Hypothetical question for Christians in the US:?

Question

If all of a sudden, the US became a Muslim nation and told you to convert, pay extra taxes, or be executed- what would your reaction be? Would you convert? Pay the fee? What if nobody hired you for a job, or allowed you equal rights? What if you weren't allowed to marry unless you are Muslim?

What would your reaction be to the new legal limits placed upon your religion? What about the women- would you accept the local law and wear full headscarves- walk 10 feet behind your husband- stop working?

Note: this question is meant to pose the question- if suddenly your lifestyle was changed by an oppressive religious leader, how would you react to your loss of religious and personal freedom?

THis is not meant as an insult to Islam, nor am I teasing you Christians- I chose Islam thanks to the wonderous activities in the Middle East being displayed by the 3 Abrahamic religions.

No scripture please- I'm looking for opinions.

first answerer- is that like the limbo?

Thank you all for answering-

MNL- that's kind of what I was suggesting. I chose extreme Islam simply because I knew just how different things would be in that situation. As Jedi Knight suggested- we atheists would just be shot on sight... you guys might stand a chance though.

Answer 1

Hard to say unless it really happened, but I believe I would refuse to convert at all costs. Our brother and sisters worldwide already face issues like the ones you raise in various muslim/communist countries, and I believe I would rise to the occasion. And I also think there's a definite possibility Christians in the west will lose their freedoms even in my lifetime (though not to muslims) so unfortunately, I may get the chance to prove I wouldn't back down.

Answer 2

Great question as I think there is a possibility this might happen some day - maybe not in my lifetime, but it just might.

I have thought about this and here is what I think:
I would pay the taxes. I would wear the hijab. But I would not convert. As a woman I would obey whatever laws they had without violating my own religion.

If I were allowed to work but no one hired me I would try harder to be a good worker, I would work for less, I would be creative. If that still did not work and I couldn't feed my family, I would attempt to move or beg.

If I weren't allowed to marry unless I was Muslim, I would remain single (this is not true in Muslim countries though, they allow Christians to marry other Christians, only conversion from Islam to other religions is not allowed).

If I weren't allowed equal rights as Muslims, so be it. I am equal before my father, and I will receive my freedom and joy in heaven.

Now you haven't really said anything that I wouldn't be allowed to do that conflicted with my religion. But I'll tell you - talking about Jesus and attempting to convert Muslims would be illegal. And that I would do. If they told me they would kill me unless I stopped telling people about Jesus, I would just have to die.

"Whoever loves his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will perserve it." - Jesus in Luke 9:24

Answer 3

This is a good, thought-provoking question. Remember, though, that not all Islamic societies are alike, but I'll go with the idea of an extremist culture like the Taliban.

It's easy to think you'd do the brave and wise thing in theory, but when and if the real thing comes along, you might not be as brave and wise as you thought you were.

I would not convert to Islam. I might adopt Islamic practices that did not clash with my faith, and I might even visit a mosque once or twice. But when it comes down to the wire, I don't think I would change my religious affiliation or deny Jesus. Actually, Islam honors Jesus as a prophet, but I don't know if they see him somehow as Messiah and Savior.

Yes, I would pay the extra taxes, if I could afford to. Even now, I'm forced to pay taxes (unless I get a refund) to support things I morally oppose, like the Iraq War.

I'm not married now. If I were forbidden to marry, I might do so in secret if I had a fiance. I wouldn't mind wearing clothes that cover all of my body--except my face. That's where I'd really have trouble conforming. A person's face is his or her identity, and to cover a woman's face is to cover her identity and her self-expression.

I could see myself quitting a job, but not my career. I'd say, "Okay, I'll stop having a job, but someone has to support me--even the government--and I must have an outlet for doing the things I enjoy." That would include volunteer work or submitting my writings to publications, or using the Internet as I am now.

I remember Joan of Arc's final speech in the play Saint Joan by G.B. Shaw--that she'd rather burn to death than live the life of a prisoner, like a rat in a trap. Could I stand to live like Anne Frank, never going outside? Probably not--unless I really turned inward and used my very active imagination to survive. Actually, I'm such an upstart, any totalitarian government--be it Islamic, fascist, communist, or neo-slavery--would probably come after me and kill me, or put me in a concentration camp.

Now I see a flip side to your question: if we Christians wouldn't stand to see our freedoms limited by Islam, how dare we try to limit the freedoms of other faiths within the USA by imposing our preferences and our dogma upon them? Am I right that this is what you have in mind? If so, good point.

Answer 4

I would move, rather than accept the limitations from the Muslim nation.

Your question also points out a contrast between "Muslim nations" and "Christian nations". Even though non-christians say they sometimes feel like 2nd class citizens, they are never FORCED to convert to Christianity. The same cannot be said of "Muslim nations".

Not meant to insult Islam. Just stating what I've observed from nations such as Sudan, Iran, etc.

Answer 5

Would you convert? NO
Pay the fee? No
What if nobody hired you for a job, or allowed you equal rights? I would still not change.

What if you weren't allowed to marry unless you are Muslim? I am already married.

What would your reaction be to the new legal limits placed upon your religion? - If Islam is a religion of peace, why would it have to place restrictions on others?

Answer 6

I am not a Christian but wanted to answer your question anyways :)

I am huge on human AND animal rights as long as it doesn't involve hurting anything *intentionally*. In saying that, I will stick up for my rights at all costs... even if that involves execution. No one is going to force me to do anything because I will not let them. If they hold a gun up to my head, I guess they'll have to shoot because I will not give in. In the same respect I believe that Muslims have the right to practice their beliefs under the same guidelines... not hurting anyone. If women want to walk behind their husbands and allow their husbands to be dominant, then I will support them. I do not however believe the men should beat their wives and abuse them any kind of way. I am too interested in seeing what people say. In saying all this, we don't really know how we are going to act unless we are actually put in that situation. If someone was going to torture me for 10 years but keep me alive would I still stick to my beliefs or give in to keep from physical torture? Who knows?

Answer 7

Thank goodness that US was founded with the words "in god we trust" and also that were a democracy, so this wouldnt happen. If I went over the middle east then it would. So say for this question, it takes place over there. I would try my hardest to get out of that country. Why would I want to llive my life like the Muslams, i do not believe in it, what kind of life would that be like. I would choose to leave, If paying extra taxes were an option i would do that too, but i would not even want to live ina country like that.

Answer 8

For me, there would be a second Civil War. There are some things I won't tolerate, and steps backwards away from personal freedom is one of them. If the laws of the land cannot support freedom, then what was the purpose of fighting for it in the first place--wouldn't it have meant anything? If someone came into my house and forced me to live like they thought I should, I would retaliate with all that is in me...christian or not. Give me liberty--or give me death.

Answer 9

Being pretty good at surviving in the wilderness, I'd go into hiding, continuing to try to bring the light and truth of Christ to those seeking Him. It certainly wouldn't be a pleasant way of living, but it's no less than the apostle Paul did. Granted, he was probably a little tougher than me, but I'd sure try, and probably get caught and executed. But I would not renounce Christ.

Answer 10

I once read a story that made quite an impact on me. The upshot was - on the outside, do whatever keeps you alive. As long as there is life there is hope. Inside, do what you feel, and work quietly for change.

It makes a lot of sense to me. So that's what I would do.