Hamas Founder's Son Renounces Terrorism, Follows Jesus
Faith and Philosophy
| September 5, 2008
| Tim
Strategy Page:
Hamas has an image problem, and it's getting worse. It's gotten so bad that the 30 year old son (Mosab Yousef) of one of the Hamas founders (Hassan Yousef) has not only renounced Hamas, but has become a Christian. Mosab is fed up with the terrorism/"destroy Israel" approach the Arab world has embraced over the last sixty years. Mosad notes, as have many other Arabs, that this has not worked.
The conversion angle is something Moslems are trying to keep quiet. Mosab Yousef's father pleaded with his son to keep quiet about the conversion (which took place 18 months ago). The elder Yousef knows that this is not an isolated incident. Many young Moslems are abandoning Islam. Most do so quietly.
I had heard that in Iraq, many, many people were turning secretly to Christianity. Strategy Page seems to agree:
In Iran, the clerics that run the country are shocked at secret police reports about a growing number of young Iranians who have, in effect, abandoned Islam. This sort of thing is happening all over the Moslem world, but especially in Arab countries. The people who switch to Islamic radicalism get all the headlines, not the larger numbers who just walk away from Islam are largely ignored. In the Palestinian territories, there is also a growth in the number of Sunni Moslems who are switching to the Shia version (as championed by Iran). But many other Moslems are openly distancing themselves from the conservative forms of Islam (like the well funded Saudi Wahhabism). One reason this trend is kept quiet is because Islamic militants are inclined to kill such traitors, if the switch is done too openly. Thus the elder Yousef's plea that his son keep quiet, lest he attract the murderous attention of Islamic radicals out to impose the death sentence on apostates.
This is funny :) I'm chuckling this all day. I'm getting grumpy replies from every one I mention this.
Christianity is spreading in India and Pakistan very fast!!! There are people there that no one help them but missionaries, salvation army etc. bringing 'deep concerns' in religious factions. But.....salvation army is the one helping them, giving them food, jobs. Who is helping humanity here?
Anyways, all faiths and cults are beating drums of their victories, e.g. an Article in time said Islam is now most popular
http://tinyurl.com/6py7qt
Which, I guess, weren't dividing Shites and Sunnis. People are still telling Muhammad Ali story, and some idiots yap about Neil Armstrong...
Quixtar / Amway ppl yapping Asafa Powerl uses their snake oil Nutrilite Vitamin (too bad he's 5th, maybe if he wouldn't uses that one.....)
Anyways, I'm thinking of inventing a new religion, still deciding name, but it will be 'zenism' or something. We won't care about any other religion, just make fun of them.
Imran!
Long time, no see! Welcome back, friend!
As far as the idea of inventing a new religion which is more of a joke about the others, I suspect "Jedi" probably fits that bill already -- and its fairly popular in the UK and Oz. There's also the church of the SubGenius and a number of other "joke religions" listed on Wikipedia -- be sure to add yours to the list once you get the tenets (if any) fleshed out.
I'd be happy to do a post here for all six of my quasi-regular readers ;-)
From my point of view, this is a very good development:
(a) The part of me which ignores the question of whether any religion is "true" is very glad to see that people are thinking about these questions, making choices, and are seem to be choosing varieties of faiths which are less, not more coercive of others regarding freedom of conscience. Pakistan, in history, was always a very pluralistic society -- with people discussing and sharing their many faiths. It warms my heart to think of Pakistan returning, in that regard, to her roots as a vibrant place of discourse, a meeting point of many ideas. A great heritage!
(b) Of course, though my life as a Christian could use a LOT of improvement, I'm also personally a "True Believer" in Jesus and what he offered. From this more personal point of view, I'm very happy that others are being saved from God's anger at their sins, and reunited with their creator and Father. I've also seen and experienced the joy that produces.
(When I was younger, it seemed it was unlikely that out of all the religions in the world, the one I happened to be born into just happened to be "true". I mean, doesn't everyone think that too? So I spent a good portion of my life learning about lots of other faiths. As a result of that, I have a very different view now.)
(And if you ever want to post or write to me with tough or confrontational-seeming questions about any of that, I'd be more than glad to engage in such a conversation. I don't want to be annoying or coercive, I just want you to know that option is always open.)
Best to you! And, if you wouldn't take offense: God bless you!
PS: Hey, did you move to Seattle? I thought you used to be based in Canada? (Canada's a great country, but if you're here, then I want to formally welcome you!)
Seattle?? No, I'm still in Canada.
I'd love to visit Seattle some time, but haven't set a foot outside for a while
Must be another Imran Aziz -- sorry about that!
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Praise be to God!!
Posted by: Michael Zappe on September 5, 2008 11:26 AM