I've noticed that a lot of posts here in ME/NA are about religion or how to do this or that in Islam.

I'm just curious how many people involved with ME/NA nationals are religious.

Note to Organizers: please do not move this poll to General Polls - it's for MENA consumption only.


PS. Edited to ask non-MENA visitors not to vote.

What are you trying to get out of this poll?

I can't really tell you until I see the results.

Other regional forums don't seem to revolve around religion as much as MENA does,
so I guess I'm looking for a correlation between religiousness and success in
marriage.

Ok...but I don't see how you can judge the success of marriages in MENA if your poll only asked the religion of the beneficiary or petitioner.

I think what we do know is that many women have converted religions since meeting their S.O.'s or they converted shortly before meeting. This could be why this forum revolves so much around relgion, its new to many and they are in the learning process.

Hmm, good point - I didn't think of conversion.

I think you need to define what is religious...its a rather subjective term don't you think?

Hmm, I really don't know what's so complicated about "religious".

It means following the principles of a religion - which is universally understood to
be a belief in (or worship of, or obedience to) a supernatural power or powers
considered to be divine or to have control of human destiny.

It also usually includes the practice of certain ritual observances - religious
meals, holidays, prayers, and such.

I think the last part is key. I associate organized religion with the term "religious". You don't have to be an atheist, for example, to be considered "not religious".

What if you observes some things within a religion and not others? Are you still considered "religious"? For example if you're Muslim....you don't pray regularly, have an occasional drink and do other things considered sinful but you fast during Ramadan, give to charity, don't eat pork, etc. Is that still considered "religious"?

I would consider that religious. Maybe the poll should have stated to what degree we consider ourselves religious, for myself it would be a 6/10.

I think in many cases, it stems from the culture in general. Religion is part of daily life and life is part of religion in MENA countries. Those of us who married a MENA man (or woman) are involved in a way life where there isnt this defined separation of church and state. Even in a mixed marriage, religion is the root of the things we do all day, every day. From what we eat and how it is prepared, to where our children go to school, and what we wear. This is not to say people from other cultures dont give a crap about religion, or say they believe and then do something else. It just seems to me that religion and daily life go hand-in-hand in the MENA culture, therefore bringing religion into most of the subjects we discuss.

I would also venture to say that some folks come out to defend Islam, because it seems like far too many people have a rather backwards (if not downright hateful) view of it. Its hard not to speak out in the defense of your own religion, or that of your spouse, when you feel the truth is being contorted or not told at all.

That's just my $.02

I agree. Also although in countries like the US we hear the occasional church bell chime on a Sunday or a weeknight you don't see people flocking into the places going to pray, whereas in a MENA country you hear the call to prayer and it's not unreasonable to see people flop their rugs out and pray in the street. Very different over there and everything (from what I could see) is focused on God. For example, most of the buses that i drove in had drivers that would say bismillah or bismilahir rahman arahim (or however you spell that) before starting their bus. I've yet to see a US driver start the bus with "in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

It's just ingrained in their lives so of course it will come up in conversation more often here.

I'm a christian and my husband is muslim. We both respect each others religions and we are both learning more about what the other beleives. He knows I have no plans of converting and he's fine with that. We both feel that God is God, regardless of the religion.

This pretty much sums us up too although I would say he is much more active or practicing in his religion than I am. And I respect him for it

Here. here.

omg I"m wicked loopy right now 'cause the kids aren't home and I did something I'm not poooosed to do but reading this just made me remember this episode of I Love Lucy for some reason

OMG Doodle! This is my all time fav!!!

don't tell anyone but my husband and I are TOTALLY Ricky and Lucy!!!

I just got a new laptop from work and I can't seem to be able to open that Youtube video...does it work for other people? If yes, any suggestions? Undoubtedly some of the settings are going to be a little off...

P.S. I think we're a little like lucy and ricky, too! And I even have red hair!

Well technically mine is strawberry blonde but it's super curly and I'm forever getting myself into predicaments!! lol

btw my sister cannot open the youtube links I give her but she uses my brother's company which is soley dial up so that could be the problem.

lucy had a stalker too?

Not one that got support like mine does!! Mine rocks!!! http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...t&p=1152509

Sounds a bit like that chick that was posting all that stuff a few weeks that created so much drama. Maybe I'm just jaded, but I'm with ya on this one.

I'm not the Biggest fan of lucy... But that cracked me up.. thanks Doodle

Ok here is my $.02!

I find a difference between spirituality and religion. Spirituality is God given and I consider myself a spiritiual person. I have a relationship with God and my husband has a relationship with God, the only difference is that the way I am in my relationship and they way he is in his relationship and they places and people that we pray with. We also pray together. We come before God and ask for his blessings on our health, marriage, family and friends and that God will guide us to be great servents and that He will help us to do His will. He is Muslim and I am a Christian (non-denomiational). I am very happy with my life and don't care what others think about my relationship with God and it is not up for discussion. You live the way you see fit and I live the way I see fit and God is the only judge that I need to answer too. This is how the world turns in my reality. Thanks for letting me share

"the response is thank you for the input" nothing more.

If everyone is throwing in their .02 here's mine. I dont like the word religion at all....to me it brings to mind Sunday mornings and evenings and Wednesday evenings standing on the porch talking about someone till they walk up then its all hugging and sister or brother. Religion lumps you in with everyone one else. A relationship with God imo is a personal thing.... I am muslim, but I dont even really fit in there I think... because I dont believe the only ones going to heaven are the muslims, nor when I was christian did I think we were going to get to heaven and be all alone. If that is spirituality so be it...all I know is I am totally submitted to God, thats not a religion it's life.