An Easy Way to Influence Your Friends
Sunday
Books may contain more information, but most people are more open to the idea of watching a DVD than reading a book. A book is a considerably bigger investment of time.
This is an easy and comfortable way of introducing important information to people you know. Even a good friend might not be willing to listen to you talk nonstop for an hour, educating him on orthodox Islam and its prime directive, but he might be willing to watch a DVD. And the producers have the funds to hire authorities in their fields to share what they know, lending the DVD an influencing power far beyond what you could accomplish in a conversation.
When you mention the DVD, don't say it is the best thing you've ever seen. Say you liked it, but then tell them something you thought was the most interesting part of the film. Or the most intriguing. Or surprising. Intrigue them. Reach them at their level. What do you think they would find most intriguing about the DVD?
For example, when I mention the film, Islam: What the West Needs to Know, I like to mention that one of the people interviewed is an ex-member of the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization). In other words, he used to be an Islamic terrorist. He grew up in Palestine, where they glorify dying in martyrdom on television. He learned stories from his teachers in school of heroic martyrs blowing themselves up for the glory of Islam. He threw rocks at Israeli soldiers. He smuggled a bomb hidden inside a loaf of bread into an Israeli area, but changed his mind at the last minute and threw the bomb up onto a roof, where it blew up. I thought it was really interesting to hear his take on the Islamization of the West.
When you find a good film, watch it several times, so you will be well-acquainted with the facts and ideas later when you're talking to someone about the DVD. And while you watch the film for the second or third time, keep a notepad handy and jot down what you think are some of the most surprising or intriguing tidbits in the film, and use those to pique the curiosity of people when you talk about it.
In other words, don't just mention the film and say you liked it, and assume the person will be interested. Help her become interested. Gain and maintain rapport with her. This is a crucial part you can play to help convert people who aren't really that interested in Islam into people who are interested. You can make a small move in that direction by getting this person interested in watching a particular DVD.
Use this tool actively. It is a practical mission you could accomplish to help do the one thing that needs to be done: Educate your fellow non-Muslims about Islam. As you find things that work and things that don't work, please come back and leave your insights in the comments below.
We've got a growing list of DVDs to recommend. Check them out: Recommended DVDs.
Learn more about influencing your friends:
How to approach a conversation about Islam
Answers to objections when you talk about Islam
How to think outside the persuasion box
5 comments:
I agree that DVD's are more readily viewed than books are read. For that reason, I have offered to 'loan' out my own copies of "audio books". I encourage my friends to play them as they commute to-from work.
Audio editions for the following titles:
The Siege of Mecca", Yaroslav Trofimov
Islam Unveiled Disturbing Questions About the World's Fastest Growing Faith, Robert Spencer
Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades), Robert Spencer
The Truth About Muhammad: Founder of the World's Most Intolerant Religion, Robert Spencer
Islam Unveiled: Disturbing Questions About the World's Fastest-Growing Faith, Robert Spencer
The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam , Robert Spencer
America Alone: The End of the World As We Know It , Mark Steyn
Because They Hate: A Survivor of Islamic Terror Warns America, Brigitte Gabrielle
Infidel, Ayaan Hirsi Ali
I have been sharing DVD's that cover this topic as well as films about The Holocaust for several years now. The topics tend to relate.
I also make sure my congregation's media center has a copy of each as well. I would like to make a suggestion. You link to a 'list' of videos which opens to a string of posts about specific films.
It would be easier and hold my attention more, if it was a hyper-linked list with an image of the film which directed readers to individual posts containing further details about each film.
Some of the films in my library include:
Islam: What the West Needs to Know
Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West
Holy Land: Christians in Peril an excellent documentary about the April 2002 terrorist hostage crisis at Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity
The Silent Exodus this film provides important evidence that the exodus of 1.5 million forgotten Jewish refugees from the Arab and Muslim world began long before Israel's creation--and was largely fueled by ancient sectarian hatred.
The Longest Hatred comprehensive documentary feature on anti-semitism . . .not nearly as comprehensive as Dr. Andrew Bostom's tome . .. Legacy of Islamic Antisemitism
Suicide Killers a disturbing journey deep into a culture that few can comprehend -- that of suicide bombers.
Hostages of HatredPierre Rehov sets out to tell us the real story of those men, women and children, who have been shamefully used as mere pawns for over 50 years, by Arab leaders at first, by Palestinian leaders later on and until this very day but also by the United Nations' body that was specially created to supposedly take care of them : the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, UNWRA.
Farewell Israel, reaches the unavoidable conclusion that Western and Israeli misunderstanding of Islam is leading to a coming war - which will have devastating consequences for the West, and worst of all for Israel - Farewell Israel!
That's a great list and a great idea, Anonymous. Not only loaning them to your friends, but listening to them yourself in your car.
I do this also, and it gives me a fluency with the information when I'm talking with others because I've listened to (for example) my Robert Spencer tapes several times each.
When you listen to anything six times or more, you get a solid understanding of the ideas, and the facts and examples come to mind very easily when sharing with others.
Last night I had a conversation with someone that went like this:
"Did I ever loan you the DVD, Obsession?" I asked.
"No," she said, "What is that?"
"It's a film about militant Islam; but the reason I mentioned it is I thought you had seen the film, and I was going to tell you that somebody mailed out 28 MILLION COPIES free. Did you hear about that?"
"No," she replied, "but that's amazing. That must have cost a fortune. Would you loan me the film? I want to see it."
Where can I get some DVDs free of charge? I would love to give them to people I know for Christmas. My brother lives in San Bernardino. Way too close for comfort. I'm motivated.
As far as I know, DVDs are no longer available free of charge. If you find out differently, please let us know.
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