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Mon 19 Nov, 2007 07:33 am
I have recently entered into a relationship with a Moroccan who is a practicing Muslim. I am a practicing Christian. It seems unlikely that this relationship will go anywhere long-term, but for the moment, it seems pretty good. The trouble is that this isn't the first time I have been in a relationship with a Muslim. I dated another North African two years ago. After that experience, I told myself that I would stay away from North Africans in general after having judged the general population based on this one man. I realize that judgement is wrong AND against my religion, but I was incredibly hurt the last time. So, it took a lot of courage to allow this to happen.
But the question of religion comes up a lot. It seems he is always trying to convince me that Islam is the way. I, of course, defend Christianity and try to explain the reasons that it has been meaningful in my life, but never with the intention of converting him.
I guess I think about Islam quite a bit and wonder what it has to offer. I think that this guy picks up on my interest and is hoping that I will become a Muslim. But for now, it is just interest and nothing more.
I don't know what my question is exactly. but I was wondering if you had any thoughts.
There are enough similarities in the tenets of both religions that the possibility exists of a shared life that allows each to follow their own path without conflict. I have a child in my Sunday school class that comes from just such a relationship. Each parent follows their own traditions and the child is raised with both -- just like the many Jewish-Christian interfaith families we see.
It take two people, both willing to see the similarities of their faiths and focus on those rather than focus on the differences. Christians are accepted within Islam as 'People of the Book' so if your friend is a moderate Muslim there should be no conflict. If, however, his goal is to convert you then there will come a time that you have to decide if the relationship is worth converting to his faith.
I worked in Saudi Arabia for 15 years, and had quite an exposure to Islam.
I do understand that how Islam is practiced in Saudi Arabia may be different than how Islam may be practiced in other countries. Just like Christianity may be practiced differently in Bolivia than how it is practiced in Iceland.
I am a Christian. If anything, living in a Muslim country made me re-examine what I believe and why I believe it, and made my faith stronger.
Now comes the part that some people might not appreciate. Every religion in the world today is basically the same. You earn your salvation solely through your own efforts. The religion has a set of rules, and how well you follow these rules determines your standing with your god(s). And of all the religions I have studied, Islam has the most rules that govern every aspect of a Muslim's life.
There is one exception to this - Christianity. The New Testament teaches there is nothing you can do to earn or deserve salavation. A Christian believes that salvation is obtained only through accepting Christ as Lord and Savior, not through mindlessly following rules.
I hope this is helpful to you.
I'm sorry for your situation.
I'm a Deist, and my girlfriend is a Catholic. Her family is hard core ctholic too, St. Louis MO caholic, which if you don't know means that they are megacatholic.
Religious tensions are making it hard for me to move forward at this point in our relationship. It's hard.
Act on love, I suppose.
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