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Convert to Islam, or die.
I'm not really sure if this is better suited to the political palace or here. Mods if you think it needs to be moved feel free and sorry for any inconvenience.
At any rate, if you've been watching the news then you probably heard about the two journalists that got kidnapped somewhere over in Iraq by a group of extremists. You also may have heard of several Al-Quieda members who released a tape with an American-Saudi man who also urged americans to basically "convert or die." Anyways, thier account stated that the kidnappers held guns to the backs of thier heads, ordered them to renounce God (and what I would assume is ties to thier country as well) and basically convert to Islam on the spot or die right there. To me, an act like that almost seems ghoulishly similar to the Spanish Inquisition or the Crusades by comparison but it also brings up a good question: If you were in the same high pressure life threatening situation and someone demanded that you convert to Islam (or any other religion for that matter) or die by a bullet to the back of your head and you had no way out, would you renounce God or whatever your beliefs may be just to escape alive? Or would you stand by your convictions and what you believe in - ultimately taking the bullet and/or hoping/praying that you get out of the situation unscathed? The journalists renounced what they believed in to make it out alive, do you think they made the right decision or the wrong one? How do you see it? Most amazing jew boots
Last edited by Dubble; Sep 5, 2006 at 02:04 PM.
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No way on Earthl would I convert. I'm an athiest, or possibly agnostic, I'm not sure. I plan to stay that way unless I make the choice, and that is a bullet that I would be proud to take, knowing that I died without kowtowing.
How ya doing, buddy? |
This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it. Nothing wrong with not being strong
Nothing says we need to beat what's wrong Nothing manmade remains made long That's a debt we can't back out of |
Edit: Oh Hi Aard. Ahaha. Great minds and all that, right? I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body? |
I was speaking idiomatically. |
Personally I believe in God, but not the God that the media and televangelists created. It's really hard to say what you would do in that situation unless you've already experienced it. It's easy to say you would take a bullet now but when it comes right down to it I think most would convert. I can't even tell you what I would do. Ideally I would take a bullet for my beliefs, but who knows what would really happen?
What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now? |
I'm an atheist so I would just play along. If there's no God then it's not like I'm sinning against someone or not. I can't really "die for atheism" and then be proud about it, what.
Most amazing jew boots |
I'd convert in a second, although I'm already technically Muslim. Irrelevant though, if someone stuck a gun to my head, or hell, even threatened me with much, I'd switch to get out of a situation. My beliefs aren't worth my skin for me.
What, you don't want my bikini-clad body? |
But seriously, why is that? Jam it back in, in the dark. |
I'd renounce, sneak up at night, steal the guns of the kidnappers and shoot them.
Then I'd simply go back to church on a regular Sunday and hope that nobody puts a gun to my head. There's nowhere I can't reach. |
I don't expect many people to agree that it's worth my life to preserve my freedom, and I really hope that I never need to make that choice, but it is how I would feel compelled to act. I just don't take orders under threat of force. My life isn't worth more to me than my values. I'm not sure what impression that post gave everyone, though. I "agree to serve" various people in life, and I do so with a cheerful attitude and a good grace. The point being that it's my choice. I could choose to do otherwise, in most cases. This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.
Last edited by Soluzar; Sep 5, 2006 at 03:38 PM.
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I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body? Nothing wrong with not being strong
Nothing says we need to beat what's wrong Nothing manmade remains made long That's a debt we can't back out of |
I was speaking idiomatically.
Last edited by Soluzar; Sep 5, 2006 at 03:43 PM.
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Syklis Green |
Seeing as I am a fan of living and the capability to make decisions, I would opt for appeasing these religious extremists. I mean, they're giving me a very simple decision. Life or death? I'll take life.
If you don't have anything to believe in, you're maintaining the only thing you have. We're all dishonest at times, so why the hell not be dishonest in a situation where your life is on the line? Tell a lie, GTFO, and then resume your normal life! For me, a lie doesn't really dig away at me, unless I know that it will have a largely negative impact on others. In this case, the truth will more than likely never be found out by these jerks, so it couldn't hurt them. In addition, since I don't give a shit about said party, they deserve the additional spite that would occur on the (unlikely) discovery of truth. The journalists definitely made the right decision, and even if they had certain religious backgrounds, I don't think a choice like that would be hard. They didn't want to be martyred. Unless somehow their announcement of their faith through death was broadcasted and notable to the public, people would just see it as another "ISLAMIC EXTREMISTS KILLED MORE JOURNALISTS TODAY". Then this discussion wouldn't exist. This is an uninformed statement that has no sources, but there's a possibility that other kidnapped journalists could have went down a similar path, and accepted their brutal death, but their decision to do so would be unknown to the general public. Anyway, the questions posed have an easy answer that I would say a majority of people would follow. How ya doing, buddy? |
I could tell them any damn thing that they want to hear.
"Do you believe that Emeril LaGasse is the true lord and savior" "Yeah sure" It's one thing to "convert", it's another to actually believe. And no one knows what that is but you. FELIPE NO GI Joe is the codename for America's highly trained special mission force. Its purpose: to defend human freedom against COBRA. A ruthless terrorist organization determined to rule the world. 24 can't jump the shark. Jack Bauer ate the shark long ago. Now 24 can only jump the water, and that doesn't mean anything. - Jazzflight <Krizzzopolis> acid you are made of win. <Dissolution> And now my god damn scissors are all milky |
I'd "convert". So what if a guy asks me to believe whatever fairy tales he believes are true? All organized religions are shams in my book anyway. If whatever god that might actually exists finds that this is enough to send me to hell, then he already has plenty to choose from if he wants a justification in order to do that.
What, you don't want my bikini-clad body? |
If I remember correctly, the choices aren't that strict when coming under Islamic rule.
There is a third option, dhimmitude. This state of being gives allowance to those who refuse to convert, but with a price, their freedoms. Those under dhimmitude can live amongst Muslim society, but are treated and considered second-class citizens. Laws for dhimmis are much harsher than laws for muslims, miscegnation is out of the question, and sometimes, in the worst case, you must wear identification on your person to show to the world that you aren't a muslim. Sounds attractive, no? Jam it back in, in the dark. |
Uhmm, why am I reminded of... No, wait, saying that would instantly transform this thread into a burning trainwreck, what with Godwin's law and all that.
There's nowhere I can't reach. |
The scenario doesn't dictate for me to actually mean it. If people threatened me to change my beliefs on the spot or to die, then I'd simply lie about it. Think about it. Are they dimwitted to believe that I'll suddenly accept a new religion on spot? Using Islam as an example, the passage of becoming a Muslim wouldn't be pure, because I was forced into it. As a result, I wouldn't mean it in the first place.
So would I save my life to put on a show by pretending? Absolutely. It's not like I'll live out my days as a Muslim. That would only happen if I choose to. If I was forced, I'd deliver an Oscar worthy performance, and then when I'm free - I'll discard it. In doing so, I wouldn't be scorning my beliefs at all. Nobody can truly take my beliefs away. Whether with a gun or some other weapon, it won't happen. Only I can make that decision. To save my life, I'll put on a show, but when it comes down to it, my beliefs will remain. To me, life is a gift. If I just received the chance to continue living and believing in my Faith, but I had to pretend as if I were discarding it, then so be it. This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it. |
Getting shot in the back of the head isn't a bad way to go. Barring considerations of my friends and family ("Should I do anything to prolong my life for their sake?" and thoughts of that nature), I think I'd take my chances on them pulling the trigger. I suspect that some kind of self-preservation instinct would kick in and triumph over whatever life philosophy I had subscribed to up to that point, but I'd like to think that I'd refuse.
Besides, in a situation like that, where I'd feel pretty much fucked regardless (imprisoned in some location, as opposed to a man just sneaking up behind me on the street with a gun), I don't think I'd be just "getting away" by complying anyway. As I recall, there are some videos of fine folks who got their heads hacked off even after they said whatever their kidnappers wanted--though I don't think any of them were asked to convert. Now, if they start laying out heated, pointy objects or electrical wires, then I'll probably say whatever they want. I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body? |
Words really hold no meaning if the speaker doesn't truly wish to say them. If you don't convert you're going against one of the basic instincts of life, survival. Unless you're a religious or prideful zealot, there is no basis or logic in it. To me, even if I were religious (which I'm not), martrydom is unappealing because honestly, you can repent the rest of your life if you really feel like it. Any righteous god would forgive you, right? I mean...God's a cool dude, he understands.
I was speaking idiomatically. |
What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?
Memento mori
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Technically, they all worship the same God. That's about the only part they agree on. The rest is where the Crusade/Jahad browbeating comes from.
I say switch, switch back after they leave, and call it a day. Keeping your heart beating is the most important thing. FELIPE NO |
I dont know many people who would rather die than convert religion. Its so stupid that a person would force their beliefs on another person like that but I wonder how they'd expect you to be genuinely converted by the barrel of a gun, you'll obviously do anything you can to avoid death.
What, you don't want my bikini-clad body? |
Jam it back in, in the dark. |