Bora Bora wrote:Well I can speak from personal experience. When I married, my husband was muslim, I a non-practicing Christian. I totally respected his religion and beliefs. I brought many of his religious practices and his culture into my life. Although non-muslim I made it a point to comply and respect his religious practices. Because I did not practice my faith did not mean he should not practice his.
After 4 years of marriage, I made the decision to convert to Islam. I knew I had all the basics that Islam asked of an individual so conversion was not hard for me.
What we do outside of religious practice does not hurt anyone and it is on us. I would rather answer to a higher power for drinking alcohol than having to answer for mistreating other people, or for being greedy, or for getting through life based on lies.
And FYI when I came to the UAE I was never so disappointed in the way Islam was NOT practiced by Muslims - in particular, locals. There is such hipocrasy in the UAE. What sickens me during Ramadan is the way people eat as if it was their last meal, laden their tables with food, and then throw out what remains. During Ramadan I keep it very simple and try to eat at home as much as possible and cook just enough to be eaten. Anything left over is eaten the next nite. We invite people to break fast with us and I keep it just as simple. If they want fancy, then they could go to a restaurant.
When I would fast at work, Saudi and UAE locals would be having their lunch delivered or drinking coffee and they all had the same excuse - I have a bad stomach. In Cairo I see a much more stronger, pure and true practice of the faith than I do here.
Sorry, got carried away here.
Back to romance.
Excellent post.
Interesting perspective, especially from someone who has been on both sides of the religious-table.
I'm not exactly a 'non-practicing' catholic as I do quietly say my nightly prayers, but I don't visit the Church nearly as often as I should.
I have some serious questions regarding the religion that cannot be answered by anyone but my maker. Hence I simply focus my prayers toward "God".
Having said that, I have a huge amount of respect for the Muslim religion and certain people's dedication toward it. During Ramadan, I observed many more people fast and follow the rules than I observed during Lent.
Either way, I'm off on a tangent. Getting back on track...
I'm intrigued by the Muslim religion but not by the hypocricsy. I would consider aaccepting my future wife's religion, but I would accept the same from her ...