Western Converts to Islam

[ginkoneko]

I'm curious about the experience of Western people, or anyone not raised by a Muslim family, who converted to Islam. Such as...

What religion were you before?
What does Islam offer that your previous faith didn't have?
What first interested you in the Islamic faith?
What has the reaction been of friends and family?
Are you treated any differently in public then you were before?

We are doing a unit at school about witnessing to people of certain faiths and right now we're covering converts to non-Christian faiths from primarily Judeo-Christian upbringings. I'd just like to know about your experiences.

 

[Futuwwa]

Rightoe, here goes

What religion were you before?

Mainline Protestant at first, then heretical Christian, now (slightly heretical) Muslim.

What does Islam offer that your previous faith didn't have?

To make a long story short: it all made a lot more sense to me.

What first interested you in the Islamic faith?

For reasons I don't remember, I got to read the Quran. It was love at first sight.

What has the reaction been of friends and family?

For those who know about it, the reactions have been very mixed. Most are simply "okay".

Are you treated any differently in public then you were before?

Well, no, because my faith isn't publicly visible in any direct way.

 

[Bookofknowledge]

I got to read the Quran. It was love at first sight.

Subhanallah Brother, Please Include me in your Prayers...

 

[Oxy2Hydr0]

What religion were you before?

Christianity to Judaism to Islam

What does Islam offer that your previous faith didn't have?

Truth, logic, rational, discipline, direct access to and personal relationship with G-d

What first interested you in the Islamic faith?

The Quran

What has the reaction been of friends and family?

Dull, dark, negative

Are you treated any differently in public then you were before?

Yes, that is, if they know that I am muslim. The only way of people in public knowing that I am muslim is if I tell them or if they see me with my wife who wears Hijab

 

[Exegete12]

Yes, that is, if they know that I am muslim. The only way of people in public knowing that I am muslim is if I tell them or if they see me with my wife who wears Hijab

Then you should be wearing a beard. That is the man's equivalent isn't it?

 

[rahma]

I'm curious about the
What religion were you before?

ELCA Lutheran, active in the church.

What does Islam offer that your previous faith didn't have?

The concept of Revelation directly from God, and a form of worship given by God.

What first interested you in the Islamic faith?

Lost my christian faith in the summer following my freshman year of college (at a lutheran university). Went to the local new age bookstore, the only store in town that sold books from other religious faiths. I picked up a number of books to from different faith traditions to look into, and one of them was the Qur'an.

What has the reaction been of friends and family?

Friends have all been good, alhamdulilah (thanks be to God). Family not so good. My parents pretend it never happened, and if I do anything "muslim" around them like say I'm going to pray or wear a scarf, they freak out.

Are you treated any differently in public then you were before?

Yes, I get the occasional "raghead," "sand n*gger," "terrorist" line, because I wear hijab. My favorite though is "Go home," to which I have my prefabbed witty reply - "Well, I just went back home to central wisconsin last weekend, and it was really nice, but I think I'll stay here in Minnesota. We have better restaurants and public radio here. Thanks for your concern though!"

Growing up in an almost all white town in central wisconsin left me somewhat naive to racism that is prevelant in our society.

We are doing a unit at school about witnessing to people of certain faiths and right now we're covering converts to non-Christian faiths from primarily Judeo-Christian upbringings. I'd just like to know about your experiences.

Can't say I've ever been effectively, or even politely witnessed to. This board has done more to squash any last vestiges of christianity left in me than anything else.

 

[ginkoneko]

I'm so interested in Islam. It gets me into trouble! I read about Islam when I'm supposed to be doing something else in my Bible Study. I go to a Catholic school and we started out the year in my Bible Studies class investigating other religions so we would be able to talk to people, well, witness to them, without saying something horribly offensive. I haven't been a Christian for very long. I remember the dumb things people would say when they tried talking to me about God. Some people were great at answering questions and sharing testimony. Other people went for the "you're gonna burn in hell" approach. I don't want to be someone like that. Personally I'm a little uncomfortable with witnessing to start with. I love it when I'm talking to a friend or someone who seems interested but I don't like offending people who just don't want to hear it. Reading about Islam so far as been lots of fun. There's a lot I don't know but since I've started I've lost a lot of ignorant prejudice that would have ruined my chances to have a meaningful chat with a Muslim person. Anyway, thanks for answering those questions. I sort of figured people would be treated badly in society for being Muslim, just because I've heard a lot of dumb things being said in shops here towards women in hijab and such. Or just people of Persian or Arab descent, even if they aren't Muslim. It's crazy. I hope the intolerance goes away soon.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Can't say I've ever been effectively, or even politely witnessed to. This board has done more to squash any last vestiges of christianity left in me than anything else

If this board wouldn't have, the Apologetics board probably would have.
Someone brought up a thread on miracles and all I could respond was "Converting an Atheist/unbeliever to the LORD and Creator in the Bible"

Christians are still awaiting the END Jesus and the Apostles spoke of. Peace

http://www.christianforums.com/f13-general-apologetics.html

Mark 13:13 and ye shall be hated by all because of my Name, but he who hath endured to the End/teloV <5056> --he shall be saved.

1 Peter 4:7 But the End [teloV] of ALL things is nigh at hand; therefore be sober-minded and watchful in your prayers.

 

[Abdurrahim]

Peace be with you

This book I have read and was really interesting .

An Undeniable Fact : Prominent Church People Enter Islam

Description from the publisher:

This book is a collection of narrations by former Christians who have entered the fold of Islam. It traces their thoughts, steps, decisions, reactions, and more. It is interested reading for those involved in dialogue with Christians, and people of other faiths.

Includes the following individuals:


Anselm Tormeeda
Rev. David Benjamin Keldani, BD
Abdullah Muhammad al Faruque
Chaplain Yusuf Estes
More priests and preachers who have embraced Islam
Khadijah (Sue) Watson
Aicha (Odette) Sakindi
Martin Jon Mwaipopo
Raphael
George Antony
Dr. Gary Miller
Viacheslav S. Polosin
Ibrahim Khalil


http://onlineislamicstore.com/b7803.html

And you can read the stories of our jewish brothers and sisters which have embraced islam.

http://www.jews-for-allah.org/Jewish-Converts-to-Islam/

Peace

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

And you can read the stories of our jewish brothers and sisters which have embraced islam.

http://www.jews-for-allah.org/Jewish-Converts-to-Islam/

Peace

Well, if ya can't beat 'em, join 'em.

http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article1799460.ece

One of Europe's most successful far-right leaders has appealed to Jewish voters to join forces against radical Islam and back a party denounced as xenophobic.
Filip Dewinter, leader of Belgium's Vlaams Belang, described Antwerp's large Jewish community as natural partners "against the main enemy of the moment, the radical Islam, fundamentalism".........

........Mr Dewinter said: "If they won't accept our way of life, if they won't accept those principles which are very clear and very necessary for Western democracy, I don't think we have to recognise Islam as an official religion in our country."...........
===================================================
Matthew 23:1 Then Jesus spake to the multitudes, and to his disciples, 2 saying, `On the seat of Moses sat down the scribes and the Pharisees; 3 all, then, as much as they may say to you to observe, observe and do, but according to their works do not, for they say, and do not;

reve 16:10 Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain.

 

[Snowbunny]

Well, if ya can't beat 'em, join 'em.

http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article1799460.ece

One of Europe's most successful far-right leaders has appealed to Jewish voters to join forces against radical Islam and back a party denounced as xenophobic.
Filip Dewinter, leader of Belgium's Vlaams Belang, described Antwerp's large Jewish community as natural partners "against the main enemy of the moment, the radical Islam, fundamentalism".........

........Mr Dewinter said: "If they won't accept our way of life, if they won't accept those principles which are very clear and very necessary for Western democracy, I don't think we have to recognise Islam as an official religion in our country."...........
===================================================
Matthew 23:1 Then Jesus spake to the multitudes, and to his disciples, 2 saying, `Onthe seat of Mosessat down the scribes and the Pharisees; 3 all, then, as much as they may say to you to observe, observe and do, but according to their works do not, for they say, and do not;

reve 16:10 Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain.

i do not understand racists... their whole mentality scares me

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

i do not understand racists... their whole mentality scares me

What I cannot fathom are true Orthodox Jews converting to Islam. Perhaps Islam is doing a better job than Christians at convincing Jews that Jesus was their Messiah, don't know. I would love for Jews to at least look at the Jewish book of Revelation, but because it is in Greek, it is treated just like the rest of the GNT.

After all, one cannot join Islam without believing Jesus came to the Jews, but how are they able to prove it if Christians cannot? Baffling.


http://www.jews-for-allah.org/Jewish-Converts-to-Islam/

Peace

http://www.jewsforjudaism.org/jews-jesus/jews-jesus-index.html

If an individual fails to fulfill even one of these conditions, then he cannot be "The Messiah." A careful analysis of these criteria shows us that to date, no one has fulfilled every condition.
Certainly NOT Jesus

 

[junkmail]

Hi original poster, I suggest you check out this site.

http://www.harunyahya.com/html/m_video_index.htm

turntoislam.com

You can find some really good info there. Hope you get more knowledgeable and can help dispell misconceptions.

 

[Futuwwa]

Well, if ya can't beat 'em, join 'em.

http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article1799460.ece

One of Europe's most successful far-right leaders has appealed to Jewish voters to join forces against radical Islam and back a party denounced as xenophobic.
Filip Dewinter, leader of Belgium's Vlaams Belang, described Antwerp's large Jewish community as natural partners "against the main enemy of the moment, the radical Islam, fundamentalism".........

........Mr Dewinter said: "If they won't accept our way of life, if they won't accept those principles which are very clear and very necessary for Western democracy, I don't think we have to recognise Islam as an official religion in our country."...........

Uh-oh. European right-wing extremists trying to appeal to Jews?

This must be a sure sign that the Apocalypse is imminent.

 

[MrGoodBytes]

Hi original poster, I suggest you check out this site.

http://www.harunyahya.com/html/m_video_index.htm

turntoislam.com

You can find some really good info there. Hope you get more knowledgeable and can help dispell misconceptions.

Harun Yahya, the creationist nutcase? I doubt that anyone will find anything worthwhile on a site of a man claiming that the theory of evolution causes terrorism.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

Originally Posted by LittleLambofJesus
Well, if ya can't beat 'em, join 'em.

http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article1799460.ece

One of Europe's most successful far-right leaders has appealed to Jewish voters to join forces against radical Islam and back a party denounced as xenophobic.
Filip Dewinter, leader of Belgium's Vlaams Belang, described Antwerp's large Jewish community as natural partners "against the main enemy of the moment, the radical Islam, fundamentalism".........

........Mr Dewinter said: "If they won't accept our way of life, if they won't accept those principles which are very clear and very necessary for Western democracy, I don't think we have to recognise Islam as an official religion in our country."...........

Uh-oh. European right-wing extremists trying to appeal to Jews?

This must be a sure sign that the Apocalypse is imminent.

Yes, we, the Jews and Muslims have been waiting on it for almost 2000yrs now

Zeph 1: 14 The great day of the LORD [is] near; [It is] near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of the LORD is bitter; There the mighty men shall cry out. .............17 "I will bring distress upon men, And they shall walk like blind men, Because they have sinned against the LORD;Their blood shall be poured out like dust, And their flesh like dung." 18 Neither their silver nor their gold Shall be able to deliver them In the day of theLORD's Wrath;


Deuteronomy 28:15 " But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you29 "And you shall grope at noonday, as a blind man gropes in darkness; you shall not prosper in your ways; you shall be only oppressed and plundered continually, and no one shall save [you.]:

 

[français]

Harun Yahya is such a joke. he is the most ignorant thing in thise universe. he makes like 2 hour long videos, showing science that seems true, and then at the very end there will be ONE, just one qu'ran verse, and it has nothing to do with anything he just put!!

plus most of us can agree that evolution is real, and that's how us humans are how we are now and such. and we continue to evolve.

 

[MrGoodBytes]

Harun Yahya is such a joke. he is the most ignorant thing in thise universe. he makes like 2 hour long videos, showing science that seems true, and then at the very end there will be ONE, just one qu'ran verse, and it has nothing to do with anything he just put!!

plus most of us can agree that evolution is real, and that's how us humans are how we are now and such. and we continue to evolve.

Quoted for truth. One would think that a guy going at a rate of writing 2 books a day plus videos is bound to get a few things correct, sooner or later - so far, I haven't seen anything though.

I think his funniest claim to date is that teaching evolution leads to terrorism - not a word lost on islamic fundamentalism and its connection to suicide bombings, for example.

 

[français]

hah yeah, and he talks about the horrors of communism and dictators.. but isn't a shariah state under a dictatorship? i think so.

 

[Bookofknowledge]

hah yeah, and he talks about the horrors of communism and dictators.. but isn't a shariah state under a dictatorship? i think so.

Half knowledge is far worst then having no knowledge.