Hey everyone

[Cateyes]

I was a member many years ago. I was a convert to Islam but then i left it. I met some really nice people on here when I was going through hard times. I don't know why I joined again really. I read the bible from time to time and i dabble with many types of spirituality, i just love gaining knowledge when it comes to theology and the likes. I met someone who's different from me so this has prompted my return, i feel its only fair to give someone the benefit of doubt and be more open to our differences anyway so Hopefully ill learn something new this time around :p

[Eric H]

Peace be with you Cateyes; and welcome back to the forum;

I hope you are able to find the answers you are searching for.

[Cateyes]

Thanks Eric. Peace be upon you tooo

[greenhill]

Peace to you!

Funny I also just returned after many years..

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[Cateyes]

Can't believe how quiet its gone. it use be very loud and busy years ago ;D

[greenhill]

Salaam @Cateyes

I also have been inactive here for some years and only just visited it back.

I am intrigued, you convert and then left.... is there a story?

And hoping to learn something new.... I wonder what that might be?


Peace ✌

[Cateyes]

:statisfie Gosh where do I start?

It was more a obligation of marriage that I convert 15 years ago, I was young. 19 years young. VERY curious. I Just went along with it because of LOVE. I chose Sunni Islaam but I chose it before even studying it. ( Crazy I know )

During those years I had more doubts than questions, Id read the Qur'an and then Id study the Arabic, I did actually enjoy studying that because I enjoy learning languages.

Haha I felt restricted as most young Muslims do these days but they just stay in it because they were born in to it but there's more pressure on converts to be honest since we weren't born in to it) so we are very different in that regard.

We are white, we have to contend with family, culture, politics, identity politics and blah blah blah.. and so fourth.

There's more, I could go on.. but I think I'm pretty content with who I am now..or where I am. I am still learning. :p

[greenhill]

Thanks for answering ☺️

I am a born Muslim. Grew up abroad in a Christian school and over my lifetime I know of many people who would convert due to the religious beliefs and some for marriage.

I find mostly that Muslims does not necessarily mean Islam. (Very tricky). The real difference is in the intention behind all thoughts and actions. I can be doing all the stuff seen from the worldly eyes to be great but for the wrong intention, it counts for nothing.

Growing up abroad with no restrictions on fun I did feel being a Muslim imposed limits in my social life. This was my challenge. I was of course young and wanting to fit in.

The thing to me was, I could see a parallel between having fun and study to pass the exams and the same having fun and religious practice for heaven.

On the former I couldn't sacrifice my exams for fleeting moments of fun. Likewise with faith.

Only difference was that I totally believe in God and that Allah is The only God. This belief has been reinforced even more over the years.

I couldn't denounce it despite the temptations of unrestricted life on the other side. I knew I was only fooling myself.

The Priests being able to forgive my sins via confession as compared to Muslim belief where I am accountable for every action I did, having to fast 30 days a month, no alcohol, 5 times daily prayer blah, blah, blah, heck it was so easy to just denounce Islam

I could not. I already felt internally that Islam was just and fair if only you had faith in Allah. I did not pray nor did I fast and I did very little in the way of practice of Islam but despite all chats, discussions etc on the subject of faith, I found nothing more supreme than it.

There are many rulings I found harsh and that is if i choose the wrong path. So it was harsh to warn me to not take that path... May be I don't appreciate the warning...

There are many other (sound) reasons why I believe, but
I like what I learn from converts because of their journey to discover Islam. It's the 'touch down', where it clicked. It's so different for everyone... Maybe it has not yet clicked for you.

If you are looking at something new, well it's not new but if you have not yet seen it, do take a look at a YouTube video by Jeffrey Lang (90+ minutes short) called the Purpose of Life.

I really love the way he tells it. Maybe there is something for you.. do tell


Peace ✌

[Cateyes]

Very sincere answer. I was born in to the catholic faith so the foundation of morals is very strong. we learned the 10 commandants, we went to Church even though confession is part and parcel of being a Catholic, my mum never encouraged or recommended going to confession as she use to get a few slaps from the nuns and hit over the hand for being left handed at school when she was a child but that didn't affect her faith in God but she didn't push religion on us. I was raised to be very open and respect everyone no matter who they are.

I believe people can have good morals without religion. I also believe that not all religious people are behaving in a way where they are serving humanity, they might think that they are, I have had to practice a lot of discernment unfortunately and not all of these people had good intentions for me or other people in my situation.

I believe this may stem from some covert discrimination, sexism, racism whatever you call it.