending me quality porn.

    قل للمليحة في الخمار الأسود
    مـاذا فـعــلت بــناسـك مـتـعـبد

    قـد كـان شـمّر لــلـصلاة ثـيابه
    حتى خـطرت له بباب المسجد

    ردي عليـه صـلاتـه وصيـامــه
    لا تـقــتـلــيه بـحـق ديــن محمد
  • Re: Why young men are attracted to Islam
     Reply #37 - October 24, 2011, 06:33 PM

    My pr0n is not your pr0n.
  • Re: Why young men are attracted to Islam
     Reply #38 - October 24, 2011, 06:35 PM

    All your pr0n are belong to us.

    قل للمليحة في الخمار الأسود
    مـاذا فـعــلت بــناسـك مـتـعـبد

    قـد كـان شـمّر لــلـصلاة ثـيابه
    حتى خـطرت له بباب المسجد

    ردي عليـه صـلاتـه وصيـامــه
    لا تـقــتـلــيه بـحـق ديــن محمد
  • Re: Why young men are attracted to Islam
     Reply #39 - October 24, 2011, 06:57 PM

    Be careful what you wish for.

    Meanwhile, a little meme history:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWJSRvWy86E
  • Re: Why young men are attracted to Islam
     Reply #40 - October 25, 2011, 12:18 AM

    Mankilling war is horrid indeed.

    As Archilochus said: Leave him to it, for Ares is really the same for all men!

    I can create great rage in myself through meditation, but it was an accidental discovery that I do not like to repeat.

    Interested in Buddhism? Check out http://www.accesstoinsight.org/!
    Consider Nalanda University, and never let it happen again.
  • Re: Why young men are attracted to Islam
     Reply #41 - October 25, 2011, 02:43 AM

    I have to admit I did plan to become a Mujahid - never any actual planning I might add, just thoughts, if any MI5 agents are listening whistling2

    I thought I was alone in this, but apparently it's pretty common.
  • Re: Why young men are attracted to Islam
     Reply #42 - April 25, 2012, 03:43 PM

    I think a big part of it is the lack of other belief systems.

    I dare say, I hate going to the UK.  I'm from Canada, but have a lot of family in the UK.  The British have all but given up on the idea of being British.  They don't teach kids how to be 'British' (dress, purpose, etiquette...).  The result is kids seeking an identity... a purpose.

    In comes Islam.  Simple set of rules.  Clear purpose.  I can see how it is very attractive.

    It is really a failure of the Western world and 'non-religious' people in their home countries to develop alternate system of belonging.  In such a vacuum, Militant Islam is very attractive.


  • Re: Why young men are attracted to Islam
     Reply #43 - April 26, 2012, 03:44 PM

    Well I as a non-Muslim was always attracted to Islam because of it's ideology of "holy war". Anyone who has ever watched a Chechen war compilation or one of those liveleak videos knows the thrill you get out of it. There's nothing like watching an RPG being shot and then a long bearded warrior yelling "ALLAHU AKBAR!" proudly like a fierce lion. The concept of dieing for something, touches a young mans heart so deeply. Hitler was a master of propaganda, that's why he used so much symbolism and ideologies of dieing for "race" (instead of Allah like the Muslims), because the simple truth is, there is no better thing in life than fighting alongside your brothers to defend your motherland or just for a damn purpose, now imagine throwing in RELIGION and a concept of God that will take you to heaven with it, can you imagine how fucking EUPHORIC it must be, can you imagine what it must feel like to be a Muslim crusader? Goddamn... the fucking thrill must be insane.

    Now I of course have no want to be a Muslim or ever become a Muslim, but I'd like to point out how amazing it would be, if someone exploited that young testosterone fueled want to destroy into something positive, into something that truly benefits humanity. Something nice to think about...


    WOW, DO YOU KNOW ME OR SOMETHING Huh???

  • Re: Why young men are attracted to Islam
     Reply #44 - April 26, 2012, 03:51 PM

    I think a big part of it is the lack of other belief systems.

    I dare say, I hate going to the UK.  I'm from Canada, but have a lot of family in the UK.  The British have all but given up on the idea of being British.  They don't teach kids how to be 'British' (dress, purpose, etiquette...).  The result is kids seeking an identity... a purpose.

    In comes Islam.  Simple set of rules.  Clear purpose.  I can see how it is very attractive.

    It is really a failure of the Western world and 'non-religious' people in their home countries to develop alternate system of belonging.  In such a vacuum, Militant Islam is very attractive.





    It certainly appeals to some people by presenting itself in that way, and presenting secular liberal society in that way propaganda wise, but it is riven with so many contradictions and falsehoods and repressions that it is always in a state of tension with itself and the surrounding culture.

    More liberalism, more freedom, more privileging of the individal free conscience over the collective - Islam as this political identity ideology cannot compete ultimately with this when it asserts itself in a secular liberal democracy.

    However, on one proviso - the blasphemy taboos and 'sharia' precepts are not accepted by society. In other words, liberal secular democracy has to assert itself, live up to itself, and not defer to Islamist / Islamic identity politics.






    "we can smell traitors and country haters"


    God is Love.
    Love is Blind. Stevie Wonder is blind. Therefore, Stevie Wonder is God.

  • Re: Why young men are attracted to Islam
     Reply #45 - May 17, 2012, 05:50 AM

    Well I think 9/11 brought a lot of attention towards Islam. Be it good or bad. I think many Muslims were saw as victims of radicals(which I agree). So perhaps lots of youth went in search of the truth and got attracted towards Islam. This is of course the past 10 or so years I don't have a clue for past generations.
  • Re: Why young men are attracted to Islam
     Reply #46 - May 17, 2012, 09:04 AM

    Pity there is no one now alive who experienced WW1 trench warfare.  Most of your body safely in a trench, bit sticking out is the head...

    When you are a Bear of Very Little Brain, and you Think of Things, you find sometimes that a Thing which seemed very Thingish inside you is quite different when it gets out into the open and has other people looking at it.


    A.A. Milne,

    "We cannot slaughter each other out of the human impasse"
  • Re: Why young men are attracted to Islam
     Reply #47 - May 17, 2012, 09:49 AM


    No news is bad news for the dawah merchants!

    This is going to be a key fault line in the future - the more truth claims are made, the more Islam invites scrutiny & examination, the more its contradictions and attitudes come to light.

    "we can smell traitors and country haters"


    God is Love.
    Love is Blind. Stevie Wonder is blind. Therefore, Stevie Wonder is God.

  • Re: Why young men are attracted to Islam
     Reply #48 - May 17, 2012, 11:07 AM

    I believe that I was partly attracted to Islam due to the 'surrogate parent' conception of God, and the 'surrogate parent' relationship dynamic of religious institutions.

    I didn't realize how much my desire for a surrogate parent had influenced my decision until I watched the video by theramintrees called; religion - the bad parent.

    Also I was attracted to the sense of a purpose, practices for personal growth, and the sense of community that it gave me.

    I like Alain De Botton's idea about taking the positive aspects of religion to create secular alternatives.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Oe6HUgrRlQ
  • Re: Why young men are attracted to Islam
     Reply #49 - May 17, 2012, 11:16 AM

    I like Alain De Botton's idea about taking the positive aspects of religion to create secular alternatives.

    Isn't that what we all already do?

    One might argue that religion takes the most positive aspects of secular life and coats them with celestial gloss.
  • Re: Why young men are attracted to Islam
     Reply #50 - May 17, 2012, 11:40 AM

    From my own personal experience I still enjoy listening to qawalis etc.
  • Re: Why young men are attracted to Islam
     Reply #51 - May 17, 2012, 11:42 AM

    I love qawalis too.

    Does this mean I'm a closet Muslim?
  • Re: Why young men are attracted to Islam
     Reply #52 - May 17, 2012, 12:05 PM

    Wow... amazing video.
    Pretty much my thoughts exactly.

    It's partially why I still stay a part of my Islamic community as a 'non-practicing' Muslim.

    I think secularists or atheists don't provide a community or a life experience... as the video says... too many holes.
    In most cases, they're actually actively against it.  I know I was for some portion of my life... but then I noticed how people in isolation don't really represent how I think society should work or how I'd like to live.

    I think it will be better for us to humanize or secularize Islam, so we still keep our communities, festivals, family, guidance, way of life...


  • Re: Why young men are attracted to Islam
     Reply #53 - May 17, 2012, 12:32 PM

    Once upon time, i flirted with the idea of being a suicide bomber just to chill at heaven,drink wine, blow some doja and pick the best looking houris to bless the king.

    "I'm standing here like an asshole holding my Charles Dickens"

    "No theory,No ready made system,no book that has ever been written to save the world. i cleave to no system.."-Bakunin
  • Re: Why young men are attracted to Islam
     Reply #54 - May 17, 2012, 04:20 PM

    How did Billy Connolly put it?

    53 virgins?  Give me two fire breathing whores...

    When you are a Bear of Very Little Brain, and you Think of Things, you find sometimes that a Thing which seemed very Thingish inside you is quite different when it gets out into the open and has other people looking at it.


    A.A. Milne,

    "We cannot slaughter each other out of the human impasse"
  • Re: Why young men are attracted to Islam
     Reply #55 - May 17, 2012, 05:00 PM

    Lol, its more like the scene in Bruce Lee's " Enter The Dragon" the one which a group of women are presented to every contestant for them to pick.

    "I'm standing here like an asshole holding my Charles Dickens"

    "No theory,No ready made system,no book that has ever been written to save the world. i cleave to no system.."-Bakunin
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