Muslims from a Christian background in the US?
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I grew up protestant, and am now the only muslim in my known extended family. My parents and extended family are all rabidly anti-islam, and all believe the jews belong in palestine and that literally anything done by them is justified. My parents do not know I'm muslim, but my wife knows and is just quietly tolerant, but hates it.
You mentioned there are no mosques in your area. I have a few here in the Austin, TX area, but frankly i'm afraid of them. Maybe it's because I was raised to be afraid of Muslims, but if they knew my beliefs, I don't know what would happen, so I steer clear. The free-minds forum is the only believing community I have, so God bless all of you with muslim spouses!
I can relate to most of this. Hang in there.
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I grew up protestant, and am now the only muslim in my known extended family. My parents and extended family are all rabidly anti-islam, and all believe the jews belong in palestine and that literally anything done by them is justified. My parents do not know I'm muslim, but my wife knows and is just quietly tolerant, but hates it.
You mentioned there are no mosques in your area. I have a few here in the Austin, TX area, but frankly i'm afraid of them. Maybe it's because I was raised to be afraid of Muslims, but if they knew my beliefs, I don't know what would happen, so I steer clear. The free-minds forum is the only believing community I have, so God bless all of you with muslim spouses!
Well you don't have to worry about mosques, they're not Islamic, but thought to be so by people who are wrong. So rest assured
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I can relate to most of this. Hang in there.
Man what states are you guys in? Maybe in the redneck Republican states people aren't very diverse but here in LA there's a bunch of mosques, bunch of different cultures (I can go to school and hear like 10 different languages spoken by different groups) and a large amount of Arabs/Persians and so a large amount of Muslims. I'm a convert from a Christian mom and a non-practicing Muslim father so my family is pretty open so I'm lucky.
Also the Muslims I've met at school have all been very open and welcoming.
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Indiana. Closest masjid is 30 mins away. Beyond that, drive time is an hour. The closest masjid states on their website that they are a "traditional sunni" masjid. & If I'm going to drive that far, it better be at least a little progressive.
Man what states are you guys in? Maybe in the redneck Republican states people aren't very diverse but here in LA there's a bunch of mosques, bunch of different cultures (I can go to school and hear like 10 different languages spoken by different groups) and a large amount of Arabs/Persians and so a large amount of Muslims. I'm a convert from a Christian mom and a non-practicing Muslim father so my family is pretty open so I'm lucky.
Also the Muslims I've met at school have all been very open and welcoming.
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I don't have a Christian background, but I am from a family where most are convinced islam is just a religion of terrorism, violence, pedophilia, and women abusing. Unfortunately most of my friends think the same too, particularly my best friend and her parents. sigh Even after years I still haven't gotten the courage to tell them I'm a muslim. When religion comes up in a conversation I honestly just say I'm agnostic or spiritual.
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Greetings and Peace, all group
Try living in New Hampshire! ( Try being a white, American Quranist Muslim in a tiny little state. Its very lonely at times. (
It could be worse, and it is up to us to make it better. NH is ranked as one of the "least religious" states. I live in GA (Bible Belt anyone?)...and am also a member of the national guard. On the other hand, my Methodist wife rejects trinity, and so does my brother. I mainly interact stateside via FM. Have been contemplating going to UU church for monotheist company--not so interested in local mosques. Up with monotheism!
I had an interesting experience in the past trying to go to a local "mosque". I didn't know that it was NOI. I'm white. Yeah, I wasn't welcome. '( Had a similar experience years before at a local "church". Was not welcome due to the color of my skin. As they say locally--haters gonna' hate. ALLAH is enough as a Judge.
3186 We will test you in your wealth and in yourselves, and you will hear from those who have been given the Book from before you and from the polytheists much annoyance. And if you are patient and righteous, then that is from a strength of conviction.
Is it such a difficult test, considering what obstacles others have had to face (and overcome)? Imagine how much more difficult it would be without FM, or if you lived in a country where you face death at the hands of the state or masses for your beliefs.
May ALLAH see fit to Guide all seekers.
peace
~Abdul-Hadi
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Greetings and Peace, all group
I can relate. I'm in a small all white christian town in Canada.
ALL Christian? Maybe all except one? Then again, labels matter little. There are probably monotheists among the Christian population--and perhaps some (who do not currently) will later embrace monotheism.
ALLAH knows best.
peace
~Abdul-Hadi
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Greetings and Peace, all group
ALL Christian? Maybe all except one? Then again, labels matter little. There are probably monotheists among the Christian population--and perhaps some (who do not currently) will later embrace monotheism.
ALLAH knows best.
peace
~Abdul-Hadi
Haha well there's atheists and other non-religious people here too(most of my friends are non-religious). But yea, most people here are Christians. I like to think I'm not alone, but I think I am. If there were any muslims they would likely be sunnis. '(
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Okay I have a kind of eclectic religious background... So my family and I are Native Americans whose ancestors were converted to Catholicism. I have a very close large extended family and they are all very religious Catholics. I was baptized and went to church as a small child but not too much longer than that. My mother started getting in touch with our traditional beliefs as Native Americans and really quit associating with the church. I followed suit but at a really young age because I felt disgusted with the sexism I saw in the Catholic church and the abusive practices that occurred.
Once I left the church (around 12) I started looking around for a replacement... so I asked, what did they believe in before Catholicism? That led me to Judaism and I studied that for a long time and actually became a staunch Zionist (Oh my ignorance, forgive me). After realizing the hypocrisy in the Zionist movement and the abuses that were occurring in Palestine I gave up on Judaism. Then I met a Muslim and learned about Islam and started to see numerous similar beliefs that were in Islam that were also traditional to my ancestors. I am still finding these connections today. It took me a long time to convert because so much of what is presented as Islamic is actually cultural and I took a lot of time to separate the two to actually see what Islam truly is. It is truly beautiful.
One thing that kind of surprised me coming from a Catholic background was that (at least in my area) someone was always at the church and you could go there anytime, day or night if you needed anything. Well I thought it was the same for mosques... not at all. Around here they are only open on Fridays which is really a shame I think.
As of right now only my two sisters know I am a Muslim and they are okay with it. I haven't told anyone else yet for two reasons 1) my large catholic family knows pretty much nothing about Islam and what they have said has all been negative, also my uncle is a priest eek 2)I'm afraid my mom will think that me being a Muslim will be like me being a Catholic and "a traitor". Its kind of hard to explain but I am slowing getting there... I kind of made it my goal this year to be "out" by Ramadan.
Thanks to you all for sharing your stories...