Christians: Can Wahabism be overthrown through sustained prayer?

Question

Wahabism is the extreme brand of Islam enforced in Saudi Arabia
- converting to other religions is strictly forbidden on pain of death
- churches aren't allowed outside diplomatic compounds
- any attempt to preach other religions openly is severely persecuted
- women have to wear near tent-like clothes outside home
- their oil money is promoting this extreme Islam across the world
Moderate muslims would be happy to see it lose its influence.

Answer 1

I think it's important to understand the socio-historical factors that caused the emergence of Wahhabism and its appeal among the certain segments of the Muslim population. It is a modern phenomenon that could have taken place in no time other than our own. As such, its eradication does not really solve the problem of religious fundamentalism. In fact, religious resurgence is a social phenomenon that is emerging in many societies e.g. the Haredi movement in Israel, the Buddhist revivalists in Sri Lanka, Hindu nationalists in India, the Pentecostals in Brazil and the Philippines etc. What we need is to highlight the aspects of religion that these fundamentalists often forget e.g. compassion and understanding

Answer 2

Let's deal with the main question here. Every religion can be criticized; I know, I'm agnostic. It typically falls apart when people actually have to implement a moral code into their lives, but that's off on a tangent.
No, sustained prayer won't do the job, any more than a faith healer can cure an amputee.
Prayer is the "duck-and-cover" of religion. Remember those 50's safety clips showing whole buildings obliterated by an atom bomb and we're supposed to slide under a desk to protect ourselves? The reason we did that silliness is because the government needed to come out with some ritual to make us all feel safe; like we had some control over the situation. It was all poppycock, but it worked in that people felt a lot calmer about the possibility of nuclear annihilation. It's a basic need for humans to feel safe and in control over what happens to them.
And that's what prayer accomplishes; it satisfies the need to be in control and "do something" when we really are impotent. We can't help a friend cure their cancer, but we can pray. We can't undo an auto accident or weather disaster, but we can pray. And so on.
Probably not what you wanted to hear, but it's what you need to know.

Answer 3

It's funny how many people in the West criticise Wahabism when the US and the UK are the biggest supporters of Saudi Arabia in the world.

Be consistant, if you're going to condemn a nation, also equally condemn the nation that supports it.

It's this whole hypocritical attitude...

"It's terrible how they treat women and how they treat Christians....but we'll still buy their oil and support their government.."

Answer 4

I don't see a problem with Wahabism. Don't want to give them oil money, don't buy their oil, you have a choice to use or not use oil. As a female I find Wahabism liberating, perhaps you don't understand it well enough.

Answer 5

All religions are just primitive, superstitious garbage.

Therefore prayer serves no purpose. Its just for the lazy who can find nothing more productive to do with their lives.

Try reading Richard Dawkins' The God Delusion. It will help to educate your mind to the truth!

Answer 6

At a rough guess, over 6,000,000 prayers were said during the Holocaust, resulting in what ?

Answer 7

I easily have a higher theory than utilising Dawkins. i visit volunteer because the 'guinea pig'. i'd also be in a position to submit any consequences right here in this communicate board. (Atheist who's one hundred% certain of my lack of perception.) EDIT @ ICE- Matthew 7:7 "Ask, and it would receive you; search for, and also you'll discover; knock, and it will be opened to you. for one and all who asks receives, and he who seeks well-knownshows, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what guy of you, if his son asks him for bread, will provide him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will provide him a serpent? in case then you definately, who're evil, understand a thanks to provide solid presents on your toddlers, how a lot extra will your Father who's in heaven provide solid issues to those who ask him! " Mark 11:24: for this reason I inform you, in spite of you ask for in prayer, believe that you've received it, and it will be yours. John financial disaster 14, "I inform you the truth, all of us who has faith in me will do what I easily were doing. he will do even better issues than those, because i am going to the daddy. and that i visit do in spite of you ask in my call, so as that the Son would carry glory to the daddy. you may inquire from me for something in my call, and that i visit do it." there is no bible quote that helps your fact. everywhere prayer is reported, it says 'it will be performed'. EDIT: Now that a challenge has been issued, I see a great number of 'decrease back-pedaling' via the Christians. For all of their communicate about the 'skill of prayer', now they attempt to preemptively rationalize why it gained't artwork.

Answer 8

christians claim their religion is peaceful, unless you mean by sustained prayer a new crusaders war like that happened in the middle centuries, that ended up with them following christians into europe.

Answer 9

If you can get people in one accord then yes its possible.

Answer 10

who are ye calling a bism eh? ye wee nyaff!