| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"jane abraham" |
| Date: |
24 Oct 2006 02:57:56 AM |
| Object: |
Another Chance * |
Another Chance *
By Radko
Brno Mosque
I once knew an atheist who claimed he'd never believed in God's
existence. In his view, believers were supposed to be people of weak
character who felt the necessity to find a crutch for their inability
and laziness, so they attended church. He felt agitated if, when the
debating religion, he could not persuade the opponent with his
arguments. He despised believers in an almost hysterical way. He had,
however, a very good friend who believed in God. They agreed to refrain
from discussing religion whenever together.
One day this man, probably in a rare moment of weakness, accepted the
invitation of his friend to visit his church. To himself, he laughed at
the thought of speaking out in the middle of mass and laughing and
pointing his finger at the believers from the pulpit. However, as we
know, God works in mysterious ways. He went to church, stood in the
back benches, and stared at the people praying.
Suddenly I felt the need to be in the company of believers. The mass
service started and he gave all of them a sarcastic glance. Then the
sermon began, lasting about 15 minutes. Suddenly, in the middle of the
sermon, tears welled in his eyes. A strange feeling of joy and
happiness washed away his animosity, a feeling that engulfed his entire
body. After mass, the two friends left together. They were silent until
the moment they were to part ways, when he asked his friend whether
they could go to church together again. They agreed to go again the
next day.
It's possible some of you might have guessed that I was that stubborn
atheist. I had felt nothing but contempt and hatred towards people of
faith. But after that sermon in 1989, when the priest discussed how we
should not judge others if we don't want to be judged, my life suddenly
took a dramatic turn.
I started attending church services regularly and was thirsty for any
information on God and Jesus Christ. I took part in meetings with
Christian youngsters where we exchanged our spiritual experiences. I
felt resurrected. Suddenly I felt the need to be in the company of
believers. I needed to make up for the past 18 years.
I was brought up in an atheist family, who except for having me
baptized, did not exercise any attempt to guide my spiritual
development. I remember being in sixth grade when a comrade was sent by
the Communist Party to explain to us why God does not exist. I remember
myself absorbing his every word. In my case, I needed no convincing. I
believed everything he said. His arrogance, contempt, and hatred
towards believers became mine. But now I had to make up for all those
years.
I met with a priest and others who guided me in this new direction. I
was full of so many questions, to which they responded. Later I was to
realize a big mistake: I accepted everything without contemplation or
reflection. I could say that they explained things to me in a
"take-it-as-is" manner, but that would not be fair to them. It was, in
fact, my mistake. I didn't reflect upon their words, nor did I think
critically. This would cause me a lot of complications later. In
retrospect, I believe an important factor that influenced my behavior
was age. I was too young to properly comprehend matters so serious and
complicated as faith.
I can just imagine how Satan must have been waiting for me with open
arms, but God did not give up on me and gave me another chance. I
wished to become a good Christian, and God knows I tried very hard. Yet
over time, I could not reconcile the contradictions found in the Bible,
such as the divine nature of Prophet Jesus and the concept of inherited
sin. Priests tried to respond to my questions, but eventually, their
patience began to run thin. I was told that such matters should be
accepted on faith, and that these questions were a waste of time and
would only serve to distance me from God. Till this day, I recall
myself quarreling with a spiritual leader, an event that restarted my
self-destructive tendencies. Maybe I wasn't right after all. I was
young.
My path toward Islam wasn't easy at all. You may think that since I was
disappointed with Christianity, I would have immediately accepted Islam
as my faith. This could have been very simple, but all I knew about
Islam at the time were things like Muslims refer to God as Allah, they
read the Qur'an instead of the Bible, and they worship somebody called
Muhammad. Also, I think I was not yet ready to accept Islam.
So I withdrew from the church community and claimed to be a soloist
Christian. I found out, however, that even though I didn't miss the
community of believers or church, God was "settled" so deep in my heart
that I couldn't let Him go. I didn't even try. Quite the opposite. I
felt happy to have God around and hoped He was on my side.
Later I began to engage in one stupidity after another, living a life
of luxury and lust. I did not realize that such a road would lead me
away from God and towards hell. A friend of mine says that you need to
hit rock bottom in order to feel the ground beneath your feet. This is
exactly what happened to me. I fell really deep. I can just imagine how
Satan must have been waiting for me with open arms, but God did not
give up on me and gave me another chance.
In July 2001, I met a young man from Iraq. His name was Ibrahim. We
very quickly struck up a conversation. He told me that he was Muslim,
and I responded that I was Christian. I was worried that my being
Christian would be a problem, but I was wrong. I was glad to be wrong.
It was interesting that I did not want to become Muslim and he did not
try to convert me.
Although I considered Muslims an exotic group, I had been interested to
learn more about Islam. It was a good opportunity to learn more. I
realized that I had in front of me a man who could teach me a lot about
Islam, so I mustered the courage to ask him to do just that. That was
my first meeting with Islam, indeed my first step. After some time we
parted ways, and I did not see him again, but the seed had been sown.
It was a difficult struggle with myself, but with God's help I won that
battle. I remember once reading an interview with Mohammad Ali Silhavy
(an old Czech Muslim) and being eager to find his address and write him
a letter. Then came September 11. Because of the political climate, I
thought it might not be an appropriate time to contact Mr. Silhavy. So
I found myself at a dead end.
About two months later I found the courage to write a long letter to
Mr. Silhavy. After a while he replied and sent a package including
Islamic literature and leaflets. He told me that he had informed the
Islamic Foundation in Prague about me and asked them to send me the
translation of the Qur'an. So this was my beginning. Step by step, I
learned that not only is Islam not a militant religion, but to the
contrary, it is a religion of peace. My questions were answered.
Because of certain circumstances, it wasn't until three years later
that I decided to visit Mr. Silhavy. He showed a lot of patience while
explaining to me different issues, and suggested that I visit the
mosque of Brno (Czech Republic). When I went to the mosque of Brno, I
was afraid that I would be seen as a stranger, an outsider. How
surprised I was to find quite the opposite. I met K. and L., who were
the first persons to help me. Of course, I met other brothers who
welcomed me in the warmest way possible way.
I began to delve into all aspects of Islam, and found how
understandable and logical Islam is. I gradually started to learn how
to pray, and today I master prayer with no problem, even in Arabic. I
gave up a bad habit of mine that was not compatible with Islam. I was a
gambler and a very good one indeed. It was a difficult struggle with
myself, but with God's help I won that battle.
If I ever doubted my interest in Islam or whether I could live as a
Muslim, I know now that my interest is permanent and I consider myself
one of them. Maybe it looks very simple, but again with God's help I
won this internal struggle. I thought carefully before I definitively
decided to embrace Islam. To be honest, throughout 2003 and the
beginning of 2004, I was not completely sure if I could manage this.
Finally I decided definitively. I am not that young man from the early
'90s anymore.
That's why today I feel very happy that I am Muslim. I finally feel
free. I still have my imperfections but I am trying to improve upon
them. I believe that God will help me. Now, listen to what I want to
tell you and consider this my obligation: I believe in my heart and
declare by word that there is no other god but Allah and Muhammad is
God's Messenger
.
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| User: "Michael Gray" |
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| Title: Re: Another Chance * |
24 Oct 2006 03:56:43 AM |
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On 24 Oct 2006 00:57:56 -0700, "jane abraham" <arah1958@gmail.com>
wrote:
- Refer: <1161676676.682350.292320@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>
Another Chance *
By Radko
Brno Mosque
I once knew an atheist who claimed he'd never believed in God's
existence. In his view, believers were supposed to be people of weak
:
You idiots really like your works of fiction, don't you?
.
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| User: "Christopher A. Lee" |
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| Title: Re: Another Chance * |
24 Oct 2006 06:22:18 AM |
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On Tue, 24 Oct 2006 18:26:43 +0930, Michael Gray
<fleetg@newsguy.spam.com> wrote:
On 24 Oct 2006 00:57:56 -0700, "jane abraham" <arah1958@gmail.com>
wrote:
- Refer: <1161676676.682350.292320@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>
Another Chance *
By Radko
Brno Mosque
I once knew an atheist who claimed he'd never believed in God's
existence. In his view, believers were supposed to be people of weak
:
You idiots really like your works of fiction, don't you?
It's designed for believers who don't know what an atheist is, to
reinforce their beliefs by showing how "unreasonable" we are. Trouble
is that their caricature represents no atheist, and they have neither
the common sense nor courtesy to keep this kind of stupidity to
themselves.
.
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| User: "Michael Gray" |
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| Title: Re: Another Chance * |
24 Oct 2006 06:41:54 AM |
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On Tue, 24 Oct 2006 07:22:18 -0400, Christopher A. Lee
<calee@optonline.net> wrote:
- Refer: <vntrj2hk5e3m0png7o3vcllbd6f3sehcb0@4ax.com>
On Tue, 24 Oct 2006 18:26:43 +0930, Michael Gray
<fleetg@newsguy.spam.com> wrote:
On 24 Oct 2006 00:57:56 -0700, "jane abraham" <arah1958@gmail.com>
wrote:
- Refer: <1161676676.682350.292320@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>
Another Chance *
By Radko
Brno Mosque
I once knew an atheist who claimed he'd never believed in God's
existence. In his view, believers were supposed to be people of weak
:
You idiots really like your works of fiction, don't you?
It's designed for believers who don't know what an atheist is, to
reinforce their beliefs by showing how "unreasonable" we are. Trouble
is that their caricature represents no atheist, and they have neither
the common sense nor courtesy to keep this kind of stupidity to
themselves.
And their invented examples show how much they rely on suffering and
despair for infecting others with their pestilential mind-plague.
Much as shingles will attack when the immune system is at a low ebb.
.
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| User: "Zartregu" |
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| Title: Re: Another Chance * |
25 Oct 2006 03:49:38 PM |
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Michael Gray wrote:
On Tue, 24 Oct 2006 07:22:18 -0400, Christopher A. Lee
<calee@optonline.net> wrote:
- Refer: <vntrj2hk5e3m0png7o3vcllbd6f3sehcb0@4ax.com>
On Tue, 24 Oct 2006 18:26:43 +0930, Michael Gray
<fleetg@newsguy.spam.com> wrote:
On 24 Oct 2006 00:57:56 -0700, "jane abraham" <arah1958@gmail.com>
wrote:
- Refer: <1161676676.682350.292320@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>
Another Chance *
By Radko
Brno Mosque
I once knew an atheist who claimed he'd never believed in God's
existence. In his view, believers were supposed to be people of weak
:
You idiots really like your works of fiction, don't you?
It's designed for believers who don't know what an atheist is, to
reinforce their beliefs by showing how "unreasonable" we are. Trouble
is that their caricature represents no atheist, and they have neither
the common sense nor courtesy to keep this kind of stupidity to
themselves.
And their invented examples show how much they rely on suffering and
despair for infecting others with their pestilential mind-plague.
Much as shingles will attack when the immune system is at a low ebb.
Actually, that one is quite cleverly done, for a mind-virus carrier.
It is obviously targeted at Christians, not us atheists. The text
begins likes one of those feel-good stories about an evil unbeliever
who finds Christ. And once the Christian reader wholeheartedly agrees
with everything he reads, and trusts the narrator implicitly, there
comes the unexpected twist with a call to Islam.
A well-crafted piece of religious propaganda, if you are into that kind
of thing. Not that the poster is any less of an ***** for cut-and-pasting
it here.
See you.
.
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| User: "Michael Gray" |
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| Title: Re: Another Chance * |
25 Oct 2006 09:16:50 PM |
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On 25 Oct 2006 13:49:38 -0700, "Zartregu" <zzogue@hotmail.com> wrote:
- Refer: <1161809378.309860.118840@f16g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>
Michael Gray wrote:
On Tue, 24 Oct 2006 07:22:18 -0400, Christopher A. Lee
<calee@optonline.net> wrote:
- Refer: <vntrj2hk5e3m0png7o3vcllbd6f3sehcb0@4ax.com>
On Tue, 24 Oct 2006 18:26:43 +0930, Michael Gray
<fleetg@newsguy.spam.com> wrote:
On 24 Oct 2006 00:57:56 -0700, "jane abraham" <arah1958@gmail.com>
wrote:
- Refer: <1161676676.682350.292320@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>
Another Chance *
By Radko
Brno Mosque
I once knew an atheist who claimed he'd never believed in God's
existence. In his view, believers were supposed to be people of weak
:
You idiots really like your works of fiction, don't you?
It's designed for believers who don't know what an atheist is, to
reinforce their beliefs by showing how "unreasonable" we are. Trouble
is that their caricature represents no atheist, and they have neither
the common sense nor courtesy to keep this kind of stupidity to
themselves.
And their invented examples show how much they rely on suffering and
despair for infecting others with their pestilential mind-plague.
Much as shingles will attack when the immune system is at a low ebb.
Actually, that one is quite cleverly done, for a mind-virus carrier.
It is obviously targeted at Christians, not us atheists. The text
Yes, you seem to be on to a winner with that observation.
A pep-talk to the troops before a fresh battle, as it were.
begins likes one of those feel-good stories about an evil unbeliever
who finds Christ. And once the Christian reader wholeheartedly agrees
with everything he reads, and trusts the narrator implicitly, there
comes the unexpected twist with a call to Islam.
A well-crafted piece of religious propaganda, if you are into that kind
of thing. Not that the poster is any less of an ***** for cut-and-pasting
it here.
See you.
.
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| User: "Al Klein" |
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| Title: Re: Another Chance * |
24 Oct 2006 11:30:29 AM |
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On 24 Oct 2006 00:57:56 -0700, "jane abraham" <arah1958@gmail.com>
wrote:
I was brought up in an atheist family, who except for having me
baptized
Why would atheists baptize their child? That's what CHRISTIANS do,
moron.
There's a rule all authors of fiction should stick to - write about
what you know. You violated it and now look at how stupid you appear.
--
rukbat at optonline dot net
"I am a deeply religious nonbeliever.... This is a somewhat new kind of religion."
- Letter to Hans Muehsam March 30, 1954; Einstein Archive 38-434
(random sig, produced by SigChanger)
.
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| User: "Ghod" |
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| Title: Re: Another Chance * |
25 Oct 2006 01:50:57 PM |
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"Al Klein" <rukbat@pern.invalid> wrote in message
news:8qfsj259eqrd8ovgiud0cmfierujltc6nn@4ax.com...
On 24 Oct 2006 00:57:56 -0700, "jane abraham" <arah1958@gmail.com>
wrote:
I was brought up in an atheist family, who except for having me
baptized
Why would atheists baptize their child? That's what CHRISTIANS do,
moron.
There's a rule all authors of fiction should stick to - write about
what you know. You violated it and now look at how stupid you
appear.
You mean it wasn't deliberate humor? Gee, what a shame.
.
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| User: "Liz" |
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| Title: Re: Another Chance * |
24 Oct 2006 06:00:55 AM |
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On 24 Oct 2006 00:57:56 -0700, "jane abraham" <arah1958@gmail.com> in
news message <1161676676.682350.292320@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>
wrote:
[----]
. I am not that young man from the early
'90s anymore.
So "jane", was the sex change operation before or after your
conversion to Islam?
That's why today I feel very happy that I am Muslim.
Liz #658 BAAWA
Reality doesn't alter itself to conform to our beliefs. --
Gregory A. Greenman
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| User: "Michael Gray" |
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| Title: Re: Another Chance * |
24 Oct 2006 06:43:49 AM |
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On Tue, 24 Oct 2006 07:00:55 -0400, Liz <ehuth1@donotspam.com> wrote:
- Refer: <vbsrj21f6sgtotgasn74ocbt0rbktt75f0@4ax.com>
On 24 Oct 2006 00:57:56 -0700, "jane abraham" <arah1958@gmail.com> in
news message <1161676676.682350.292320@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>
wrote:
[----]
. I am not that young man from the early
'90s anymore.
So "jane", was the sex change operation before or after your
conversion to Islam?
The penalty for stealing is chopping off a hand.
He paid the Islamic penalty for thinking about masturbation.
That's why today I feel very happy that I am Muslim.
Liz #658 BAAWA
Reality doesn't alter itself to conform to our beliefs. --
Gregory A. Greenman
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| User: "stoney" |
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| Title: Re: Another Chance * |
27 Oct 2006 02:02:58 PM |
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On 24 Oct 2006 00:57:56 -0700, "jane abraham" <arah1958@gmail.com> wrote
in alt.atheism
Another Chance *
By Radko
Brno Mosque
I once knew an atheist who claimed he'd never believed in God's
existence.
These folks are many and myraid Christians hate that.
[]
--
Fundies and trolls are cordially invited to
shove a wooden cross up their arses and rotate
at a high rate of speed. I trust you'll
be 'blessed' with a plethora of splinters.
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| User: "MarkA" |
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| Title: Re: Another Chance * |
24 Oct 2006 07:00:14 AM |
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On Tue, 24 Oct 2006 00:57:56 -0700, jane abraham wrote:
Another Chance *
By Radko
Brno Mosque
<snip>
That's why today I feel very happy that I am Muslim. I finally feel free.
I still have my imperfections but I am trying to improve upon them. I
believe that God will help me. Now, listen to what I want to tell you and
consider this my obligation: I believe in my heart and declare by word
that there is no other god but Allah and Muhammad is God's Messenger
OK, so you are one of those people of weak character that you used to
despise. Remember: Hearts are for pumping blood to an organ called the
brain. You are wasting a lot of cardiac work by failing to use yours.
--
MarkA
(still caught in the maze of twisty little passages, all different)
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| User: "Mark K. Bilbo" |
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| Title: Re: Another Chance * |
25 Oct 2006 09:18:06 PM |
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On Tue, 24 Oct 2006 00:57:56 -0700, jane abraham wrote:
That's why today I feel very happy that I am Muslim.
That's nice. But why would you think we'd care?
--
Mark K. Bilbo
--------------------------------------------------
"As hip as it is for outsiders to blame New Orleans
for everything bad that happened during and after
Hurricane Katrina, the truth is that the people
who lived here were much more prepared for a big
storm than the federal government that promised
us flood protection." [Jarvis DeBerry]
http://makeashorterlink.com/?V180525DC
"Everything New Orleans"
http://www.nola.com
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: Another Chance * |
24 Oct 2006 03:15:25 AM |
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jane abraham wrote:
Another Chance *
By Radko
Brno Mosque
I once knew an atheist who claimed
You didn't read my other post, did you?
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.atheism/msg/dec9b2041391b7f6?dmode=source
-Panama Floyd, Atl.
aa#2015, Member Knights of BAAWA!
EAC Martian Commander
Plonked by Kadaitcha Man Sept 06
"..the prayer cloth of one aeon is the doormat of the next."
-Mark Twain
Religious societies are *less* moral than secular ones:
http://moses.creighton.edu/JRS/2005/2005-11.html
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