Why does anyone convert to Islam?

[FrustratedFool]

I can just about understand why someone would convert to Hinduism, Buddhism, Paganism or some forms of Christianity in the West. But why do some secular atheists convert to Islam?

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

To feel special.

Boru

[no one]

For the freedom, understanding, joy, and compassion associated with the enlightened mindset.

Not to mention the bonus miles.

[FrustratedFool]

To feel special.

Boru

There can be many other ways to feel special that don't involve getting circumcised or denying evolution or fasting during Ramadan etc. Seems a pretty big investment in something as easy to obtain as feeling special.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

To feel special.

Boru

There can be many other ways to feel special that don't involve getting circumcised or denying evolution or fasting during Ramadan etc.  Seems a pretty big investment in something as easy to obtain as feeling special.

Hinduism: There can be many other ways to feel special that don't involve blood sacrifices.

Buddhism: There can be many other ways to feel special that don't involve using reincarnation to keep people in their place.

Christianity: There can be many other ways to feel special that don't involve ritual cannibalism.

Paganism: There can be many other ways to feel special that don't involve pentacles.

In short, people convert to different religions for the same reasons: they want to feel special, they want to feel superior, they're desperate to make sense of things without the bother of thinking, and so on. Conversion to Islam is no different than any other religious conversion.

Boru

[no one]

Why does anyone accept the nonsense that is god? Doesn't matter which one, the notion of a creator, is absolute rubbish.

[h4ym4n]

If I were religious and not a Muslim I’d convert because they have the best looking hat


You don’t want to piss off god with the wrong hat

[no one]

god's mostest favoritest hats are made of straw.

[FrustratedFool]

I'm not convinced conversion in general is because people want to feel special. It seems that most actually believe in the ideology they convert to, for various complex reasons.

And yes, there's definitely a desire for many practical and psychological benefits which likely undergirds the emotional conversion aspects (removal of fear, guilt, hope, community and so on) but being special seems low down on the list for many.

Given the cognitive dissonance cost for believing many other religions is usually either less or equal to Islam, and given the psychological benefits are likely the same, it seems odd for someone outside of a dominant Islamic culture to end up following a much harder path for no obvious benefit.

It seems to me that there must be something else driving some folk in secular post-Christian countries to convert to Islam rather than to Christianity or neo-paganism or some 'easier' faith.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

^Maybe you should find someone who has converted to Islam and ask them.

Boru