DISQUS

All Headline News: 17-Year-Old Runaway Christian Convert Allowed To Stay In Florida | AHN

  • pierrejoubert · 4 months ago
    A semi-bravo to this girl. It would have been a real break through for her if she realized that there are no ghosts, spirits, and gods. All religions are used by some to manipulate others, and all are equally false. Only if we can educate people to think for themselves, will we be able to rid the world of the pain and suffering caused by the cancer which is religion.
  • formerfundee · 4 months ago
    While there've been many atrocities committed in the name of religion, if you look at the 20th century, the absence of any religion results in human behavior that is far worse. The major atrocities of the 20th century took place under either atheistic systems or systems that denied religious tenants that speak to the value of human life (the holocaust, the gulag, khmer rouge). People who have religious beliefs do think for themselves. That's why there are so many disagreements between the various faiths, and sometimes even within them.
  • HeisRisen · 4 months ago
    well said, thank you for that.
  • ReturningTheFingerOfBlame · 4 months ago
    Behavior that is far worse? How? Give some examples please. Are you talking about pre-marital and sex? People have been doing it for thousands of years, it didn't just start in the 60s and oral and anal weren't invented yesterday either (go Catholic girls!).

    Are you talking about murder and rape? Again, the prison population is overwhelmingly Christian, and that's before they arrive.

    The Inquisition was almost as terrible as the Holocaust and lasted for decades(oh BTW, killing off the inteligent members of the population and the merchants probably didn't help bring the West out of the Dark Ages).

    The Salem witch trials...was that the Hindus, or should I re-read my History books again?

    Also, why do the states of Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, Louisiana and Georgia have the five highest rates of teen prenancy in the U.S. despite being overwhelmingly "conservative"?

    Just a couple of things to ponder over.

    And the holocaust by the way was very much a Christian run death program, in fact Hitler believed Atheists to be untrustworthy and sent them to the camps along with the the rest of the inteligensia of Central and Eastern Eurpoe. Try reading a few books other than the bible and the filth that's been pre-approved by your "sheppards" at christian bookstores.
  • paulcjeff · 4 months ago
    ReturningTheFinger OfBlame, it would behoove you to read formerfundee's comment all the way through. Notice that he/she said, "the 20th century". First, the Inquisition was not in the 20th century. The Salem witch trials were not in the 20th century. Secondly, the prison population is "overwhelmingly Christian", because the U.S. is overwhelmingly Christian. Thirdly, the states of Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, Louisiana and Georgia may have the highest rates of teen pregnancy, but that has nothing to do with atrocities, which is what formerfundee is talking about (unless you consider teen pregnancy an atrocity on the same order as the Inquisition, the Salem witch trials and the Holocaust [remember, you made the analogy]). And regarding the Holocaust being a "Christian run death program", if it were, then why were 3,000,000 Catholic Poles murdered by Hitler? Why were countless thousands of Lutheran pastors, Jehovah's Witnesses, and numerous Christians of other denominations murdered by Hitler? Yes, he used Christian words and references in his rants, but, in reality, he was more of a pagan who believed in the superiority of the Teutonic people and their gods than a Christian. Using Christian symbols no more makes him a Christian than the members of the KKK are Christian because they burn crosses. Your bigotry, hate and close-mindedness is showing. Try to get a little informed. Formerfundee is not saying Christians are perfect. He/she seems to be implying that Christians are sinners, just like everyone else. But, true Christianity can help to make a person a better person. Not always, because of our sin nature, but usually. And remember, some of the most ardent abolitionists were Christians, just to give one example.
  • jrapologist · 4 months ago
    lol, someone else beat me 2 it. Hopefully, he can learn something from both our comebacks. If not, its his loss :)
  • paulcjeff · 4 months ago
    Thank you.
  • jrapologist · 4 months ago
    Did you actually pay attention to formerfundee's comment? He said they ignored the value of human life, which is considered evil in mainstream religion. Even if religious people do evil things sometimes, religion causes at least as much help to the world as harm, and not all atheists are model citizens, so you shouldn't go pointing fingers at Christians.

    As for your last paragraph, note that his name is FORMERfundee, as in he used to be an extremist, but later came to his senses. I believe the best way to describe your comment is "massive fail" X(
  • freethink · 4 months ago
    None of us are in any position to determine, and declare definitively, what is real and what is false regarding religion. What we do know is that much like everything else in this world there's good and there's bad, there are no exemptions for religion. Just because a person declares themselves to be Christian, Jewish, or Muslim, does not mean they are inherently good; it also does not mean that they are inherently bad. For an atheist to point to the finger at religion and proclaim it as a cancer on society, is just as bad as the so-called religious person (Christian, Jewish, etc) proclaiming that those who don't believe in God are evil devils. Religion and the hope for peace and prosperity in the after life provides many with the strength it takes to continue on in this life...it provides them with the strength it takes to carry on in the face of adversity...who are you to take that away from them? Whether it is true or not, it is not your call to determine that for all of us...at the end of the day you are judging people for not believing in what you believe...just as Christian do to non-Christians and Jews do to Muslisms...in a sense, in your desire to distance yourself from all of the world religions, you fail to realize that you are kind of creating your own religion in Atheism, think about it. Take a close look at the definition for religion...then take a careful look at your Atheism...connect the dots. Religion is not the problem, as with everything else on this planet it is humans that are the problem...we've become incapable of widespread good. The value we add to this planet no longer exceeds the cost...it's time for our reign to end...E.L.E
  • ldsman · 4 months ago
    Perhaps it is not a question of religion as much as it is a question of tolerance to others views on the subject. Mauritius off the African coast is a very good example of how people cannot only tolerate, but, embrace the other persons, religion and ethnicity. We could all learn much from them, low crime, high literacy, several major religions as well as cultures, and people.
  • pierrejoubert · 4 months ago
    Many of us are, in fact, in a position to declare what is false about religion. All of it! We know how and why religions were created. We can prove that there is no god that cares a hoot about what you or anybody wants.



    I don't judge people for not believing what I believe, because I DON'T believe anything. That is the natural and normal state. Just like not drinking alcohol can never be regarded as a counter-condition to alcoholism, so not believing in gods and spirits cannot be regarded as a 'religion'. To quote the rather patronizing expression that you like to use: 'think about it'.



    Religion gives people false hope. Ask the lady who recently had a bunch of people pray for her sick child, instead of seeing a doctor. Of course the child died. I can tell you, with absolute certainty, that even if a million people had prayed, it would still not have made the slightest difference.
  • hopeisallwegot · 4 months ago
    I can see how this world could make you cynical. It is so difficult to live a good Christian life today as Jesus showed us how to. There is way to much noise, technology, rebellion & differing political opinions bombarding our minds constantly. The only way to drown it all out is by meeting Jesus alone in a quiet space and allowing him to show us how to love one another...regaurdless.... Atheism is not the answer my friend.
  • me · 4 months ago
    yeah...religion causes people to rape, murder, pillage and destroy. that couldn't be man using their free will and fulfilling evil desires. no, let's blame something other than ourselves for our disgusting behaviour. face it dude, people stink, God doesn't.
  • paulcjeff · 4 months ago
    Amen!
  • pierrejoubert · 4 months ago
    Atheists don't hijack planes and fly them into buildings. Religious fanatics do. The also brainwash and indoctrinate their children. God doesn't do anything, because there is no god. Face it, 'dude'!
  • mea · 4 months ago
    Being brought up in a muslim/islamic household, this girl is fully aware that you don't leave the muslim faith. You'll be killed for doing it. No one gets out. Which, by the way, is why Obama doesn't practice Chrisitanity like he claims. Once a muslim, always a muslim.
    This "faith" is one of the worst radical- male-dominated cults of history. It's all about control, not faith in God.
  • hijabi · 4 months ago
    Anyone who knows anything about Islam knows that there is no compulsion in faith. Do some research people, your lack of knowledge is scary to say the least. There may be some cultural issues here but those are not Islamic issues. When you leave the faith you leave, we all face judgement day alone.
  • snake74 · 4 months ago
    that comment is the dumbest thing i ever seen, if you arent muslim how would you know what its like to live or be one ?you've just showed how ignoranrt you really are, reading and seeing only what the tv wants to show .you must live in middle america somewhere , you sound like a good old boy ?
  • suprastarr · 4 months ago
  • suprastarr · 4 months ago
    "Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things." The Holy Quran 2:256
  • paulcjeff · 4 months ago
    suprastarr, if you are a Muslim, then you must know that, regarding the Quran, anything that appears later that contadicts what appears earlier takes precedence. You quote Sura 2, written when Islam was a minority "religion." When Islam came to dominate in the Middle East, tolerance went out the window. Later on in the Quran, it calls for the annihilation of Jews and Christians. Muslims have been mad at Jews ever since Isaac got the birthright instead of his older half-brother, Ishmael. And they hate Christians because they think we are polytheists, because we believe in the Holy Trinity. You are doing the same thing that many Muslims do worldwide: hide the truth about Islam and only quote the "good" stuff. Islam is NOT a religion of peace (with all due respect to former President George W. Bush) because first of all, it is NOT a religion any more than the KKK, Nazism or Communism are religions. It is a philosophy of life. Again, if you understand true Islam, you would know that Islam does not teach the concept of religion nor politics, and certainly not the separation of religion (church) and state. For Islam, Islam and Allah is everything and everything must be "submissive" (the meaning of Islam) to Allah. Secondly, it is most certainly NOT a philosophy of peace. Look around the world. Anywhere Muslims are, violence follows, even against their own people; for example Indonesia, the most populous Muslim nation in the world.

    I know, I know, Christians kill each other in Ireland, Europe (in WW2), etc. But, it is most certainly not on the scale as Muslims, and while innocent people are sometimes killed, very SELDOM do Christians INTENTIONALLY kill the innocent (other than abortion).
  • suprastarr · 4 months ago
    Paul,

    Don't be a tape recorder and reiterate what your pastor told you about Islam. Why don't you bring an Islamic reference to refute my claim instead of some bigotted and ignorant pastor's opinion of this unadulterated way of life. For your information, we don't hate our Christian brothers, we feel bad for you, for you all were misguided by the man you were named after-Paul. In the book of deuteronomy it clearly says not to eat pork, and yet most Christians consume swine in abundance. I can refute Christianity some more if you'd like, but this isn't the forum for this type of discussion. And please don't be so naive as to say that Christians haven't killed anyone on purpose. Were the crusades an accident? How about world war 2 when the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki killing over 300,000 people? Was that on accident?
  • tdoctor · 4 months ago
    Awesome decision!!! God Bless this 'child'!!!!
  • tdoctor · 4 months ago
    'Honor Killing'---how pagan can it get??? Guess the males who believed Allah would have a bunch of virgins waiting for them if they would suicide bomb themselves and take a number of innocent people with them--a little worse & 'they' call it religion--more like male domination!!

    And to encourage these pagans to become a pert of American society---no brainier!!!
  • openhands · 4 months ago
    In Islam, committing suicide is one of the most forbidden sins. Those suicide bombers are not TRUE muslims, by blowing them selves up and killing innocent people they are walking straight into Hell!
  • tdoctor · 3 months ago
    Where does Allah get all these virgins to supply the 'bombers'??? How can the bombers do anything with the virgins when they blow off their 'johnsons' in the explosion?? Think you LIE!!!!
  • tdoctor · 3 months ago
    Why don't the good muslims speak out anf condem the militants--never hear of it??? Because there ARE NO GOOD MUSLIMS---probable answer!!!!
  • 666reba6 · 4 months ago
    If Christ has drawn her to him and she listen to her conscience she understands that love is the answer to the world problems and hate only brings pain and suffering. Love brings peace to your heart. And for the people that have no conscience please read the book THE SOCIOPATH NEXT DOOR by Martha Stout,ph.d. Change is within your power........do it..........
  • nanaz · 4 months ago
    That is the worst decision to make. Islam is a beautiful religion, and everyone that doubts that is just ignorant , instead of taking the time to actually understand it, you judge it based on what the media presents to you. This girl is still young and I believe that one day she is going to realize that she made a wrong decision and hopefully regret it ... but may Allah be with her and guide her into the righteous path... Allah is also the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
  • daniel1985page · 4 months ago
    NANAZ allah speaks of nothing but hate and death to countrys like the USA just because we don't believe in your nut case religion! Its very far from the religion of peace!!!!
  • hijabi · 4 months ago
    Allah=God same meaning different language. Please don't consider lack of knowledge by some to be religious reality for all.
  • breakthegoldencalf · 4 months ago
    allah and the God from the Bible are NOT the same. you need to look at the history of your "faith" which starts from Ishmael, Isaacs brother , remember the covenant was with Isaac. If God and allah are one in the same, then why does your religion classify "Christians" as well as the rest of the world as INFIDELS.
  • hijabi · 4 months ago
    Yeah you need to do some reading. Infidel is defined "one who has no religious belief" and our religion has never classified Christians as such. Some idiots who are uneducated may have said so but those of us who practice consider Judaism, Christianity, and Islam just different branches on the same tree, as we pray and believe in the same God.
  • openhands · 4 months ago
    Our religion started at the beginning with Prophet Adam. Don't speak of one's religion if you don't know of it. That is very disrespectful.
  • snake74 · 4 months ago
    when the book was created u idiot countries like the usa didnt exist ?its obvious this young girl was brainwashed by a slick minister with a hidden agenda!
  • nanaz · 4 months ago
    Daniel1985 First of all you need to have some respect when your talking about my religion, I didnt disrespect anyones religion. You obviously dont know what Islam is about .. it is a religion about PEACE , so dont judge us based on what the media protrays you to see. There is only ONE GOD so my Allah is also considered your God. You really need to research your facts before you make comments about other peoples religions... That right there just proves your an ignorant person!!!Sooo hunny when you do get your facts straight then maybe you can confront me about my ALLAH and Islam....
  • muna2009 · 4 months ago
    So she converted to Christianity. If that's what she wants that's what she can have. But I am amazed at how the Islam bashing continues.

    You dont hear coverage of the countless Christians who convert out of their religion every day.. and a lot of times its to Islam. The girl is young, vulnerable and now she is just going to be exploited by the likes of the Reverend and his wife. Who would ever encourage a young girl to go ahead with the actions that she took as far as running away from family? Just ask any parent whose child ran away from home and they will tell you how painful it is to go through.
    I am sure the parents are content that their daughter is alive and well. Even if they are not happy with her.
    Muslims love their children too.
    Signed: A liberal muslim female with a rebellious nature who has come to know what family is.
  • Name · 4 months ago
    A liberal muslim female.. get over yourself, as though that description adds anything to our estimation of you. Are you one of those people who like to parade the fact that they're 'liberal' or 'female' or perhaps 'muslim', as though there were any merit in it? Perhaps many Christians convert to Islam, but that's because they're free to do so in this culture, and probably because Christianity is still the culturally dominant religion in the U.S.A, which makes 'exotic' religions like Islam more palatable.
  • muna2009 · 4 months ago
    Wow! Did I hit a nerve? The fact that I was raised in America, am a citizen and am a liberal still doesnt make up for me being a Muslim huh? Comments like get over yourself, our estimation of you., me not having any merit...you just highlighted your own ignorance. And the fact that you cant submit a name even - shows your cowardice in letting the rest know what your background is..... You must feel pretty powerful hiding behind a computer screen.

    And the reason why christians convert to Islam is not because they are free to do so but because it speaks true in their hearts.
    This is a public forum and I have a right to speak my mind about the 17 year old girl's situation without being attacked for it.

    Salaam.
  • donnci · 4 months ago
    Ever notice, little or no comment is made about a Christian converting to Islam?
  • Anonymous · 4 months ago
    This is INSANE! I understand why some might take offense to this story or celebrate it as a joyous happening, but all this RELIGOUS BASHING? It's completely unnecessary...anyone who calls them selves Muslim OR Christian knows that TOLERANCE is a STAPLE in both faiths. TOLERANCE was one of the biggest virtues taught by Jesus and Muhammed, and look how a young woman's PERSONAL decision has blindsighted you all from that. No wonder the atheist community gawfs at us...if we present ourselves as peaceful, lovers of life and hope and happiness, and we turn around and RIDICULE someone else because of their beliefs. It's just plain hypocritical.
    Please, citizens of Earth, stop this blunt stupidity.
  • suprastarr · 4 months ago
  • aproudmuslimlady · 4 months ago
    It's clear from most comments that people are not sympathising the girl, but only found a chance to show their hatred to a graet religion .ISLAM . Pls everyone to be objective read first about this religion and its great teachings before judging something you know nothing about.
  • suprastarr · 4 months ago
    This violates the law of the land, she should be returned to her parents. Her parents said they won't harm her, and I believe they wont. More than anything, Muslims care about their families and their well being. Timothy McVeigh was a Christian, does that mean that all Christians go and bomb buildings? By the same token, if there are some misguided people out there who carry out honor killings in the name of a religion, then guess what? More people have died in history in the name of religion than any other scapegoat attributed. Additionally, in Islam there's no compulsion to be a Muslim. In the Holy Quran (2:256) God Almighty says:

    "Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things." The Holy Quran 2:256

    As I stated earlier, people do all sorts of heinous things in the name of religion, and that does not prove that religion is to blame. What is to blame is ignorance. People are so quick to form their own opinions, even if those opinions have no support from anything concrete. Before people go out and pass judgments, maybe they should make some effort to become informed on the subject matter.
  • lash5674 · 4 months ago
    Praise God! He is so faithful!
  • musaibnsalaam · 4 months ago
    Government should not believe the father. True, it is not all fathers that would want to harm a convert-daughter; but many are ready to do so. very serious Muslim who knows what the Shariah law stipulates, knows that an "an infidel" or a 'renege' from Islam is under the judgment of death; and this judgment can be carried out by the nearest Muslim to the person. That is what the Islamic sacred book The Hadith of Al-Bukhari (compilation of the words of Mohammad). It says: “The Prophet said: ‘If somebody (a Muslim) discards his religion, kill him.’”, ("The Translation of the Meaning of Sahih Al-Bukhari", translated by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan, Professor of Arabic language at the Islamic University of Medina, Vol. 5, #261.) The Quran itself says, They wish that you should reject Faith (Islam), as they have rejected (Faith), and thus that you all become equal (like one another). So take not friends from them, till they emigrate in the Way of Allah (to Muhammad). But if they turn back (from Islam), take (hold) of them and kill them wherever you find them, and take neither friends or helpers from them." (Surah 4:89). So, we must never downplay the danger Rifqa is exposed to. Her parents may not harm her, but there are Muslims who are capable of obeying the Quran and following the instruction of Mohammad to deal with her - right there in the USA.
  • BVPP · 4 months ago
    I think Islam is a harsh religion because if you do not follow it, you will be honorably killed. I think what Rifqa wants, is freedom from living a locked life. I think she wants to be free and wants to believe in a more loving good, then a strict religion. Some may think that she is a drama queen but when it comes to religion, it is no laughing matter. Off course her parents will not accept that they had threatened her in public but a 17-year-old would not lie about her own parents saying such things. I do believe that her parents would have those kinds of thinking's because Islams are very prejudice against those who do not follow their religion. And I think the solution to this is to put her in a foster home.
  • Name · 4 months ago
    unfortunately, this type of stuff really does happen. ill be praying for her and her faith in God and his son, Jesus Christ.
  • SHETANIASHINDWE · 4 months ago
    Islam does not permit free-will. You either go for mdrasa and memorize the koranor what you are told from the age of 3 onwards or you are dead. That's why they say once a Muslim always a muslim, and as for this girl good luck and don't let the fanatics of the religion get you.
    For my fellow blogger PJ, the Islam world is a WE culture and most of the EAST, FAR-EAST, AFRICA, ASIA etc....,you cannot EDUCATE PEOPLE FROM A WE CULTURE to think like the WEST, (INDIVIDUALISTIC), the family plays a big role in thier lives. Lets hope this girl is safe.
  • Anonymous · 4 months ago
    Hold on a second there...THE MAJORITY OF AFRICA IS CHRISTIAN PAL. Don't put us in that...your thinking of North Africa (Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Libya, ect.) the rest of the continent is Christain except for some tribes that practice Animism.
  • betteroffbelieving · 4 months ago
    This child is now old enough now to make her own decisions and follow her own path. Further she knows her parents better then any so if she says she feels threatened for her decision then the law is right to intervene & investigate and if necessary emancipate her.

    As far as any religion being docile and harmless consider this, religions are the pius of people. That is man needs religion for his own purposes . . . not GODS. Religion isn't what kills others, PEOPLE kill for their own reasons and very often hide behind their religion as a justification for doing so. Even the agnostic finds reasons for doing so that they feel indemnify themselves from guilt (ie. infidelity, racial or sexual differences . . ect). Fact is we all say killing is wrong but then seem to find reasons for doing so and none want to admit that it is just the very nature of their own self that brought them to do it.

    Does this mean we should toss religion to the wind??? I say NO! I was raised Christian and still beleive as such though maybe not as stuanch as my parents. I took time to listen as others spoke of their religion and found them to believe just as strongly in their God as I do mine. I also have learned that most religions, except the most radical, believe in forgiveness & love for fellow men as does mine and yet all still find reasons to persecute the others. I think this is one of the reasons man will sooner or later anialate each other to the point of extinction. Who knows maybe one day he'll wake up and avoid this fat . . . but I doubt.

    As for the agnostics . . . good luck with that! I work in a feild that deeply involves the physical properties of matter and I have learned one thing for certain. No matter how much we learn HOW all this, the universe, life and the very world we live in, came to be - we as motal humans will never be able to explain WHY! There is too much at stake in this world to write it all off as a big accident and it is for that very reason I beleive in God
  • Anonymous · 4 months ago
    AMEN!

    lol
  • teresa · 4 months ago
    i think that it is is sad that people nowadays cant even talk openly about thier releigon
  • Hammad · 4 months ago
    Two comments: First faith comes from the heart not by force. If anyone with the sense of understanding wishes to accept or deny a religion have a complete right to do so. Second since when the state started addressing the issues of religions in teh United States. This judge faulted in his decision if it was based on a statement that she would be harmed. Unless, it was determined that her parents had harmed her or used such practices in the past. Otherwise she should have been returned to her parents as we see everyday 16/17 year olds wanting to stay with their boyfriends/girlfriends but the law must return them to their parents unless a physical saftey is an issue.
  • Jubilation · 4 months ago
    It takes a lot of courage to stand up for what you believe in. Our nation was conceived on the idea of freedom of religion and freedom from oppression and I am happy that she is exercising her rights. This isn’t about whether Christianity is better than Islam, it is about fact that this girl found a religion that is true to her own self. I am supportive of her actions and determination.
  • Mary · 4 months ago
    Govt. Crist we looking upto your ruling to defend this girl... but above all Jesus is backing you girl...He who called you is faithful to see that all He's started will be brought to completion... you just made the best decison ever... miles and miles away but I will pray for you.