Number of Latino Muslims growing

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Sun, Oct. 16, 2005

Number of Latino Muslims growing

ALEXANDRA ALTER
The Miami Herald

MIAMI - Ask Melissa Matos why she converted to Islam, and you'll likely get an answer that spans 13 centuries.

She may refer to seventh century Arabia, where Muslims believe the Prophet Mohammed received the Koran from the angel Gabriel. Or she might describe Islam's golden age in medieval Spain. Or she'll recall Sept. 11, 2001, when fear and curiosity drove her to read about Islam on the Internet.

Matos, who comes from a family of Seventh Day Adventists from the Dominican Republic, has answered the question countless times since converting to Islam in April. She now covers her hair, prays five times a day, and is observing Ramadan, a month of fasting, prayer and reflection.
(snip)

Though they make up a small fraction of the nation's 6 million Muslims, Hispanic women converting to Islam are exerting influence beyond their numbers, teaching Spanish-Arabic classes, forming Hispanic-Muslim organizations and distributing Spanish translations of the Koran.
(snip/...)

http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/12914541.htm

[DRoseDARs]

1. Gee, didn't see this angle coming...

"The Brown Menace"

+

"Those A-rabs"

=

OMG MEXICO IS HARBORING TERRISTS AND IS SENDING THEM ACROSS THE BORDER!!1 QUICK SEND ALL THE BROWN PEOPLE TO INTERNMENT CAMPS FOR THEIR OWN PROTECTION!!1

:banghead:

*Sigh* Another day, another obscene scare tactic.

[Shipwack]

3. If you can promise me...

...that Condoleeza Rice and Alberto Gonzalez are the first two "brown people" sent to camp, it just might be worth it....

::sigh:: No, not really, but the thought of those two with their faces behind chicken wire fences, looking shocked will keep me smiling all day.

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. Would this have anything to do with the Moors?

Very interesting history, the Moors have. What they gave to civilization, before assimilating with their conquerored countries is worthy of more attention than it gets.

But I find it interesting that hispanics are leaving Catholicism.

[WinkyDink]

4. She was a Seventh-Day Adventist.

Maybe these women find being subservient and not worrying about what to wear when only their eyes show (if that) oddly comforting.

Somehow I doubt they are brain-trusts.

[goclark]

6. My friend is from El Salvador

and her entire family is "Born Again" Christian.

I went with her family to their church one day and it was packed!

This was in California.

The Catholic Church must be losing a lot of Hispanics based on what I could see.

I tried to figure it out and after attending the service, this is my opinion.

The Catholic Church is based on so much tradition, they tell you exactly how to think.

The service I attended was filled with compassion,music with a little combo playing to hymns,people able to express themselves emotionally.

IMO, the Catholic Church is too Straight Up and Down for many that are troubled and living in places far away from their roots. The Catholic church is too rigid.

With this new Pope,installed by GWBush, I don't believe it is going to change.

[Codeine]

7. The Catholics are too rigid?

Boy will these folks be surprised when they find out how rigid Islam is! :wow:

[goclark]

8. My friend is "Born Again" not a Muslim

But there must be a reason other Hispanics they are seeking a different answer than being Catholic.

[NEOBuckeye]

10. Corruption and rigidity within the Church

A LOT of corruption and rigidity in the Catholic Church has been exposed anew over the past decade, which has pushed some people to take stock of what they believe and call Catholic culture and traditions into question. Hence the beginning of a new phase of "falling away" from the Church, and a search for alternatives.

Think of Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation in Europe. I don't know that we're seeing anything remotely on that scale in Latin America, but I do think there will be a natural progression there away from Catholic dominance towards a diversifying of religious beliefs.

[Earth_First]

5. So...?

:crickets:

[Fountain79]

9. I'm half Mexican

What I have noticed in my own personal encounters with my family and others in my travels in Mexico is that there are many Mexicans who are culturally catholic but not necessarily praticing catholic. My uncle is an agnostic but will not eat meat on Fridays during Lent. If you ride on a bus in Mexico you will see a group crossing themselves once passing a church. I think the article disregards the larger protestant and mormon inroads that have been made into latin america.

[ConcernedCanuk]

11. "Christianity" is the professed religion of the United States of America

.
.
.

and they have slaughtered more people in the last 5 decades than any other country in the World

not a very good PR machine for "Christianity" now are they?

unless our God(ess) enjoys murder and genocide