My story + advice/help needed
OP - November 22, 2009, 07:17 PM
Hello there, my name is Abbas, i live in the UK and this is my story of how I ditched my brainwashed ways in favour of a more free thinking attitude. I'm currently 16, 17 in 3 days.
As a child i was forced to go to madrasah and i was heavily influenced by my parents who are both Shi'ah muslims, with my mother being the most devout out of the two. I was subject to brainwashing every day and i almost had a hatred instilled in me towards any other way of thinking that wasn't Islam.
I didn't really question Islam until I was 12. Up until then i went to a school mostly populated by pakistani kids, so i had no real concept of anything else. Luckily, i was (still am ;] ) pretty smart and i got into a grammar school. From there on the questions arised. Why do i even exist? Why does God have a need to create me in the first place? Surely free will isnt free if it is already known? etc
I was in 2 minds, because cleverly, the teachers at madrasah had drilled a deep 'fear' into me. I started delving into philosophy and realised, if such a jealous and wicked God existed, he doesn't deserve my prayers. Even to this day i have remnants of that fear. Ultimately, the STUPIDITY of Islam pushed me into atheism. If I were to practice any religion, I would practice Buddhism.
These days i drink alcohol (in moderation), i eat non halal meat and i have a stress free life (to an extent). I have an athiest girlfriend and friends of all faiths, including some friends who are homosexual. I no longer have to live up to the expectations of a fake, '' most merciful'' God. Leaving Islam was the greatest decision i have ever made.
I remember being close minded e.g hating gay people for no reason when it's clearly a genetic predisposition. I'm happy to say that education has brought me out of the islamic ideology. I am a peaceful human being with no worries.
A month ago, i told my parents. Up until this point, i came to mosque with them and pretended to pray. They didn't like it. Not one bit. Eventually, they gave in and accepted me as 'agnostic'. Since they found out i have no objection to drinking or other 'unislamic' things they have come down on me so hard it's like being in prison. Life is stress free, apart from when i get home. I decided that when i can, i'll show my mother this website and HOPE to god (lol) that she'll at least appreciate my point of view. They're just so brainwashed its untrue. They threaten to kick me out and are just generally so close minded that they actually say ''you're talking out of your arse''.
Have many of you had luck in convincing your parents? Islam is a disease. Whilst i cannot stop anyone from practicing islam and i believe people should have the freedom to believe whatever they want, i'd at least like my parents to allow me to follow my own beliefs. If they came round to my point of view that would just be a bonus.
I also feel that their religion has pushed them into racist views and because of this, they claim that it is 'necessary' to have a culture. Culture is gained as well as inherited in my view. I see myself as British, i was born in the UK and i am of african/asian descent. I'd also love to counter their most common argument which supports their decisions which is ''We are Muslims and we believe this''.
So tell me, infidels, have you had similar experiences? what were the outcomes? did i make a mistake in being honest? I do admit that it has caused stress and many arguments within the household.
Be yourself.
Topic: My story + advice/help needed