Christians Forced To Convert To Islam - I Call Bullshit -

[ThomWV]

First it was the two FOX reporter who claimed to have been forced to renounce christianity and embrace islam, and anyone could see it was plain and simple bullshit.

Since then I've seen it on the news in other guises at least a half a dozen time.

Watch for it, bullshit every time.

[dsc]

1. What would you call kidnapping and threatening to kill someone

if they don't say they have converted?

[gully]

2. I don't doubt it personally.

We're dealing with nuts on all sides of this issue.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/worldview/story/0,11581,845725,00.html

[davidinalameda]

3. so if it was NBC or CBS, you'd believe it?

these guys are theocrats and I don't doubt it one bit that they would do this

[StrictlyRockers]

7. The Koran actually gives some instruction that you should attempt,...

...to convert your enemy.

But my bullshit detector starts to go off the richter scale whenever Fox toots it's one-note horn.

Then my bs detector goes even higher when I see no other major media outlets covering the story.

[Totallybushed]

4. On what basis do

you call 'bullshit'? How did you so plainly see it was 'bullshit'.

I call bullshit on you.

[SmokingJacket]

5. I'm with you.

Hate to be such a cynic, but that's what it's come to.

[SeaBob]

6. Forced to convert

Since I consider my self a born again pagan, I would have no problem converting to Islam. The question is would they want a born again pagan ? LOL

[oscar111]

9. OP is massively unclear as to meaning

pls clarify

[Yupster]

23. That's a problem

because leaving the faith earns you a death sentence.

[MADem]

8. It's in the Koran that you can't convert under pressure

It's gotta be sincere and with understanding.

So that's a nonstarter. Just because some dickhead SAYS you have to convert, does not make it a valid conversion. Even a batshit crazy ayatullah with a total I HATE THE WEST attitude will tell you that...the guy that put out a fetwah on Salman Rushdie will, too...even the worst Muslim in the world, Usama, will tell you the same...

[Igel]

16. The New Testament doesn't

call for forced conversions either.

Didn't stop Xians from forcing conversions, and punishing those that did so falsely.

[MADem]

36. Well, that's a two wrongs make right scenario, across time

I'll bet that nonsense went on during the Crusades on both sides as well.

Nowadays they'd be hard put to pull that shit. Some theologian would be on cable tv explaining why they were mistaken in no time.

[genie_weenie]

10. Why is it bullshit?

You don't think it happened because they are FAUX News Reporters?

[BushOut06]

11. So, will they "un-convert" now that they are free?

If these guys decide to recant their conversion, do the kidnappers slap their heads with their hands and go "Doh!"?

[Yupster]

24. My guess is you will not hear them say publicly

that they unconverted as that will earn them a death sentence for insulting god.

[Bluzmann57]

12. Well, if someone held a gun to my head

I'd probably say whatever they wanted. So what would you do? Be a dead hero or a live so called convert? I don't get your post. I don't think it had anything to do with religion, just survival. Those guys wanted to stay alive. Can't say that I blame them.

[cynatnite]

13. I'd worship an empty coke can if it'd save my life n/t

[Yupster]

25. Me too

No question.

[mac56]

14. Why would they want someone who converted under pressure?

Trying to get their quotas up?!

Can't believe thay'd insist upon such a coerced, insincere "conversion".

I join you in calling bullshit.

[Blue Belle]

26. Makes about as much sense as relying on information...

given when the informant has been tortured as a means to acquire the information. I don't believe these people were forced to convert either... everything I've read states that there are no forced conversions from true Muslims - that doesn't mean the fanatics won't try this tact... it just seems rather convenient considering that the crew was from Faux news and it gives them yet another excuse to vilify the muslims even more. Did Muslim captors force Terry Anderson to convert or any of the Iranian hostages to convert? How about Jill Carol?

[hogwyld]

15. In that case

Why don't we all "convert" and then the fanatics will finally leave us alone.

[Spinoza]

17. Perhaps a little basic history is in order here.

Islam convered MILLIONS at the point of the sword in the 7th and 8th century A.D. Throughout the Middle East, it was convet or die. How do you think the Middle East became predominantly 'Arabic'? The original Arabs came exclusively from Arabia and conquered and forcibly converted the non-Arabic populations of the Middle East. It is true that by the beginning of the 8th century A.D. Christians and Jews, (the People of the 'Book') were allowed to practice their religions under an inferior legal status (Dhimmi)but in Islam's first years they were converted by force. And anyone not a Christian or Jew faced death, if they would not convert, for some centuries following Islam's birth.

[PresidentWar]

21. Don't get lost in the Time Machine

Modern Muslims, now comprising about a 6th of the world population, are hardly adherant to their faiths because of a threat. And on top of that, Islam is growing - WILLINGLY by the converts - at a surprising rate given the circumstances.

Just as I would not judge all of today's Christians by the yardstick of the thugs carrying out the Spanish Inquisition, lets not do the same to Muslims just for a quick and cheap way to demonize them.

[ThomWV]

18. Goddam! Are You All That Dense? Its A Ploy To Enrage The Base

That all it is. Nobody tried to convert anyone to anything. This is just plain bullshit to bring out the evangelicals.

Now do you get it?

[ruggerson]

20. There are stars whizzing by your head

Whoaaa! Catch that one! What beautiful colors!

[acmejack]

22. I am inclined to agree.

Comedians notwithstanding, it is sometimes hard to imagine how they can stand their own cleverness...

[muriel_volestrangler]

33. Is it much different from the pressure on Jill Carroll to convert?

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060820/NATION/608200371

YOu really ought to explain what you mean by "just plain bullshit". Do you just mean that Fox and all the other news media have talked about it to enrage the Republican base - ie they're hyping it? Do you mean that you think there was an agreement between the Fox reporters (or whoever negotiated the release) and the kidnappers to make the video to 'save face' for the kidnappers? Do you think that the reporters had already been released, but they stopped off somewhere to make the video, wait a few hours while it was released through the channels the kidnappers use, to make it look real, and then finally emerged, because after a couple of weeks of captivity, their main concern was a bit of stirring up of the Republican base back in the USA?

[Marr]

19. I've been convinced that it's just more bullshit from day one.

The story reeks, and Christ- these are Fox "News" people. I don't believe anything that comes from Fox News or anyone associated with it.

This story has always had precisely the same stink that the Miami "terrorists" and the "imminent" attack on British airliners had.

[JI7]

27. why do you say it was BS ?

they were threatened so they pretended to do it in order to get released.

[cigsandcoffee]

28. The guy who fixes my old Karmann Ghia tries to convert me....

...to some kind of fundamentalist Christianity every time I see him. I'm not sure why it's so hard to believe that there are Islamic equivalents - it's not like Middle Eastern fundamentalism was invented by Karl Rove in the last 6 years or anything.

[K8-EEE]

31. I've Found Scientologists To Be Super Aggressive

About trying to get me to step inside their lair over the years...I don't really get "evangelical" anything. So annoying! They are like "just come for this one thing" (test, evaluation or some such BS) like 'COME GET BRAINWASHED BY MY BULLSHIT CULT!' No thanks!!

[Skip Intro]

29. I see what you see. Political ploy = motivated fundies in Nov.

This is how this gang operates. They're "catapulting the propaganda." All this while bush goes on tour to promote the war on Iraq, as nervous bushie repukes try to drum up as much fear as possible among the dwindling faithful.

I see it too.

[NMMNG]

30. I believe that like I believe Chimpy is an honest and effective president

Amazing how all of this BS comes up right around election time. :eyes:

[and-justice-for-all]

32. xtianity, islam and all the other religions....

ARE BUNK!

[EFerrari]

34. You're probably right. This is an old urban legend in new clothes. nt

[radfringe]

35. The war on terror has just become a war on religion.

It's no surprise this tape has been released this weekend at the "official" start of the campaign season. GOPers are in trouble. They are scared. Their past 6 years of being rubberstampers or clones of the bush regime have caught up with them.

The usual fear-smear on the air to scare tactics no longer have the same impact. However, with the release of this new tape - the GOPers now have a variation of the "they hates our freedoms" argument. Specifically - "they hates our religion"

In the coming weeks:

- GOPers will shift their campaign appearances from county fairs and gatherings in public halls to be photographed attending local churches. I wouldn't be surprised if bush/cheney/rummy are shown at some church today.

- Blatherhead talk shows will be featuring christian religious leaders

- Falwell/Robertson (et al) will be peppering their hate speech with "send us money to save christianity"

- Dems will be snarkingly asked if they plan on converting to Islam

- the underlying message of fear will be "if you don't vote GOP you will be worshipping in a mosque".

This tape is a gift to GOPers. It will be used to further secure the religious-right vote and ensure these voters turn out in November.