- Feb 5, 2002
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In 2006 he definitively distanced himself from Islam and in 2007 he converted to Catholicism.
Christmas is a time of reconciliation. God himself chose to become a man, coming into the world to save fallen humanity and reconcile it with himself. Christmas represents a dramatic break with conventional patterns and changes paradigms. Such is also the case of Zubair Simonson, a former Muslim who converted to Catholicism and shared his story with the National Catholic Register.
“Hatred consumes. The loathing of a perceived enemy can be so consuming that one would rather see that enemy harmed than see a so-called ‘friend’ be saved," Simonson noted, recalling his childhood, deeply affected by an upbringing that taught him to viscerally hate the Jews.
Simonson grew up in the United States, a long way from the Holy Land. However, from a very young age he was introduced to a narrative of “oppressors” and “oppressed,” of a people who were entirely to blame and a people who never did anything reprehensible. “I’d heard it reinforced, time and again, at the mosque. I’d heard it reinforced, time and again, in the homes of family and friends” he recalled.
In his daily life, suspicion was normal and would be directed at the supposedly Jewish-dominated media as well as with anyone with whom a Muslim had a disagreement. “He's a Jew,” they commented to each other in a mocking tone when disputes arose, even over totally superficial things.
Continued below.
www.ncregister.com
Christmas is a time of reconciliation. God himself chose to become a man, coming into the world to save fallen humanity and reconcile it with himself. Christmas represents a dramatic break with conventional patterns and changes paradigms. Such is also the case of Zubair Simonson, a former Muslim who converted to Catholicism and shared his story with the National Catholic Register.
“Hatred consumes. The loathing of a perceived enemy can be so consuming that one would rather see that enemy harmed than see a so-called ‘friend’ be saved," Simonson noted, recalling his childhood, deeply affected by an upbringing that taught him to viscerally hate the Jews.
Simonson grew up in the United States, a long way from the Holy Land. However, from a very young age he was introduced to a narrative of “oppressors” and “oppressed,” of a people who were entirely to blame and a people who never did anything reprehensible. “I’d heard it reinforced, time and again, at the mosque. I’d heard it reinforced, time and again, in the homes of family and friends” he recalled.
In his daily life, suspicion was normal and would be directed at the supposedly Jewish-dominated media as well as with anyone with whom a Muslim had a disagreement. “He's a Jew,” they commented to each other in a mocking tone when disputes arose, even over totally superficial things.
Continued below.
From Hatred to Love: Christmas Reflections of a Muslim Convert to Catholicism
In 2006 he definitively distanced himself from Islam and in 2007 he converted to Catholicism.
