Intresting post Dan, im still here, i was trying to leave the forum as it was because i didnt wish to discuss things here, however being told or reading words that imply i got confused etc is something i'm of course going to have to respond to. However it must be made clear i have made two attempts to leave this here as it is because i thought we can all still be friends.
Quote:I am posting to point out the fallacy that many converts fall into. I will be honest and include myself. Upon coming to Islam, it is so amazing that we jump headlong into "knowledge." We read books and believe that we can learn on our own. I feel silly that I believed that this would be sucessful. Did I go to my math class and just teach myself it without a teacher?
Thats an incorrect assumption, i went to Imams, enrolled at an Islamic night school, as recommended to me by my Mosque, in fact many of my concerns started about 6 months into being deep into Islam, i bought them to Imams in fact, a brother i prayed with and went to the big big Muslim community gatherings in Birmingham was an Imam. He no longer speaks to me, will not even give me eye contact. The responses back were those of someone covering the shortfalls and obvious errors with "we are human we can not expect to understand" "you will need a deep learning of Arabic to understand" "its the arabic" For some sections of the Qur'an and hadith this is fine, however in clear sections throughout the Qur'an and the Hadith theres a point where you accept what you can clearly see as massively obvious, or...you sit back close your eyes and tell yourself "this is something i am not supposed to understand" or "this is not a sound hadith" despite the Hadith being the basis of everything we know about Mohammed, prayers etc. We would not know how to be Muslims without sound Hadith.
I'm not going to be told i got confused, i personally feel i was brave enough to escape the mental trap and fear of Hellfire and being tortured by Allah for not accepting something that is obvious when looked on from an outsiders perspective. And of course, from a Muslims perspective, but only a Muslim brave enough and strong enough can admit to oneself "i know this isn't right, i can see it" Of course Muslims will not applaud this bravery, and non Muslims will not understand how a religion can hold a person, so when you leave, you're kind of floating, no support. Some people think "its easier and safer to remain in Islam even though 80% of it doesnt make sence" and survive on FAITH alone, this is fine, i would never tell no one to leave Islam, there is no need if you havent lost anything for it, why not. Islam has cleaned up the acts of Many people i knew who were criminals, bad people and turned their lives around, if you exist within Islam as it is presented on the surface, why leave it? theres no need, its beautiful. However its if you wish to learn deeper about the religion and its origins, THATS where the choices appear, the important ones..leave or ignore.
As i said i have tried to end this but dont feel its fair to be told i was confused or i didnt go to teachers. All i wanted to do was serve Allah and make Allah proud of me so i may enter Jannah gain the love of my God, my sustainer and avoid gehenna. If i was simply confused as Dan implied i would have remained in Islam, and continued to learn, confusion is an uncomfortable feeling but not something to LEAVE ISLAM FOR. If i didnt understand or simply thought i was unsure i would have remained the rest of my life learning, why not? Theres no need to LEAVE ISLAM is there, do you see what i mean? <b>I would only leave Islam, leave Allah and disobey Allah by leaving Islam if what i admitted to myself was solid and i could see with my own two eyes</b>, i would NOT leave simply because of Confusion. Confusion isn't an emotion strong enough to leave Allah and promises of paradise for, is it.
So..with a sigh, and regret i sit back and realise i am actually participating in something i seriously tried to avoid. However the old instinct to respond, especially when it's implied i'm confused, is always going to spark up i guess. So it looks like i may be about for a bit longer than planned. I will be back later hopefully to continue this if we really have to. It makes more sence to accept me as a friend and let us part in peace. Islam is too strong a hold to be discussed with Muslim friends, how i plan to if we continue. As there can be no winner, i can see this ending with me being banned or hated. Neither of these i want, most of you here were my family for almost a year, its a shame you do not see how i feel about you still despite going our seperate ways. However...