I have always agreed with being kind to people and donating money to the poor. When I learned about islam, I realized how islam makes it mandatory for a believer to pay donation and after all sorts of other research, I felt this is true and if islam is true then I am supposed to be worshipping Allah because thats the first principle in islam. If I decide to just be kind to people and donate money, then who am I doing it for? I realize that its moral and everything, but I feel that there needs to be a set standard for every single individual to donate a certain amount of money and islam takes care of this.
Well I agree that without someone teaching you some structure, you can easily get lost. Thankfully, we have schools, programs... secular charities organise things like charity events for schools to take part in, and that teaches children of opportunities to give back. For the rest of us, religion filled in that gap and told us what to donate and to who. Now with Islam, the charity focuses on on Muslim. (I'm sure other religions focus on their people as well), but then doesn't that tell you that a secular charity that doesn't discriminate based on religion is far more superior to a religious charity? You just need to know where to look. There are people who volunteer weekly in soup kitchens, so what makes you more superior to them? Sure, sending an annual % of money overseas is great, but there are people around you that need it right now if you look. Muslim organisations are now copying this approach and opening their own food banks for local Muslims (again, the religious exclusivity applies).
Regarding who you are doing it for...well if you need someone to watch over you and make sure you are giving chairty then that (IMO) does not display mature character. I mean would you commit a crime if a policeman couldn't see? Would you lie if no one knows? The authoritarian approach is doomed to fail because it produces zombies who cannot think for themselves, and wag their tails for rewards. No good-doing just for the sake of helping. Well that really sucks....
As for my parents, I can always pray that Allah guides them to islam and also, once I feel firm about my belief, I will go on to tell them about islam too
Well that is a hopeful quote, and maybe, they will convert for you, and you'll all live happily ever after. If not, good luck with your concious knowing that you accept a system that will torture those who don't believe in the magical sky god.
In my opinion, it makes sense to have a really high set of punishment for setting up partners. If your setting partners, your basically violating the first and foremost rule of islam. If you cannot follow the first rule, then how are you even going to follow everything else? by associating partners, your violating the fact that u have to submit, and if ur not submitting then ur basically not following anything that God is telling you to do. Also, keep in mind, rape and killing also have a set punishment in Islam, they are not forgiven until you are punished for them in this world.
How can you equate faith/non faith to actual crimes that can hurt others? Rape actually hurts people. Not believing in god doesn't! Who cares what god says. I mean I'm sorry that you are sheltered, you sound like you live in a box... Do you feel the need to do good, or be accepted? If you genuinely want to help others then do it. What does that have to do with other personal decisions you make that are for you only and don't affect anyone else.
Btw it sounds like you're saying it's either Islam, or the highway, as if there is no good in the world besides Islam. It is sad that you have not looked around lately at all the non Muslims doing amazing things to better our world for everyone including yourself. For your safety, health, happiness, convenience...to shun all of this and think that the only way to salvation is through saying la ilaha ila allah is depressing.
As for your fourth point, as far as being burned for eternity is concerned, if that rule was not made then no-one would fear God and no-one would follow religion. Like imagine the punishment was that you will be burned for certain amount of years, then people would just decide to do whatever they want and accept the fact that they'll be punished for a certain amount of time and then they will be forgiven. That wouldn't bring too many to submission. The fear of burning in eternity causes MOST people, including me, to come towards islam and submit to God.
Do you only do things when forced into submission? Do you know of any stories of dissent? Well ironically, Islam's first martyrs dissented against the status quo of the time. But is dissent only one way? That's a bit hypocritical don't you think. Or does the magical sky god overrule all fairness?
Maybe you should check out the holy book of Prophet Khalil Gibran about crime and puinshment.
What judgment pronounce you upon him who though honest in the flesh yet is a thief in spirit?
What penalty lay you upon him who slays in the flesh yet is himself slain in the spirit?
And how prosecute you him who in action is a deceiver and an oppressor,
Yet who also is aggrieved and outraged?
And how shall you punish those whose remorse is already greater than their misdeeds?
Is not remorse the justice which is administered by that very law which you would fain serve?
Yet you cannot lay remorse upon the innocent nor lift it from the heart of the guilty.
As you can see, Khalil Gibran has thought it out better than Allah. According to Allah, the heart correlates with action, but we know that is not the case, every time a religious person commits a heinous crime. But you already know that as your ideas on forced charity show.
You don't believe that humans can be taught goodness through kindness and love, therefore need to be humiliated and forced and threatened to stay in line.
Well I don't know if he's a troll, but he sounds pretty firm on the Islamic faith, and one would hope he realises that one day, he will dissent, and he will either be a hypocrite and make an excuse to exempt himself from the rules (as our Muslim friends love doing) or he will have empathy and stand up for his fellow man.
Topic: Hi -- sort of confused