Reasons why some leave their religion.

[Classik]

What are some of the reasons why a Muslim leaves Islam and embraces Christianity? How about former Christians who now are muslims?

Any reasons? Any experience by any of us?

 

[Tina]

Where I live there are many ex-Muslims now Christians but they keep a low profile for fear of persecution by their families. I believe there are many more such ex-Muslims around the world who are keeping their conversions under wraps. Our Churches have island-wide exciting evangelistic programs to reach out to people of all races and religions so they come out of curiosity and many end up not leaving the church... I have a Muslim friend whom I met online and went with me to church. According to her, she lost interest in Islam as she has no idea what that religion is about, she never owned a Quran, never understood it and all her prayers to Allah were in vain! Surprisingly I met her in a local Christian forum and brought her to church, she enjoyed the service very much, kept coming back and went to buy herself a bible. God works in amazing ways ! But I have never met a Christian who abandoned his faith for Islam ...

 

[Jethro Bodine]

What are some of the reasons why a Muslim leaves Islam and embraces Christianity?

From what I've heard, it's the element of true, unconditional forgiveness and KNOWING you're really at peace with God and will not be condemned on the Day of Judgment that attracts Muslims to Christianity. Islam, like all false religions is a religion of works where if you perform satisfactorily you will be saved. Honest people know how inadequate a religion like that really is.

How about former Christians who now are muslims?

I've heard it's because the rigid duties of the Muslim 'faith' make them feel more like they are actually doing something for God. Something that counts...and of course, pleases God. It's the great deception found in ALL religions...including Christianity.


I read a book about Malcolm X in high school that gave a very good insight into being a Muslim. I think it was "The autobiography of Malcolm X". A really good read.

 

[ivorhughjarse]

many Christians cannot accept their own salvation as a gift so look to punish themselves with works of a religious nature somehow thinking they are earning their salvation. Islam is very religious so I can see why people go there. The other side of the coin some Muslims do accept their salvation as a gift from Jesus and walk away from being religious. It's a two way street while ever pastors and imams load guilt burdens on their congregations. If the guilt burdening were to end by either side then the flow of people would be towards Jesus only

 

[Aardverk]

I have not gone from Christian to Muslim but I think I understand why people do.

In my case, I started as a Catholic, realized that I did not accept their teaching and changed denomination, realized I did not accept their teaching and changed denomination etc. Eventually I studied theology and went back to the origins of Christianity. I concluded that I could accept some of the Bible but certainly not all. I was by then mightily disillusioned with the plethora of different Christian denominations and petty squabbles and indeed wars between them. It seemed that every other person believed that they alone knew the truth. As I could not honestly recite the creed any more, I stopped calling myself a Christian.

If I had explored Islam in my early days of struggle, I think I would have been impressed with their relative uniformity. I would have had a great deal more to learn than I had with Christianity and just maybe I would have got sucked in. I certainly do not accept that Mohamed was inspired by God but the evidence for that seems to me to be just as reliable as the evidence that Jesus is the son of God.

I would appreciate it if you did not attack me for doubting your faith, I am not trying to convert anyone, I am simply answering the original question as clearly as I can.

 

[Davies]

Hi Classik,

I think the reasons why Muslims convert to Christianity and Christians convert to Islam hinges on a single question, 'Do you consider yourself to be a good person?' When a Muslim can become honest enough and examine himself, even within the dictates of Islam, he knows he doesn't measure up, otherwise, he spends his time deceiving himself by self-righteousness, or performing enough good deeds to out weigh his bad deeds.

Christians who convert to Islam cannot except their sinful nature. You could say they were never Christians in the first place, because there was never a heart change. As the others have posted here, self-righteousness fills in the gap to provide self-worth.

Dan Barker, the president of the Freedom from Religion Foundation, is a perfect example. He was suppose to be an evangelical pastor for 17-18 years and then took up atheism. Dan was never converted, but only proved he was self-righteous. He will tell you he really was a Christian, but then he has to admit he was wrong then, something he is not willing to do now.

- Davies

 

[Jethro Bodine]

I concluded that I could accept some of the Bible but certainly not all. I was by then mightily disillusioned with the plethora of different Christian denominations and petty squabbles and indeed wars between them. It seemed that every other person believed that they alone knew the truth. As I could not honestly recite the creed any more, I stopped calling myself a Christian.

If I had explored Islam in my early days of struggle, I think I would have been impressed with their relative uniformity.

I think you'd be shocked at how divided even Islam is. Except for the AK-47's and the suicide bombers they pretty much act like the church in regard to divisiveness.

I would have had a great deal more to learn than I had with Christianity and just maybe I would have got sucked in. I certainly do not accept that Mohamed was inspired by God but the evidence for that seems to me to be just as reliable as the evidence that Jesus is the son of God.

I would appreciate it if you did not attack me for doubting your faith, I am not trying to convert anyone, I am simply answering the original question as clearly as I can.

It's good that you make it clear that you being a non-Christian is because you simply don't believe all of what the Bible says and that you question the deity of Christ. That is better than your 'non-Christian' status being part of the squabbling within the ranks of the church itself about who is right and who is wrong. That is a much, much more dangerous and destructive stance to take (being in the church but refusing to be called a Christian) and would almost certainly solicit a response. But most Christians give people lots of room to believe or not to believe and allow them to choose to make a clear distinction between them and the church.

 

[Aardverk]

It's good that you make it clear that you being a non-Christian is because you simply don't believe all of what the Bible says and that you question the deity of Christ. That is better than your 'non-Christian' status being part of the squabbling within the ranks of the church itself about who is right and who is wrong. That is a much, much more dangerous and destructive stance to take (being in the church but refusing to be called a Christian) and would almost certainly solicit a response.

Thank you Jethro Bodine; that is almost exactly my reasoning. I found that when I used to explain my reasoning to people they would just try to 'fix my problem' without displaying your wisdom.

I found that whatever church I attended I had to pretend - which was just not right. On balance I am happier not attending any more but I do miss the fellowship.

 

[Webb]

If my father didn't bow to the one God, if he didn't accept the one Lord, if didn't give heed to the one message of the one Spirit, if he wasn't baptized with the one baptism of the NT, if he didn't contend for the one faith and didn't enjoy the one hope ( Eph. 4:1-6 ) then I should leave my father's religion. Such is true whether one be a Buddist, Muslim or denominationalist!

 

[Free]

What are some of the reasons why a Muslim leaves Islam and embraces Christianity? How about former Christians who now are muslims?

Any reasons? Any experience by any of us?

According to Ravi Zacharias, who has spent much time in the Middle East interacting with Muslims, and a member of his team, Andy Bannister, who focuses on apologetics to Muslims, most of the conversions from Islam to Christianity in happen because Jesus appeared to the Muslim in a dream. They have had numerous conversations with such converts.

As for why a Christian would convert to Islam, I think there are a variety of factors at work and there is no single reason. Among these I would include denominational issues, difficulties with certain doctrines (Trinity, for example), and the perceived devotion of Muslims (daily prayers, etc.). Those are what I remember of a Christian in my city who converted to Islam. A prof brought him into class for just such a discussion.

It's interesting to note the difference in the reasons and I think one would be very hard pressed to find a Christian who converted to Islam because Mohammad appeared to them in a dream, or even Jesus for that matter.

 

[Classik]

Thanks people

A friend told me he needed quick cash. He temporarily became a muslim for a couple of years. He's back to Christianity.

The other friend is a muslim. But, he likes attending church...


Former muslims I know testified they received God's divine touch and saw the truth of Christianity.


Thanks again, friends

 

[for_his_glory]

It's kinda like religious shopping as you go from religion to religion, or Church to Church to try and find something that makes sense to your logical mind, but yet neglecting that of the very Spirit of God for a lack of knowledge of who or what God is.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

According to Ravi Zacharias, who has spent much time in the Middle East interacting with Muslims, and a member of his team, Andy Bannister, who focuses on apologetics to Muslims, most of the conversions from Islam to Christianity in happen because Jesus appeared to the Muslim in a dream.

This seems to happen a lot in the testimonies connected with the Jesus Film project. Christ would appear to people in dreams before the film crews got there, and the movie would confirm what they saw in the dream. If that isn't the grace of God what is?