₦airaland Forum

Before, I became an atheist, I was a christian. Also, when I left christianity, I studied Islam as a religion to see if it was a better choice for me.

Here are my reasons why I would rather go back to Christianity than be a Muslim (although both choices are not palatable to me).;


[size=18pt]1) Christianity fits into any culture or age of civilization due to its reformation while islam hasnt been reformed[/size]
With enlightenment and technological advancement, mainstream Christianity has gone through a reevaluation of the interpretation of its scriptures. We now have very liberal and non-literal interpretations of the bible as compared to the literal and ultra-conservative interpretations of christianity in the early centuries. You will find that mainstream christianity has shifted to accommodate capitalism, secular governments, common law and human rights. Yes, there are still ultra-conservative christianity in the form of Westboro Baptist Church and some other christian denominations but you will find that they are in the minority. Most christian majority nations are run by secular governments. Furthermore, we can see how Easter is now tied with the Easter bunny and colorful egg decorations and the resurrection of Christ- A fine blend of christianity and capitalism...

Mainstream islam, on the other hand, has not been reformed and is having a worse struggle with many modern day issues as compared to christianity . The case here is that the bible can be shaved down to only the teachings of Jesus for many christians, which gives them an escape route from the harsher old testament and some tough laws- such does not exist in mainstream Islam as the Quran is the complete word of God and can not be edited. The only update on the Quran is on the "war verses"(eg Quran 2:191-193) , which many muslim scholars state that were only for a specific time when muslims and the Prophet were under attack. Islam is struggling with modern issues like secularism and capitalism. Sharia law can not accept islam on an equal status with other religions as it prescribes islamic laws for a whole society. Islam forbids interest which is very important to modern day banking and the stock markets. Theocracy and the prohibition of interest are products of the shallow thinking of the ancient man that mainstream christianity has moved away from but mainstream islam is still adherent to. However, Turkey is an exception to this as a muslim majority country that is somewhat secular- it isnt practicisng sharia law.

So when you talk about harsh laws in the OT ,you should know that jesus practised them and also came to fulfill them,and anyone add or ommit any single law ,he'll be on the least kingdom of heaven(according to the bible):

Matthew 5:17-19
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. [18] For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. [19] Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them , the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

[size=18pt]2) Christianity treats non-christians better than Islam treats non-muslims[/size]
As mentioned earlier, sharia law can not put islam at an equal status with other religions since it prescribes islamic laws for the society. Sharia law remains a mild form of theocracy and theocracy always has one religion at the top.

Lets take an example,between saudi arabia(following sharia law) and USA, (not following sharia law);
Which one of these countries has the highest rate of rape?
Which one of these countries has the highest rate of crime?
Which one of these countries has the highest rate of robbery?
(Before answering ,please do some research)

Atheists fare better in christian majority countries as compared to muslim majority countries. In certain muslim majority countries, atheists are arrested and jailed for publicly being atheists. This is not to say that christians are perfect in treating atheists but it is just that it is unlikely for an atheist to be jailed for just being an atheist in a christian majority country.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2012/06/20126146135415374.html
An atheist is guaranteed more rights in the West (eg USA or UK) than any muslim majority country. I challenge any muslim here to try and prove this wrong because this is one fact that I am 100% sure of

Furthermore, the issue of apostasy and blasphemy in islam remains a controversial one. An accusation of blasphemy in ANY muslim majority country can have dire consequences for the non-muslim. Furthermore, the good news is that Pew research shows that the support for death penalty for apostasy among muslims in the world is not absolute. There is only a significant minority of muslims who support the death penalty globally- however, on a country by country basis, few have a majority accepting the the death penalty
http://www.pewforum.org/2013/04/30/the-worlds-muslims-religion-politics-society-beliefs-about-sharia/

To make this argument local, we can look at the two religious sections here on nairaland and compare. Where would disbelievers prefer to be?

This is not to hide or remove the discrimination by christians towards non-christians. It is just to say, that disbelievers will fare better under modern christianity than islam.

The reason is because there are no real christians out there following what their scripture say.


[size=18pt]
3) Christianity does far more charity work than islam on a global basis
[/size]Charity has always been christianity's strongest selling point.
Both christianity and islam encourage charity but christianity has outpaced any other organisation in charity- not just Islam.

However, there are two factors to consider here; Some of these christian charities come from the strongest economies in the world, so they would have more money and also, evangelism gives christianity a greater global reach. The zeal to spread the christian doctrine has helped christainity access many parts of the world....even remote villages that have no contact to the outside world.

To make this argument even local, we can find christian charities in different areas the north of Nigeria but I have never seen any islamic charity in the South-south (Delta, Edo etc). I doubt that there are islamic charities in the south south and since I havent seen any and I have lived there for some time but even if there are, they are not very visible.

In islam ,a smile is also charity. Besides that ,muslims nowadays are materialistic unlike the muslims who lived with prophey muhammad. So your point is judging practitioners and not religion.


[size=18pt]4) Christianity is more honest about its roots in a previous religion[/size]
Ask a christian about the religion of Moses- the answer would be "Moses was a Jew"
Ask a Jew about the religion of Moses- the answer would be "Moses was a Jew"
Ask a muslim about the religion of Moses- the answer would be "Moses/Musa was a muslim"

Do you know that, the term "jew" means a "race" and not a religion? The name jew was started after the grandson and grandson of abraham whos name was judas and that is where the jew is derived from. So does it make any sense if abraham or noah or enoch followed the religion (judaism) whose name came to existence after the grandson and granson of abraham? Ofcourse no.

Can you show me anywhere in the bible where jesus ever mentioned the name "Christianity" or heard of it?

The word muslim is an arabic word which means " the one submitting to almighty god" so of course moses was a Muslim and not jewish nor christian.

This, I can not tolerate. I am not even sure Moses existed but if he did, there is no chance at all that he was a muslim....or are the the christians and Jews liars?

Many muslims also claim that Jesus was a muslim. Which would be quite ridiculous to both Jews and Christian. How would someone who was born to Jewish parents, who lived among Jews and who quoted Jewish scripture be a muslim?

I guess i explained it above my reply regarding moses.