[WideRight05]

Exactly! Why can't everyone just follow that?? Something I've really noticed since I've joined the military and traveled is that the way people worship, and pretty much do everything, is really, really dependent on where they grew up. Muslims from the Middle-East and Asia..Yemen, Kuwait, Kazakhstan and Afghan are so nice, for the most part, and welcome you into their homes in an instant, no matter your color or religion. I've noticed Christians in that part of the world are pretty much the same way...different religion, but same core values...they love their neighbors, and guests, whether it be an Afghan that lives down the road or a U.S. soldier that grew up 8,000 miles away, they welcome and feed as best they can. Of course, that's alot different with the bad guys that force us to be there, but I guess that's why we shoot at them instead of be nice to them, lol.

American Muslims, for the most part, I've noticed are much more to themselves, much less welcoming. It might be that they're suspect of being treated differently because of being Muslim, or any other difference, but that's how I've noticed the majority here.

I just hate close-minded people, those that judge without making the effort to get to know what they're making judgement on. They're everywhere, in every religion, but I guess it just gets to me more because it's the church I grew up in that I'm experiencing more of it.

I can't base this all on two people - but, here are my different experiences in this area....

As I had mentioned in my previous post, I have done some deep studies on Islam. To answer that one, you have part of it right. It all depends on how strict of a Muslim they are. One of my international friends at school that was Muslim came from a family that was not very strict. Our organizations organized an event together on campus, so I got to work with her quite a bit. Her family even told her she could attend Churches in America if she wanted to. She was very outgoing, and not one bit hesitant to make friends at school.

I know of another Muslim at school that was extremely devout. She was nice enough and approachable, but was hesitant to socialize beyond a simple hello. Several reasons could be for that. I won't speculate, but one could be what you had mentioned. The other comes from a scripture in the qu'ran...

Surah 5:51 - "O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends; they are friends of each other; and whoever amongst you takes them for a friend, then surely he is one of them; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people."

A Muslim who is extremely devout would strongly follow a scripture like this. Everyone please take note that I am not saying this was why she seemed unaccepting of the people around her. But having studied this, I can assure you that a Muslim who chooses to be true and devout cannot like people from other religions. This is just one of the scriptures, but it's the main one I like to reference. And that also proves my point that people have to be careful in how they reach out to these people - because a simple "you're going to hell" or "you all are terrible people" could be the poison that chases them away from the church for good.