Leaving Islam and finding God for real

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Kouyate42

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THis may come as a shock to some people on here, including even in my more recent posts but as of today I no longer consider Islam my religion. Anyone who is interested in the specific reasoning can either ask here or PM me.

But the main reason that I have created this thread is that my decision to leave Islam has left me feeling fairly directionless in terms of my relationship to God. I feel quite lost and am really unsure as to how to proceed.

Does anyone know what I should do?
 
Well, start by praying. None of us really have much direction without His help. Then take a bit of time to clear your head, so you can be confident that your decisions are not made in confusion.

I haven’t read any of your previous posts, so I don’t know if you are leaning towards another religion, Catholicism or the non-religious kind of relationship with God. Obviously my belief is that Catholicism is the true religion, but I can’t push you to pursue that path unless you truly have come to believe it as well. I would advise you to work out what you do believe, start from scratch - is there a God? I think you’ve already indicated that you believe that, so next you need to figure out how God wants you to live and worship. Investigate all faiths that might be true and really study them. Find what is true in each and what is not true. You should find that one of them will rise to the top and be the most right.

During this process, pray pray pray and God will not abandon you. I’ll pray for you as well.
 
Kouyate42 said:
THis may come as a shock to some people on here, including even in my more recent posts but as of today I no longer consider Islam my religion. Anyone who is interested in the specific reasoning can either ask here or PM me.

But the main reason that I have created this thread is that my decision to leave Islam has left me feeling fairly directionless in terms of my relationship to God. I feel quite lost and am really unsure as to how to proceed.

Does anyone know what I should do?
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Pray, pray and pray some more!

And maybe change your signature…
 
Praying for you from Friday’s Liturgy of the Hours:

Psalm-prayer

Lord, be near to all who call upon you in truth and increase the dedication of those who revere you. Hear their prayers and save them that they may always love you and praise your holy name.

Ant. To you alone, Lord, we look with confidence; you are ever close to those who call upon you.

Ant. 3 King of all the ages, your ways are perfect and true.

O God,
who have prepared
fitting helps for us in our weakness,
grant, we pray, that we may receive
their healing effects with joy
and reflect them in a holy way of life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.

May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life.
– Amen.
 
Kouyate42 said:
THis may come as a shock to some people on here, including even in my more recent posts but as of today I no longer consider Islam my religion. Anyone who is interested in the specific reasoning can either ask here or PM me.

But the main reason that I have created this thread is that my decision to leave Islam has left me feeling fairly directionless in terms of my relationship to God. I feel quite lost and am really unsure as to how to proceed.

Does anyone know what I should do?
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I agree with everyone here, you need to take some time to clear your head, pray and learn more about each particular faith in order to decide what it is you truly believe in.
What made you change your mind about Islam?
 
Faith1960 said:
I agree with everyone here, you need to take some time to clear your head, pray and learn more about each particular faith in order to decide what it is you truly believe in.
What made you change your mind about Islam?
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Basically what changed my mind was the glaringly obvious clashes between the sunnah and Hadith and what I was reading in the Quran. Even what I was seeing for myself in practice seemed to contradict what I was being told was ‘real’ Islam.

Plus I am questiong why the hadith arenecessary given that the Quran itself states it is a perfect and complete book.

I also got sick of the increasingly petty and mindless divisions over the smallest of things including some of the most basic tenets of Islam such as how the salat should be prayed. What was said by one scholar was contradicted by another. One sect teaches one thing and another teaches something else.

I think I shall start by rereading the Bible with the help of the Writings of the saints and the Fathers. My decision to leave my church and even Christianity was in part to due to my frustrations with the Bible.
 
Kouyate42 said:
Basically what changed my mind was the glaringly obvious clashes between the sunnah and Hadith and what I was reading in the Quran. Even what I was seeing for myself in practice seemed to contradict what I was being told was ‘real’ Islam.

Plus I am questiong why the hadith arenecessary given that the Quran itself states it is a perfect and complete book.

I also got sick of the increasingly petty and mindless divisions over the smallest of things including some of the most basic tenets of Islam such as how the salat should be prayed. What was said by one scholar was contradicted by another. One sect teaches one thing and another teaches something else.

I think I shall start by rereading the Bible with the help of the Writings of the saints and the Fathers. My decision to leave my church and even Christianity was in part to due to my frustrations with the Bible.
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Have you ever considered seeing a Spiritual Director? I’ve been seeing one for some time. She/he can help walk you through any difficulties you may be having.

Have you read any books by Lee Strobel? I think they’d be very helpful. Some titles are:

A Case For Christ
A Case For The Resurrection
A Case For A Creator
 
My first take was that the recommendation for a spiritual director is a good one, , , except for the fact that in choosing a spiritual director, he’s already making a decision of what result he wants.

Praying is the first and best idea.

The Bible is an extremely difficult book, for many reasons, to understand. That’s why I find the Catechism so very helpful. I admit that I am not a learned religion scholar, so I have to rely on the insights and guidance of those who have spent their lives reading, and rereading, all these things.
 
Above all, pray.

Ask for direction, listen, and He will guide you.
 
Turn to the source of faith, Jesus Christ and ask Him to come into your life. Surrender your life to Him alone.

Without Jesus, you’ll just be shopping for a religion that fits your own agendas.

Jim
 
Faith1960 said:
Have you ever considered seeing a Spiritual Director? I’ve been seeing one for some time. She/he can help walk you through any difficulties you may be having.

Have you read any books by Lee Strobel? I think they’d be very helpful. Some titles are:

A Case For Christ
A Case For The Resurrection
A Case For A Creator
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I’ve often considered it, but never actually done so. Now is likely a good time to consider doing so.
Captain_America said:
My first take was that the recommendation for a spiritual director is a good one, , , except for the fact that in choosing a spiritual director, he’s already making a decision of what result he wants.

Praying is the first and best idea.

The Bible is an extremely difficult book, for many reasons, to understand. That’s why I find the Catechism so very helpful. I admit that I am not a learned religion scholar, so I have to rely on the insights and guidance of those who have spent their lives reading, and rereading, all these things.
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Yes, I’m re-reading the Catechism right now and I’m also taking brief glimpses at the Summa Theologica when needed and some of the writings of St. Augustine.
 
Well i will definitely keep you in my prayers, and here are some very good Catholic resources i think you will find helpful -
audiosancto.org/
keepthefaith.org/
fultonsheen.com/Fulton-Sheen-MP3.cfm
z13.invisionfree.com/DominamStellaMaris/index.php?showtopic=55
pamphlets.org.au/
drbo.org/
haydock1859.tripod.com/
tanbooks.com/index.php
fraternitypublications.com

as for what you should do…i would simply say, pray, find a good priest, and get a good Catholic education, and then by that i think the rest will follow…or in other words, you will develop a knowledge and love of God, and a relationship with Him, as you learn and grow in the faith, so it’ll take time, and that means you just need to be patient,
but in the meantime i think you’ll find alot of help from those links there.

alright, hope this helps, take care.
 
Kouyate42 said:
THis may come as a shock to some people on here, including even in my more recent posts but as of today I no longer consider Islam my religion. Anyone who is interested in the specific reasoning can either ask here or PM me.

But the main reason that I have created this thread is that my decision to leave Islam has left me feeling fairly directionless in terms of my relationship to God. I feel quite lost and am really unsure as to how to proceed.

Does anyone know what I should do?
Click to expand...
It sounds as though you devoted yourself before you were prepared for the commitment. My advice would be, before you make a religious commitment (or really…any major commitment) is that you remain an observer/student at least a few months (up to and upwards of a year, even), and probably longer, before you take serious steps to a conversion/whatever. And you don’t just study the religion you’re interested in, but the community you’re thinking of leaving.

You don’t need to belong to a formal religion to feel connected to God, however. It might be helpful for you to continue whatever spiritual practices you’ve developed before taking on new ones – like praying aloud, daily meditations, even volunteer work.

Best wishes and God’s blessings for you.
 
Kouyate42 said:
Basically what changed my mind was the glaringly obvious clashes between the sunnah and Hadith and what I was reading in the Quran. Even what I was seeing for myself in practice seemed to contradict what I was being told was ‘real’ Islam.
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That is the point, if you want to really see the true face of Islam, then you should read the hadiths…
 
Kouyate42 said:
I’ve often considered it, but never actually done so. Now is likely a good time to consider doing so.

Yes, I’m re-reading the Catechism right now and I’m also taking brief glimpses at the Summa Theologica when needed and some of the writings of St. Augustine.
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The Summa? You certainly feel called to the philosophical side of faith! 🙂

I’ll pray for you as well
 
Praying is the best course of action to take, he will not lead you astray, he will show you the truth.

I think there is a VERY good reason you came to a Catholic forum 😉
 
Kouyate42 said:
THis may come as a shock to some people on here, including even in my more recent posts but as of today I no longer consider Islam my religion. Anyone who is interested in the specific reasoning can either ask here or PM me.

But the main reason that I have created this thread is that my decision to leave Islam has left me feeling fairly directionless in terms of my relationship to God. I feel quite lost and am really unsure as to how to proceed.

Does anyone know what I should do?
Click to expand...
Pray, pray, pray. God will guide you in His ways.
I will pray for you.
 
Dear Kouyate,

I will pray for you so that you find peace in your heart, wherever your spiritual journey takes you. I was an atheist for many years, so I know something of the wilderness! Even when I was an atheist I would often find a church to pop into and just sit there and breathe in the quietness, the stillness, and take time to just sit and empty my mind of all my worries. I would recommend you finding a nice quiet church to go into, when there are no services and just have a sit down, perhaps talk to God about what is worrying you, and maybe listen to the quietness.

Take your time and pray. God loves you so much, more than you could ever know, and He wants you to be happy. You are a unique, much loved, much wanted child of God, and He will never abandon you. Even if there are times when you feel alone, God is still there, loving you and wanting to hear from you.

God bless you and I hope you find what you’re searching for.
 
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