Vatican newspaper offers reflection on conversions to Islam [CC]
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J
JurisPrudens
Guest
In Russia, where I am from, conversions to Islam are also common, especially among women. People associate Islam with strict morality and see it as a “religion of power”, as Muslims are often feared and have a strong sense of community.
B
boomerang
Guest
Via Google Translate:
Pope Francis has repeated
recently that the Church grows
by attraction. I realized in
concretely what it meant reading
the book Virginie Riva has dedicated
the conversion of eleven young
French women to Islam. I’m
long interviews in which young
converted - almost all of culture
university, between 25 and 35 years,
raised in families or agnostic
Catholic - say that the first
push to get closer to Islam is
coming from the meeting with companions.
Muslim studies.
Girls and boys of hours spent in prayer,
obedience to dietary rules
and rules governing
relations between the sexes. Nothing to
do with terrorist fanatics whose
They speak the newspapers, but rather
good guys, scholars and devotees, who
these stories, I’ve come up
mind our society of the past,
the united families that opened their
doors to those who were alone and invited to
recitation of the rosary in the evening of
dead or Christmas Eve.
All experiences that these young
Women had never done:
their families of origin were
far from any religious tradition,
often marked by divorce.
The attraction exerted by Muslims
It was first stimulated
by emotional warmth, by a
family welcome. Then, and certainly
not cheap, they found a place,
of people able to recognize
their spiritual needs of
give answers about the meaning of life and
especially about life after death.
The thought of death, in fact,
almost indescribable in our culture
secularized, was a constant
reason of anguish for these
young.
Why they have not found
these responses to their needs,
which they are then simple needs
human, in the Christian tradition
of their country? The Bishop Dubost,
the Diocese of Evry-Corbeil-Essonnes,
who has a habit of meeting
converts to Islam, admits
without reticence: "Converts
I say: I found two things
Islam, a community and a spirituality. "
It is evident that in their lives
these girls - even those that
They had received Communion and Confirmation
Evidently, a minority,
which is Islam, which
It has to be accepted in a culture
mostly hostile, it constitutes a
particular human specimen, difficult
to compare with groups
They feel part of a traditional religion
dominant. But it is
even a dominant religion?
There is to be doubted. And to reflect
image of us Christians who
made from it: we Europeans Catholics
Therefore we so unable to testify
love of neighbor,
to respond to the needs of research
spiritual, to set up our
life on the basis of long-term projects,
not only limited to the realization
individual?
The call to create a community
warm and welcoming, to testify
with humility but with determination our
Faith is frequently called us
by Pope Francis: return heat
and life to a religion that
many, in increasing numbers,
seems inflexible, unable to answer
to human needs.
This compared with conversions
Islam confirms what his
words are urgent and necessary.
Pope Francis has repeated
recently that the Church grows
by attraction. I realized in
concretely what it meant reading
the book Virginie Riva has dedicated
the conversion of eleven young
French women to Islam. I’m
long interviews in which young
converted - almost all of culture
university, between 25 and 35 years,
raised in families or agnostic
Catholic - say that the first
push to get closer to Islam is
coming from the meeting with companions.
Muslim studies.
Girls and boys of hours spent in prayer,
obedience to dietary rules
and rules governing
relations between the sexes. Nothing to
do with terrorist fanatics whose
They speak the newspapers, but rather
good guys, scholars and devotees, who
- Unlike their peers -
plan to raise a family
and live a rich community life
human warmth.
recurring theme in interviews,
In fact, it is the joy in 'to be
invited, although not yet believers,
to participate in the ritual meals
Ramadan family. There, the young
women have experienced
an affectionate and friendly atmosphere,
and the proximity of people
who dedicated the time to read
the Koran, that is a purpose
spiritual.
these stories, I’ve come up
mind our society of the past,
the united families that opened their
doors to those who were alone and invited to
recitation of the rosary in the evening of
dead or Christmas Eve.
All experiences that these young
Women had never done:
their families of origin were
far from any religious tradition,
often marked by divorce.
The attraction exerted by Muslims
It was first stimulated
by emotional warmth, by a
family welcome. Then, and certainly
not cheap, they found a place,
of people able to recognize
their spiritual needs of
give answers about the meaning of life and
especially about life after death.
The thought of death, in fact,
almost indescribable in our culture
secularized, was a constant
reason of anguish for these
young.
Why they have not found
these responses to their needs,
which they are then simple needs
human, in the Christian tradition
of their country? The Bishop Dubost,
the Diocese of Evry-Corbeil-Essonnes,
who has a habit of meeting
converts to Islam, admits
without reticence: "Converts
I say: I found two things
Islam, a community and a spirituality. "
It is evident that in their lives
these girls - even those that
They had received Communion and Confirmation
- They had never met
a Christian, religious or secular, that
exerted on them this attraction.
Although these were people
evidently prepared to
a spiritual quest, a journey
to God.
Evidently, a minority,
which is Islam, which
It has to be accepted in a culture
mostly hostile, it constitutes a
particular human specimen, difficult
to compare with groups
They feel part of a traditional religion
dominant. But it is
even a dominant religion?
There is to be doubted. And to reflect
image of us Christians who
made from it: we Europeans Catholics
Therefore we so unable to testify
love of neighbor,
to respond to the needs of research
spiritual, to set up our
life on the basis of long-term projects,
not only limited to the realization
individual?
The call to create a community
warm and welcoming, to testify
with humility but with determination our
Faith is frequently called us
by Pope Francis: return heat
and life to a religion that
many, in increasing numbers,
seems inflexible, unable to answer
to human needs.
This compared with conversions
Islam confirms what his
words are urgent and necessary.
W
Wanagi_Yata
Guest
The Muslims I know have a strong sense of family and are (nearly) unconditionally supportive of family members.
Here in the US, extended families are almost extinct. The obscene economic realities of free market capitalism contributed greatly to this. And now, even the notion of a nuclear family is disintegrating. It seems, anymore, most people are all in it for themselves. (I probably blame TV
)
It’s been a very, very long time since children in my country were raised to consider the needs of their family and community. Exceptions to this seem to be those children raised in Muslim, Native American (in particular, those on the rez, and/or hose re-embracing their aboriginal social values) Mormon, Catholic, Amish, Hutterite, and Mennonite communities.
I’m gladdened for the children of anyone who is welcomed into any of these communities.
Here in the US, extended families are almost extinct. The obscene economic realities of free market capitalism contributed greatly to this. And now, even the notion of a nuclear family is disintegrating. It seems, anymore, most people are all in it for themselves. (I probably blame TV
)It’s been a very, very long time since children in my country were raised to consider the needs of their family and community. Exceptions to this seem to be those children raised in Muslim, Native American (in particular, those on the rez, and/or hose re-embracing their aboriginal social values) Mormon, Catholic, Amish, Hutterite, and Mennonite communities.
I’m gladdened for the children of anyone who is welcomed into any of these communities.
V
Vic_Taltrees_UK
Guest
I joined a new movement as a lonely single, when my friends decided to wind down their informal hosting and befriending, as they well might.
I found it too demanding and inflexible such that I was regarded as fodder for ceremonies rather than valued as an individual.
Bishops and priests welcome such a movement because of a certain amount of good it does at first, but 30 years down the line (if not before) they get to realise how many people’s fingers have been burned.
In this fag end of days God has people positioned to nurture some people, or keep them warm, at least. Looked at that way (as I always have
) it’s not disastrous to fall into the clutches of well disposed Protestants (if there are any in a particular locality).
CCC 2347 says chastity is expressed in companionship. Openness to life means keeping people company, a work of mercy.
I found it too demanding and inflexible such that I was regarded as fodder for ceremonies rather than valued as an individual.
Bishops and priests welcome such a movement because of a certain amount of good it does at first, but 30 years down the line (if not before) they get to realise how many people’s fingers have been burned.
In this fag end of days God has people positioned to nurture some people, or keep them warm, at least. Looked at that way (as I always have
) it’s not disastrous to fall into the clutches of well disposed Protestants (if there are any in a particular locality).CCC 2347 says chastity is expressed in companionship. Openness to life means keeping people company, a work of mercy.
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