Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Changing religions

AFP reported Maher al-Gohari converted to Christianity 30 years ago, but the Muslim-born Egyptian only recently took the decision to make his conversion public.... It's ony the second time this year that such a request has been made in a country where converting to Christianity, while not illegal, is practically impossible. In January, a court rejected a request by a Christian convert from Islam, Mohammed Higazi, to have his new religion written on his identity card.... In Higazi's case, the judge based his decision on Sharia, Islamic law, to prove that one cannot convert to an "older religion".
Does that mean the government would allow one to change to the Bahá'í Faith? Its founder, Bahá'u'lláh (1817-1892), is regarded by Bahá'ís as the most recent in the line of Messengers of God that stretches back beyond recorded time and that includes Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster, Christ and Muhammad.
"Monotheistic religions were sent by God
Actuall religions were invented by man in an attempt to reach God. All God sent to man was His Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
in chronological order... As a result, it is unusual to go from the latest religion to the one that preceded it," the judge said at the time.
Unusual, but should it be impossible?
The Higher Administrative Court is due to hear on September 2 the case of Maher al-Gohari, whose chosen Christian name is Peter Ethnassios, and who has been in hiding after receiving death threats from his family.
Not from God, who has known of the conversion for 30 years, but from the man's family, that just learned of it.

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