Here's the thing straight up. The man I am in love with is a muslim, and I am not. I have known him for a year and we often talk about our future together. Recently, as things have become more permanent, he has asked me to consider converting to Islam so we could get married. I love Islam, because I love this man, and everything he stands for I agree with. The principles and ethics of Islam are pretty much the same as my own personal principles.
My problem is, that I am quite young (19) and while choosing to spend my life with this man is an easy decision, choosing to spend my life as a muslim is more difficult. It's not the rules that I find challenging,(I don't drink, I dress conservatively, I am also, shall we say, untouched) it's quite simply the faith. I have been brought in a primarily atheist household. I struggle with the concepts of heaven and hell, although I do firmly believe in a higher power.
The reason I'm posting is because I love this man and his religion, but for me personally i struggle with certain concepts of faith. . . I fear that this may be something ingrained into me, and I want to know if other converts struggled with this initial feeling. I do not want to insult Islam by joining it when I do not truly believe, even for the sake of love. I know I have to accept Islam on my own terms for this marriage to have a chance, otherwise I'll just resent my partner.
Any advice you have for me would be deeply appreciated, I'm in a state of turmoil and I have no answers.
My problem is, that I am quite young (19) and while choosing to spend my life with this man is an easy decision, choosing to spend my life as a muslim is more difficult. It's not the rules that I find challenging,(I don't drink, I dress conservatively, I am also, shall we say, untouched) it's quite simply the faith. I have been brought in a primarily atheist household. I struggle with the concepts of heaven and hell, although I do firmly believe in a higher power.
The reason I'm posting is because I love this man and his religion, but for me personally i struggle with certain concepts of faith. . . I fear that this may be something ingrained into me, and I want to know if other converts struggled with this initial feeling. I do not want to insult Islam by joining it when I do not truly believe, even for the sake of love. I know I have to accept Islam on my own terms for this marriage to have a chance, otherwise I'll just resent my partner.
Any advice you have for me would be deeply appreciated, I'm in a state of turmoil and I have no answers.