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[PflargBlarg]

I feel for you man. That has to be hard. Not being able to live the way you want to.

I have to say.. I feel liberated. I can't quite put it to words. It's like my life starts now.

Man, do I know that feeling. A week ago I told my parents I was an atheist after being atheist for at least...3 years I think? It's like a burden is lifted from your shoulders. It's not quite the same situation as yours, but I did have something more similar when I realized I wasn't a christian, and that I didn't have to be. It really is an amazing feeling.

Of course, I might get kicked out of the house when I refuse to go to church, but hey, what can ya do.

 

[wRATH2x]

I believe that they were once true but like all religions were changed for whatever agenda. I mean modern Islam is more of Arabic bedouin traditions than Mohammads teachings Thunder Monkey.

Oh and I never felt any guilt humping you, and I never will.

 

[Thunder Monkey]

I believe that they were once true but like all religions were changed for whatever agenda. I mean modern Islam is more of Arabic bedouin traditions than Mohammads teachings Thunder Monkey.

Oh and I never felt any guilt humping you, and I never will.

And all is right with the world.

 

[Korey]

Man, do I know that feeling. A week ago I told my parents I was an atheist after being atheist for at least...3 years I think? It's like a burden is lifted from your shoulders. It's not quite the same situation as yours, but I did have something more similar when I realized I wasn't a christian, and that I didn't have to be. It really is an amazing feeling.

Yep, I imagine a lot of us went through this exact thing. One day I was thinking, how much of my time and life I would get back if I didn't bother praying to this imaginary dude before every, single, meal...to stay on his good side so I could go to an imaginary place a couple of guys invented 2000 years ago, AFTER I DIE...70 years from now. And even that is the most trivial thing on the list of ridiculous religious obligations...

Religion is like the Fox News of...life. Fear mongering so you behave and think a certain way.

 

[Dead Man]

Man, do I know that feeling. A week ago I told my parents I was an atheist after being atheist for at least...3 years I think? It's like a burden is lifted from your shoulders. It's not quite the same situation as yours, but I did have something more similar when I realized I wasn't a christian, and that I didn't have to be. It really is an amazing feeling.

Of course, I might get kicked out of the house when I refuse to go to church, but hey, what can ya do.

Congrats!

 

[John Dunbar]

I wanted to change it to "Veidt" - always liked it. If any admins are reading.

Muhammad loses another one to comic books.

 

[Veidt]

Religion is like the Fox News of...life. Fear mongering so you behave and think a certain way.

Correctomundo.

 

[Siebzehn50]

Congrats, man.

Lately I've been moving away from Agnosticism towards Atheism. Not that I truly can make the claim that there is no god but without any kind of proof otherwise it seems to me that Atheism would be the default (and logical) belief.

 

[Xyphie]

 

[hxa155]

May Allah guide us all to the true path.

 

[Dartastic]

May Allah guide us all to the true path.

.

 

[AnkitT]

Time to post a youtubes to egg your transition along. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12rP8ybp13s It's a hardcore christian telling the story of his conversion.. someone from gaf posted it once and it's pretty pleasant.

boop

Thanks for that post. Also, awesome avatar! :lol:

 

[Spire]

Grats man.

I was raised a christian and after a few years of slowly drifting away, I finally admitted to myself that I didn't believe in a god anymore. The relief I felt was indescribable, the clash of science with my religion had caused a lot of conflict in my mind and being able to accept facts instead of trying to convince myself that they were wrong was an amazing experience. I'm not sure anyone who hasn't broken free of childhood indoctrination can know what that feels like, but it's pretty great.

 

[Stahsky]

Believe (or not believe) in whatever you want. Makes no difference to the rest of the world. So long as you are happy.

 

[Majmun]

I'm raised as a muslim, but I became agnostic when I was a teenager. I've read the Quran and the Bible. Just couldn't get past the close-mindedness of the books. And there's too much myth surrounding them.
To me they're nothing more than fairy tales.

I do believe in a deity that's all powerful and controlling, but I don't believe that this deity has a conscience. So I don't believe in heaven or hell.

 

[guise]

As a sikh who cut my hair last year, i know exactly where you are coming from.

It is good to see logic prevailing.

 

[Zapages]

You'll be missed man... But you have to think it like this: You can make a religion as easy or hard to follow. It is your choice in the end of the day. Do things that fulfill you in your religious and spiritual manner instead of just doing them because you are suppose to do it.

Just follow the 5 pillars of Islam and then you are Muslim. Go for the most basic definition of a Muslim. Just think about it and that's it. I know some make Islam very complicated and hard to follow aka very strict. But in the end of the day the guy who is normal and just follows the 5 pillars of Islam is just as much Muslim as the next guy who might follow very strict version of Islam.

Regardless, its your choice. May Allah guide you to the right path.

 

[wRATH2x]

You'll be missed man... But you have to think it like this: You can make a religion as easy or hard to follow. It is your choice in the end of the day. Do things that fulfill you in your religious and spiritual manner instead of just doing them because you are suppose to do it.

Just follow the 5 pillars of Islam and then you are Muslim. Go for the most basic definition of a Muslim. Just think about it and that's it. I know some make Islam very complicated and hard to follow aka very strict. But in the end of the day the guy who is normal and just follows the 5 pillars of Islam is just as much Muslim as the next guy who might follow very strict version of Islam.

Regardless, its your choice. May Allah guide you to the right path.

I see your point, but I don't exactly care about religion anymore, so I don't have the will to do any of that.

 

[Zapages]

Let me dissect your post.

As a practicing Muslim I engaged in hours of prayer ( voluntarily. my parents never forced me to do anything and till date, even my dad isn't all that practicing.), fasting, giving out charity. I genuinely believed and it made me feel good. But then, it started.
The guilt, everything you do, makes you feel guilty. You start to accept life as it is, rather than make life the way you want it to be. Based on a set of arbitrary rules.. This can't be true right? It can't be correct that a man should have his hands cut off at the will of another man? It can't be true that people should die for saying what they want to believe? you find out the men you do research into, the men responsible for these rules, were at times morally corrupt (and realize,that at time even,the majority of ordinary people were a thousand times the people these men were). And it breaks your heart. Everything you believed in, just collapses.

Here's my take on the Shar'ia laws. Those laws were implemented at the time when it was perfectly acceptable. But later throughout the history of the Islamic empire. These laws were replaced by Shar'ia compliant laws followed Islam but were not as severe in terms of physical punishment.

Then you look out into the world. Islamic countries are being bombarded with terrorism, literally. Not the fault of Islam mind you. But the notion of religion itself, that it can't be questioned ( something that Islam is rather lax about to be honest). I've done campaigns, debates, I've done a lot of things. No matter what you do. The situation is a downward spiral you can't fix.

The situation in Islamic countries is not due to religion, but it is due to lack of education (general and about their religion) and corrupt leaders that were left there after the end of colonialism.

I genuinely believed Islam to be true. But now, I'm not so sure. It's not the Qur'an, it's a beautiful piece of writing. Sometimes even brought me to tears. But without actually being there when it was recited at first. Not seeing the man who founded Islam. How can I make judgment into what kind of character he actually was? What is myth and what is fact?

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was historically significant. There is a lot of written historical documentation about this. If it wasn't for the spread of Wahabism in Hejaz there still would have been markings of their place of their death. So please there is definitely historically significance there. You just have to research into it.

It's not that I'm saying "There is no god, it's impossible, fuck religion!". I believe that there's definitely something out there, of which we have no knowledge.
I'm saying, religious people are in general messing up for religion. At this point, I honestly don't believe a single religion to be true.

So yeah,that's what's been going on in my mind lately.
edit:
Where do I request a name change?
My current username is islamic...
I'd like to change my username to "Veidt". If any admins are reading.

The core message of all religions is to be good person that does good things for the humanity. That's was the true message of Islam with the 5 pillars of Islam.

Also I recommend you the following site to look into: http://sharia.law.emory.edu/ar

 

[EatChildren]

Whatever you do, just remember the idea of what you consider a good person, good living, and acts of kindness do not require religion to accomplish. You can be the person you want to be with or without religious text, and with or without God.

 

[Darklord]

Grats man.

I was raised a christian and after a few years of slowly drifting away, I finally admitted to myself that I didn't believe in a god anymore. The relief I felt was indescribable, the clash of science with my religion had caused a lot of conflict in my mind and being able to accept facts instead of trying to convince myself that they were wrong was an amazing experience. I'm not sure anyone who hasn't broken free of childhood indoctrination can know what that feels like, but it's pretty great.

I was Christian until I was a young teenager. I just accepted it as fact when I was young because that's what everyone seemed to say. I was baptized, had communion, and the other thing(forget what it's called). I now realize it was nothing but brain washing and you could convince a child to worship a 3 headed donkey if you told them it was real. I felt a bit weird in the transition. I kept thinking "But what if it IS real and I end up going to hell? Is it worth the risk?" but in the end I realized that I didn't believe and there was nothing I could do and to be Christian by fear is exactly what the church wants and exactly what God wouldn't have wanted if he was real. So I stopped believing and now years later I can't imagine how stupid and blinded I was that I followed it at all. My parents never had any objection either which possibly made it easier too.

 

[Solo]

Poor man's athiest.

 

[Majmun]

Poor man's athiest.

Atheist people act as if they have no soul. Agnostic people are more spiritual.

 

[Joel Was Right]

It's been a crazy year. A lot of things have changed. I used to be what you'd call a practicing Muslim. Even here on GAF, people knew me as the man responsible for the Islamic Defense Force, if you will. Which is why it pains me so much, to admit this.. I think I'm an agnostic..

As a practicing Muslim I engaged in hours of prayer ( voluntarily. my parents never forced me to do anything and till date, even my dad isn't all that practicing.), fasting, giving out charity. I genuinely believed and it made me feel good. But then, it started.
The guilt, everything you do, makes you feel guilty. You start to accept life as it is, rather than make life the way you want it to be. Based on a set of arbitrary rules.. This can't be true right? It can't be correct that a man should have his hands cut off at the will of another man? It can't be true that people should die for saying what they want to believe? you find out the men you do research into, the men responsible for these rules, were at times morally corrupt (and realize,that at time even,the majority of ordinary people were a thousand times the people these men were). And it breaks your heart. Everything you believed in, just collapses.

Then you look out into the world. Islamic countries are being bombarded with terrorism, literally. Not the fault of Islam mind you. But the notion of religion itself, that it can't be questioned ( something that Islam is rather lax about to be honest). I've done campaigns, debates, I've done a lot of things. No matter what you do. The situation is a downward spiral you can't fix.

I genuinely believed Islam to be true. But now, I'm not so sure. It's not the Qur'an, it's a beautiful piece of writing. Sometimes even brought me to tears. But without actually being there when it was recited at first. Not seeing the man who founded Islam. How can I make judgment into what kind of character he actually was? What is myth and what is fact?

It's not that I'm saying "There is no god, it's impossible, fuck religion!". I believe that there's definitely something out there, of which we have no knowledge.
I'm saying, religious people are in general messing up for religion. At this point, I honestly don't believe a single religion to be true.

So yeah,that's what's been going on in my mind lately.
edit:
Where do I request a name change?
My current username is islamic...
I'd like to change my username to "Veidt". If any admins are reading.

Do you plan to tell your family?

 

[NaughtyPrawn]

Atheist people act as if they have no soul. Agnostic people are more spiritual.

So what do you think the soul is?

Lets say I have an argument with someone close to me and say something I shouldn't have. I get this digging horrible feeling inside of me telling me it was wrong and I should apologise but sometimes I'm just too stubborn to do it.

Is that my soul causing me to feel this way?

 

[Blair]

Wait a while before you go full Atheist, our daily rituals can be pretty intense for a newcomer. That reminds me, its time for my 1 o'clock 'Dance around a pile of The God Delusions'

 

[Zutroy]

I was Christian until I was a young teenager. I just accepted it as fact when I was young because that's what everyone seemed to say. I was baptized, had communion, and the other thing(forget what it's called). I now realize it was nothing but brain washing and you could convince a child to worship a 3 headed donkey if you told them it was real. I felt a bit weird in the transition. I kept thinking "But what if it IS real and I end up going to hell? Is it worth the risk?" but in the end I realized that I didn't believe and there was nothing I could do and to be Christian by fear is exactly what the church wants and exactly what God wouldn't have wanted if he was real. So I stopped believing and now years later I can't imagine how stupid and blinded I was that I followed it at all. My parents never had any objection either which possibly made it easier too.

To be fair, if heaven and hell did actually exist, all the cool people would be partying it up with the devil.

I mean, would you rather spend the rest of the afterlife with Mother Teresa or Jimmy Hendrix?

I rest my case...:lol

 

[VariantX04]

Welp, count me in as another Saudi Muslim who's gotten fed up with the way people confuse religion with their selfish, asinine traditions. I've been having doubts about religion for at least 4 years now and over the years I couldn't help but ask myself the same question any individual should ask themselves like "why should i be punished for believing what I believe?" I've also grown to be annoyed by people who are so full of themselves they actually tell you to believe in god because you'd be on the winning team. I also received a hopelessly stupid message from a close friend celebrating a rumor that that evil cartoonist was burned to a crisp. What the FUCK? Why would you celebrate anyone's death? in Islam no less. Things have changed for the worst and I don't ever see myself going back. The ignorance around these parts is overwhelming, I'm sure my buddy wrath would agree. Welcome aboard, Veidt. *agnostic belly tickle*

 

[Atramental]

Welcome to reason. All I can say about my steady deconversion from Christianity to atheism was that it was the most freeing experience I've ever had. Secular morality is definitely better than the "I am God, follow these rules or believe in this certain aspect about me or else!" type of morality.

 

[Veidt]

Thanks for all the support guys.
It'd be great if we could get more of the " I used to be [insert religion]" stories. I love reading other people's journey to the rational.

 

[CabbageRed]

Very cool, OP. Whether you end up agnostic long term, return to islam, find a new religion/faith, or become an atheist, it is no doubt gratifying to know that you separated yourself from the dogma and various pressures, and decided for yourself. Your convictions will be your own, now more than ever.

Atheist people act as if they have no soul.

Nothing like being sideswiped by a random bigot to sour your day.

 

[travisbickle]

To be fair, if heaven and hell did actually exist, all the cool people would be partying it up with the devil.

I mean, would you rather spend the rest of the afterlife with Mother Teresa or Jimmy Hendrix?

I rest my case...:lol

Jimi Hendix is in heaven man, he did something amazing with his life. It's all the wasters that spend their time on the internet jacking off and arguing about irrelevant shit that are going to be in hell, all the losers that did fuck all and God doesn't want to grant them eternal saviour because he thinks they'll waste that too.

 

[Majmun]

So what do you think the soul is?

Lets say I have an argument with someone close to me and say something I shouldn't have. I get this digging horrible feeling inside of me telling me it was wrong and I should apologise but sometimes I'm just too stubborn to do it.

Is that my soul causing me to feel this way?

No, that's your conscience.
We need a brain to have a conscience. The body will fade away after death, and so will your conscience. But I don't think everything will be erased after death. Something must remain.

What that thing is, I don't know. Some people call it the soul. Let's just say that I don't believe that death is the end.

I'll never become an atheist because I do believe in a higher power that somehow controls/maintains everything. And I do believe that there's something after death. But I just don't beleive how the holy books describe it.

 

[Agnostic]

Veidt,

Your membership will be approved within 5-7 business days.

Sincerely, Agnostic

 

[Veidt]

Do you plan to tell your family?

hell no
But my brother is agnostic.

 

[Zutroy]

Jimi Hendix is in heaven man, he did something amazing with his life. It's all the wasters that spend their time on the internet jacking off and arguing about irrelevant shit that are going to be in hell, all the losers that did fuck all and God doesn't want to grant them eternal saviour because he thinks they'll waste that too.

Jimi did drugs.
Jimi committed a sin.
Jimi's in hell.

But it's cool, there are super sweet parties down there.

However, since the tone of this thread is more serious, I shall stop posting.

 

[GhaleonQ]

*is Christian*

So, you're not Muslim anymore because the world makes you sad and you aren't sure if the Quran is God's word? Don't those strike you as 1. non-intellectual and 2. lame reasons?

It sounds like you're just tired of trying. Either justification is fine, but, uh, I'd suggest you read more or, er, try harder before making a life-altering decision. I'd say the same to a Christian changing or an atheist who became a Lutheran because "there just HAS to be something after death." It's not something to be done lightly, I think.

 

[Veidt]

*is Christian*

So, you're not Muslim anymore because the world makes you sad and you aren't sure if the Quran is God's word? Don't those strike you as 1. non-intellectual and 2. lame reasons?

It sounds like you're just tired of trying. Either justification is fine, but, uh, I'd suggest you read more or, er, try harder before making a life-altering decision. I'd say the same to a Christian changing or an atheist who became a Lutheran because "there just HAS to be something after death." It's not something to be done lightly, I think.

I was a Muslim because that's the only religion that made sense compared to all the others, for me at least ( since the concept of god, in Islam is something very close to what my personal view of God was). I promised myself, that if Islam wasn't good enough, that I'd be an agnostic, because then that would mean no religion was good enough. And well, today's that day.
And believe me, I've thought long and hard about this moment.

 

[Majmun]

You know what's non-intellectual? Letting a book lead your life.

 

[chase]

I hope you're equally as agnostic about any other crazy things humans have dreamt up.

 

[Sibylus]

Thanks for all the support guys.
It'd be great if we could get more of the " I used to be [insert religion]" stories. I love reading other people's journey's to the rational.

I used to be a Christian fundamentalist. Here's some of the stories/opinions I've posted on Gaf (first one is a bit impassioned, don't mind me! ):

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=14026388&postcount=1
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=17747690&postcount=13

 

[Siebzehn50]

I hope you're equally as agnostic about any other crazy things humans have dreamt up.

Such as?

 

[Majmun]

I used to be a Christian fundamentalist. Here's some of the stories/opinions I've posted on Gaf (first one is a bit impassioned, don't mind me! ):

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=14026388&postcount=1
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=17747690&postcount=13

That was a great read, thanks.

I'm never going to force down a religion to my kids. No religion talk until they're old enough to decide for themselves.
There are so many religious people because parents teach the kids to believe. And kids will grow up with it, and will fear to not beleive, otherwise they'll go to hell.
Good thing not everyone is following this pattern because hell doesn't exist.

 

[Joel Was Right]

hell no
But my brother is agnostic.

Will your lifestyle change as well? E.g. doing things in where you weren't allowed before

 

[Kinitari]

I read the thread and I had absolutely no idea who the OP was, then I scroll down a bit and I am like "OH SHIT, JIBRIL?". It's cool Jibril, I've noticed there are a lot of Islamic Apostates and 'Apostates' on Neogaf. It's a good life, guilt free - the other day some dude at work even tried to guilt the shit out of me, he was all:
"Man, you used to be Muslim? I'm so sorry bro, but you can't go to heaven if you don't believe... in fact you'll go to the worst hell."

"I'm cool with that, and I don't really believe in hell/heaven/god so I'm not really too scared"

"Oh trust me, I went through your phase when I was in my teens, you'll get over it"

"Maybe, but I've been like this for over 10 years now, and I am substantially happier, so I doubt it"

"But what about the Scientific evidence in the Qu'ran?"

"Please don't".

Anyway, I am derailing, hopefully you don't get bothered too much about your paradigm shift - well unless you want to discuss it with people.

 

[Veidt]

Will your lifestyle change as well? E.g. doing things in where you weren't allowed before

I was allowed everything. I don't think I'll start drinking or whatever anytime soon. I'll live the same,be the same person I always was.. but with less regulation and following traditions, and more thought and self comprehension. I honestly see this as a step up in understanding myself, and the world according to my own thought.

I read the thread and I had absolutely no idea who the OP was, then I scroll down a bit and I am like "OH SHIT, JIBRIL?". It's cool Jibril, I've noticed there are a lot of Islamic Apostates and 'Apostates' on Neogaf. It's a good life, guilt free - the other day some dude at work even tried to guilt the shit out of me, he was all:
"Man, you used to be Muslim? I'm so sorry bro, but you can't go to heaven if you don't believe... in fact you'll go to the worst hell."

"I'm cool with that, and I don't really believe in hell/heaven/god so I'm not really too scared"

"Oh trust me, I went through your phase when I was in my teens, you'll get over it"

"Maybe, but I've been like this for over 10 years now, and I am substantially happier, so I doubt it"

"But what about the Scientific evidence in the Qu'ran?"

"Please don't".

Anyway, I am derailing, hopefully you don't get bothered too much about your paradigm shift - well unless you want to discuss it with people.

Always bothered me how ex-Muslims ( the ones that mind their owns business, because i've some that become apostates for the wrong reason)- always get the WORST punishment, worse than a rapist, a murderer, even someone like Hitler?
forget that. Clearly a case of mafia mentality that's been imposed on Islam- which wasn't probably there at the beginning.

 

[Shanadeus]

Oh it's Jibril?
Welcome to agnosticism, you'll enjoy it I believe.

 

[Zapages]

I read the thread and I had absolutely no idea who the OP was, then I scroll down a bit and I am like "OH SHIT, JIBRIL?". It's cool Jibril, I've noticed there are a lot of Islamic Apostates and 'Apostates' on Neogaf. It's a good life, guilt free - the other day some dude at work even tried to guilt the shit out of me, he was all:
"Man, you used to be Muslim? I'm so sorry bro, but you can't go to heaven if you don't believe... in fact you'll go to the worst hell."

"I'm cool with that, and I don't really believe in hell/heaven/god so I'm not really too scared"

"Oh trust me, I went through your phase when I was in my teens, you'll get over it"

"Maybe, but I've been like this for over 10 years now, and I am substantially happier, so I doubt it"

"But what about the Scientific evidence in the Qu'ran?"

"Please don't".

Anyway, I am derailing, hopefully you don't get bothered too much about your paradigm shift - well unless you want to discuss it with people.

There is scientific evidence in Islam... You just have to look for it. Jeez.

Jibril did you read my post? Think it over?

Also remember what about apostates in other religion. Its just not in Islam. Think about globally.

Most of your reasons are because of your lack of faith in humanity and the world around us.

Jibril, if the mafia case mentality was there in Islam... Then try to educate people we are the future of Islam. If we can educate the Muslim youth in the right direction then the future could be better for the muslims around the world! Just think about it man.

 

[Kinitari]

Wow, this is so surprising.

We're going to have to call it the Himuro effect. Or maybe the Nizar effect, whatever sounds catchier.

 

[Zapages]

I guess Crazy monkey and few others will be the only Muslims left here... :\

I just don't feel your reasons to stop being Muslim are strong. Its just lack of faith in humanity (more or less) that is making you rethink about everything.

PM me man.