A Muslim I know suggested I read the Koran

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Annie

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I would like to invite him to read the Bible. I think I can do this if he brings it up again, but I’d really like to figure out an easier way of to show sufficient interest in what he is saying to get him to listen to me, preferably without reading the Koran, and I also don’t think it’s important that he read the Bible at this point.
I have never been presented with an opportunity like this (of course, what I felt was a sort of mini panic) so I am not sure what to do. I am used to conversations with Southern Baptists and other Protestant denominations.
 
I wouldn’t bother asking him to read the Bible. It’s not going to happen. As a Catholic, you are free to read what you like. Not so for Muslims. Tread lightly.

If you do read the Koran, remember some dubious lines in it which can start a conversation. For instance, you can ask how he feels about a woman’s testimony being half the value of that of a man’s. But, it’s best not to talk to him.
 
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Annie said:
I would like to invite him to read the Bible.
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I have a Muslim family who are dear friends .

At Christmas they give me a present .

At Eid I give them presents .

We respect each other and respect each other’s beliefs .

I know where they stand and they know where I stand .

Part of our friendship is for us to be able to say to each other , " No . You know I am not going to go there ." And so we do not engage in fruitless arguments , but we do share knowledge of our beliefs …
 
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You can either say, “I’ll read the Koran if you’ll read the Bible” and brace yourself for a lot of discussions/ arguments back and forth about both of them.

Or you can simply say, “No, I am not going to read the Koran, just like I don’t expect you to read the Bible” and neither one of you will read the other’s holy book, but you can still be friends.

I personally would prefer the latter. If and when I should ever decide to read the Koran, which is likely not going to happen because I’m not that interested but never say never, it would be on my own time, not in a situation where someone is likely to want to discuss it with me from a proselytizing perspective after I have read it.
 
I have read chunks of it. Frankly, it’s reaffirming. Anything that attacks our faith or is in opposition to it is normally reaffirming of it, it’s what God is doing when he puts things there to test and bolster our faith. Reading the Koran will give you a good argument for why Catholicism is the one true faith, before reading it each time, ask Our Lady to give you the graces you need to read it the way God would have you read it.
 
If you want to learn about Muslims, talk to them and ask questions. Reading the Koran doesn’t really help, for these reasons.
  1. Maybe one out of a hundred Muslims has read the Koran. They just say they do. He probably hasn’t
  2. Islam is based on the Hadith literature, which is supposed to be interpretation of the Koran.
  3. Their faith is based on what their mufti tells them. (preaching) and on their culture. Which part of the Islamic world is he from? This makes a difference.
 
I had to read some of the Quran (Koran) for a Religious Studies class last year in college. I would say my study of it was good because I knew very little of Islamic belief and practices and now I have a much more informed perspective. I will say though, after reading it, the God portrayed isn’t very merciful and comes across as much more of a “bean counter”. The God in the Bible (the same God) is portrayed much more merciful even in the Old Testament
 
We are friendly acquaintances–we’ve known each other at work, where our jobs bring us into contact, but not in a continual way.

And apparently he feels we have enough of a relationship that he could suggest I read the Koran…
 
Ahhh, this explains it. He is married but wants to date me, so he figures if I convert to Islam, he could marry me as well!

(Just kidding around.)
 
Rob2 said:
we do share knowledge of our beliefs
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This is what I want to do. Not proselytize, but still discuss my Faith with him in an evangelistic say.

We’ve had some conversations touching lightly on religion before, like he’ll say his religion teaches X and I’ll respond accordingly.
 
Some Arabs and Turks have a girl friends but they preffer to marry their own.
Some times even if they get married with local girls, its just for legalization and citizenship.
Its nice they gave you a present on Christmas but I just got back from New Year tour from West Europe and I got scared.
I think they conquer Europe , they do not integrate, and some of their ethnic groups like Turks have a violent history.
The hostels are full of muslims too, the once who search the possibilities to stay in EU (as refugees,as business people, as students and later to apply for citizenship)
I think West Europe might have a problems in the future. Some regions of Western Europe look like Muslim towns.
Especially- Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, France.
 
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Yes, not only am I disinclined as you describe yourself, (not to mention time, mental resources, etc), but I don’t think it’s the best route.

I guess I would not ask someone to do such a time-consuming thing as an introduction to Christianity, so there should be smaller actions to take, and I am wondering what they are wrt Islam.
 
I do not know ,Annie, maybe even after you read it all it is like walking on eggshells. You might not get it and he may not really know the Koran as to have a fruitful conversation…
When I meet somebody with a different background , as conversation crops up, it is interesting to find what we have in common and stick a bit around that.
But that may be me.Because if he were mistaken in his own interpreatation,I would have no clue either…
I would deal with it more casually .
 
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