I was born catholic in California, but moved to the DC area a year later. I was weirdly enough raised in an episcopal church, so I never quite got to be in touch with my catholic roots. In 2018, I went to a catholic church and hated it so I stopped going. I originally went to a catholic university, but I didn’t even last 2 weeks before having to leave due to the toxic atmosphere there. I even had an edgy atheist phase in middle school. Fast forward to now. I feel like modern American society has failed me because I do not seem to fit in anywhere. I go to a diverse but socially segregated community college where your race/ethnicity essentially determines your clique. Seeing as I don’t want to associate with the white people there (who are mostly far right extremists), I need to associate with a different group entirely.
There are a lot of cultures that interest me, specifically Latin American, asian, and muslim cultures. I can’t fit in with the hispanics (no matter how fluent my Spanish is, i’ll always be a gringo to them) or the asians (i’ll stick out like a sore thumb), I figured the last place I can turn to is that of the muslims. The muslim world seems so diverse and welcoming. I feel like they would accept me, even though I am not arab. I do know that Islam is very strict with its daily prayers, dietary restrictions, and abstinence from alcohol and premarital sex. However, I really do think that I can manage in such a lifestyle.
Unfortunately, every decision has its consequences. My family isn’t religious per se, but I do have some family members who will disown me if they heard that I converted. I am also aware of the huge stigma associated with Islam in America. I am also afraid that despite being muslim, I will never truly belong because of my race, my ethnicity, or my accent. Finally, I am unsure about some of the beliefs held by some muslims, such as those regarding the LGBTQ+ community or attitudes towards women that are perceived by many Americans as misogynist. Also, I am quite naïve, so I am worried that I might be drawn into radical fringe groups.
Do you think that I could possibly find belonging among the muslim community of the DC area?
tldr: left catholocism because of toxicity, doesn’t really belong anywhere, but am willing to give Islam a shot.
Probably not the best idea to post this on my meme account, but whatever.
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from Islam https://ift.tt/2T64yGD
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