Conversion experience

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glo

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Hi all!

This thread is prompted by reading Ashley's account of what happened when she converted to Islam.

It made me realise that what she described was exactly how I felt when I became a Christian three years ago.
I remember feeling such joy and peace. I couldn't stop smiling to myself for days! :) I felt like belonging, like coming home.
The joy of walking with God has remained with me thoughout the years, as has the peace and tranquility I feel when I pray and worship him. :statisfie

It leaves me wondering how we may explain that people converting to different faiths can report the same spiritual experience?

Here are a few possible explanations I can think of:

  • God reveals himself only to converts of one faith group, converts to other faiths are deceived
  • God reveals himself to people of different faiths in the same way
  • It is a psychological phenomenon, nothing else

Any other thoughts or suggestions?

I am aware that people will have very different views on this.
I would really appreciate it, if we could avoid any heated my-view-is-right-and-everybody-else-is-wrong debates.
Just expressing your personal view is be fine! :)

Peace.
 
MusLiM 4 LiFe said:
btw randomly, wot were u b4? i mean wot religion were u following? or werent u?
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I had been brought in a Christian (Catholic) way, but I never related much to it as a child.

As a younger adult I dabbled a little with other faiths, but when I re-encountered the Christian faith, God blew me away! :statisfie There can never be another faith for me now ... for me this is the true way.

What about you? Do you have a conversion experience?

Peace
 
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Islam and Christianity contradict eachother. There is no way both could be right according to eachother. Therefore I would have to say that when you experience something new that brings you peace, (right or wrong according to G-d) then you have an emotioanl rush that gives you the feeling that you and Ashley both got when you converted.
 
therebbe said:
Islam and Christianity contradict eachother. There is no way both could be right according to eachother. Therefore I would have to say that when you experience something new that brings you peace, (right or wrong according to G-d) then you have an emotioanl rush that gives you the feeling that you and Ashley both got when you converted.
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Interesting, Rebbe.
Can I ask you if you had a conversion experience?

You don't disclose your faith, but I am guessing you are Jewish?
Can people convert to Judaism, or do you have to born a Jew?

Peace.
 
You don't disclose your faith, but I am guessing you are Jewish?
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Maybe. :)


Can I ask you if you had a conversion experience?
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No, I have not.

Can people convert to Judaism, or do you have to born a Jew?
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Yes, but it is discouraged and takes a long amount of time. The Torah gives seven commandments to gentiles and asks them to live righteous lives and they will go to heaven. So in essence there is not much of a point to convert unless you wish to marry a Jew or become part of the covenent the Jews made with G-d.

Jews love when people convert to a monotheistic faith because if the faith has in there 'holy book' the commandments that G-d gave for gentiles to follow then they are following the Torah basically without even realizing it.

Just like Judaism contradicts with Christianity? That is the who pupose of establishing seperate religions.
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Exactly. Since religions contradict how could someone who converts to Islam and someone who converts to Christianity get that same feeling from G-d? Both groups believe that G-d would never give that feeling to someone turing away from the so called 'truth' they preach.
 
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Interesting point. I have never thought about that. I would think there are indeed two possible explanations, as an atheist I would of course firstly explain it as a psychological issue. Mind you, this does not make it a bad thing, anything that brings happiness and personal peace can only be described as a good thing.

It is also interesting to note that this phenonemon is no doubt not limited to monotheistic religions, which further suggests that it is not necesarrily a typical monotheistic God that is 'touching' these believers. Either that, or God must not be a God that cares about which of the religions is 'correct', but rather touches those people who lead rightous and spiritual life's, regardless of the specific rules all these different religions prescribe. A bit like a Sikh, or yes even a Jew, would describe it. These different religions are merely different paths to the same God and to salvation.

But what do I know, I'm not religious ;).
 
Hi KAding

I agree that there will be similar accounts amongst followers of non-monotheistic religions.

How about you?
Do you have any conversion experiences? Or un-conversion experiences for that matter? :D
 
glo said:
Hi KAding

I agree that there will be similar accounts amongst followers of non-monotheistic religions.

How about you?
Do you have any conversion experiences? Or un-conversion experiences for that matter? :D
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No, unfortunately not :). I have not been raised religious and I am still not religious. I simply do not believe.

My sister recently became very religious though, and she follows this line, that all these religions deserve respect, that all lead to God. She is both a strong believer in Christ and yet also a Buddhist. She has spends months in a (Christian) monestary in India and it is amazing to see how the religious philosophy of these nuns and monks she lived with is a mix of Eastern religions as Buddhism, Hinduism and Western Christianity. I can do nothing but respect that. These are people who do not stress differences, but rather similarities, who think of God in a spiritual rather than a legalistic sense. I think thats so beautiful :).
 
glo said:
I had been brought in a Christian (Catholic) way, but I never related much to it as a child.

As a younger adult I dabbled a little with other faiths, but when I re-encountered the Christian faith, God blew me away! :statisfie There can never be another faith for me now ... for me this is the true way.

What about you? Do you have a conversion experience?

Peace
Click to expand...

nope, im a born MUSLIM n soooooo proud of it.. alhamdulilah :statisfie :) :D:D:D
 
therebbe said:
Maybe. :)




No, I have not.



Yes, but it is discouraged and takes a long amount of time. The Torah gives seven commandments to gentiles and asks them to live righteous lives and they will go to heaven. So in essence there is not much of a point to convert unless you wish to marry a Jew or become part of the covenent the Jews made with G-d.

Jews love when people convert to a monotheistic faith because if the faith has in there 'holy book' the commandments that G-d gave for gentiles to follow then they are following the Torah basically without even realizing it.



Exactly. Since religions contradict how could someone who converts to Islam and someone who converts to Christianity get that same feeling from G-d? Both groups believe that G-d would never give that feeling to someone turing away from the so called 'truth' they preach.
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why didnt u juz say ur jewish, itz so obvious wid all dat info u gave :?
 
and wht if he was..? hes stil a jew.. n mayb what if he woznt.. but what if its non of ur business, i woz askin him..??
 
Ok my two cents:
Obviously this isn't an easy question to discuss interreligiously, because it's bound to end up in a I am right you are wrong discussion. But although my answer is somewhat among those lines, I hope you'll find it reasonable.
If Islam is right, that means christianity is not wrong, but rather deviated from it's true form. That means there's still a lot of good in it. And thus also a lot of "source" to feel good about. As for God, he might not be pleased with the way some religions are false, but that doesn't mean he is not pleased with every follower of those religions, because even if a person follows something that isn't 100% accurate, but he still does it in an attempt to do right, and to seek God's pleasure, then that's gotta count for something right?

Oh btw , yes I felt this to. undescribable. ALhamdoelillahi. Such a gift.
 
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glo said:
Hi all!

This thread is prompted by reading Ashley's account of what happened when she converted to Islam.

It made me realise that what she described was exactly how I felt when I became a Christian three years ago.
I remember feeling such joy and peace. I couldn't stop smiling to myself for days! :) I felt like belonging, like coming home.
The joy of walking with God has remained with me thoughout the years, as has the peace and tranquility I feel when I pray and worship him. :statisfie

It leaves me wondering how we may explain that people converting to different faiths can report the same spiritual experience?

Here are a few possible explanations I can think of:

  • God reveals himself only to converts of one faith group, converts to other faiths are deceived
  • God reveals himself to people of different faiths in the same way
  • It is a psychological phenomenon, nothing else

Any other thoughts or suggestions?

I am aware that people will have very different views on this.
I would really appreciate it, if we could avoid any heated my-view-is-right-and-everybody-else-is-wrong debates.
Just expressing your personal view is be fine! :)

Peace.
Click to expand...

I'm just going to express my thoughts on 3 things you said:

  • God reveals himself only to converts of one faith group, converts to other faiths are deceived
  • God reveals himself to people of different faiths in the same way
  • It is a psychological phenomenon, nothing else


It is a psychological phenomenon, nothing else
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A few years ago, I would have said that was it and that is all it is. I would have even given you a very convincing arguement as to how it could be explained in terms of systems and beliefs and how we are impacted when one of our hidden beliefs is exposed to our concious level. But, then I got to thinking. That would mean all humans have essentialy the same intellectual capacity, the same life exposures and the same cultural environment. That dosen't seem logical.

God reveals himself to people of different faiths in the same way
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I would agree with that. There probably are some individual cases that for resons it would differ. But, I belive for the majority it is a true statement. I would say that to think different would mean that we all are not given equal chances, some people could have an edge given to them and others could be given total failure with no chance, I think that would eliminate personal responsibility.

God reveals himself only to converts of one faith group, converts to other faiths are deceived
Click to expand...

No, but I believe there are people that had over active imaginations and believed they received a message, but in reality they are justifying what they want to be their belief.

I'm also convinced that we all have God (swt) revealed to us. Only problem is some people seem to think that is the all that is needed. End of the trip, just need to coast until the train stops. I believe it is only the begining of our journey and part of that journey will be an insatiable drive to learn all humanly possible about God(swt) and to explore all sources to gain a small insight into His (swt) full being.
 
KAding said:
These are people who do not stress differences, but rather similarities, who think of God in a spiritual rather than a legalistic sense. I think thats so beautiful :).
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing that. KAding :)

Sometimes I think seeking for similarities with other people is the only way to peaceful living.
If I try hard enough I will find that I have things in common with everybody - no matter how different or strange they may see at first glance.

That doesn't mean we cannot and should not recognise our differences - as long as we learn to tolerate and respect them.

Peace.
 
steve said:
Ok my two cents:
Obviously this isn't an easy question to discuss interreligiously, because it's bound to end up in a I am right you are wrong discussion. But although my answer is somewhat among those lines, I hope you'll find it reasonable.
If Islam is right, that means christianity is not wrong, but rather deviated from it's true form. That means there's still a lot of good in it. And thus also a lot of "source" to feel good about. As for God, he might not be pleased with the way some religions are false, but that doesn't mean he is not pleased with every follower of those religions, because even if a person follows something that isn't 100% accurate, but he still does it in an attempt to do right, and to seek God's pleasure, then that's gotta count for something right?

Oh btw , yes I felt this to. undescribable. ALhamdoelillahi. Such a gift.
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Thanks, Steve.

Your view makes sense in relation to the monotheistic religions, which have so much in common and worship the same God (the God of Abraham).

What about non-monotheistic religions, though?
Peace.
 

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