Can Muslims Convert?

A major factor in the difficulty of Muslim conversions is that Islam is not just a religion but a worldwide cult – with strong pressures in Islam for avoiding the infection of contact with “unbelievers,” and imminent threat of ostracism and/or death for leaving the “fold.”

-- Howard Kainz, "Can Muslims Be Converted?"

Note:  This post references an article in The Catholic Thing, which I invite you to read for context, Can Muslims Be Converted?  For those not familiar with comparisons of the three Abrahamic religions, I also invite you to read this short article, from Study.com, People of the Book: Comparing Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

I have issues with this quote, above, from Howard Kainz, professor of philosophy at Marquette University.  Unfortunately, you find this in some scholarly (i.e., learned) Christian attitudes toward other religions.  Is it typical of those attitudes?  I certainly hope not, or Christianity is still as guilty of spreading the disease of divisiveness, misunderstanding, and hate.

A cult is defined as "a system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object... a misplaced or excessive admiration for a particular person or thing."  Gee, I hate to bring this up, professor, but this sounds like Christianity.  As a matter of fact, it defines just about any religious or spiritual group, except for, perhaps, the Wiccan or atheist.  Growing up in California in the 1960s, I think it is appropriate to adjust this definition:  a system of veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure, object, or idea... a misplaced or excessive admiration for a particular person, thing, or philosophy.  I think this would make the atheists happy, since they always seem to be pissed off when left out of a discussion, but it also covers all those groups that do not fall under the previous description.

By and large, cults refer to small groups of followers.  Are we, once again, seeing an academician of a noted university seemingly bending a definition to serve some agenda?  By definition, is it really possible to excuse major religion s from cult status?  Mr. Kainz would label Islam as a cult, though it has over 1.6 billion adherents while Christianity enjoys over 2.2 billion followers.  I would like to ask Mr. Kainz where his cut off line is for misinterpreting the definition of a cult, but maybe it's just because I don't have his extensive, liberal education.  Aren't, then, Catholics, Protestants, Methodists, Episcopalians, and others, simply Christian cults?  I'm sure we would be without sin to throw Mormonism under this judgmental bus. 

Other than the "cult" definition issues, I found his article to be very interesting in discussing the trend of Muslims converting to Christianity, though it sidesteps those Christians converting to Islam.  Can Muslims convert?  Of course they can, and I think, as in any religion, conversion is frowned upon as a loss of one of their faithful.  For "peaceful" Islam, I think the penalties are tempered by their faith.

Few religions can tout perfection.  Few are without lapses in moral judgment.  However, I think we would be better served to stop finding reasons to divide and conquer and start finding reason to live and let live.  Why would a philosophy wish to convert?  The first reason I can think of is they think their philosophy is better than another.  Ego?  Pride?  Perhaps, but aren't these attributes frowned on by Islam and Christianity?  

It makes me wonder if our religious leaders read their own scripture, or are they just too busy reinterpreting it to support their own agenda, as usual.

Editor's Note 

(re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card) 

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so.

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion and debate in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years as a military intelligence analyst, planner, and briefer, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we do afterward, and what we learn from the experience.

Frank Anthony Villari (aka, Pastor Tony)

Pastor Tony is founder of the Congregation for Religious Tolerance and author/editor of the Congregation's official blog site, "The Path."