Do you, like me, have a tendency to impugn the motives and character of people who think differently from you? If someone favors the New England Patriots over the Denver Broncos, they definitely approve of cheating. If someone dislikes Indian food, they’re a cretin. If they say “irregardless,” they’re illiterate.
Sadly, for me this often extends to how I think about other Christians and other faiths. Calvinists are rigid. Mormons legalistic. Unitarians adrift.
I think this happens to Muslims, too. We don’t understand the way they think, so we assume they’re dumb or maybe even evil, for thinking as they do. We might ask, how could a rational person believe that stuff? Why would they follow a religion like that?
Why indeed? Some Muslims have told me they love Islam because it thoroughly lays out for them how to live their lives. Between the Quran and the Hadith, most questions of thinking and behavior are answered. They find comfort in the completeness, reward in the rigidity.
I’m sure that’s not true for all Muslims, but for some it feels good to know the rules; to believe that if you follow the rules, God will reward you. I suppose there’s a pleasurable measure of control there, as well.
Even while not agreeing with the tenets of Islam, we can understand some of its appeal. We can acknowledge the logic, while disputing the conclusions.
If we do the admittedly hard work of understanding, acknowledging, even empathizing, we open ourselves up to relationship with Muslims in a way that’s impossible otherwise. And, doing so, we take steps toward loving our neighbor as ourselves. Those are good steps to take. (Tweet this.)
What have you heard, experienced or simply guess motivates Muslims in their adherence to Islam. Please share your thoughts here.
Growing up in the Christian church I always felt trapped. It took me a long time to work out my faith which, differs in ways from my parents faith. I had the freedom, through Christ, to explore my relationship with Him. I have always assumed that many Muslims may feel trapped in a more rigid, if I leave my family will disown me or worse, kind of way. Is adherence to Islam sometimes less about religion and more about family expectations? I know for many who claim Christianity it is.
ditto what Dan Barbour said. I assume it is out of fear of reprisal or lowered esteem in their family’s eyes.
Hey Dan and Madelyn, I think you’re right, in many Muslim cultures there is more family pressure to abide by the rules and traditions. And that is a legit answer to my wrap up question. What I’m wondering though, and the question falls short in getting to this, is what do Muslims like about Islam? Any thoughts on that?
I think our Muslim friends like the community of Islam. There is an immediate connection with others who believe or practice like they do. I see it in a refugee community that has Syrians, Iraqis (who are somewhat similar) as they interact with Somali and other African Muslims. They are immediately “friends” or at least have a commonality among them that leaves me ;as a follower of Jesus on the outside. I wonder if they feel the same “outsideness” when they are around me and my fellow followers of Jesus.
Insightful, Tom. Thank you for reading and taking a moment to share this.