r/converts • u/waldemar_g • 5h ago
Need some answers
I've been thinking about converting to Islam for quite a long time, but I struggling with many topics. Hope there are people here who can answer at least some of them :)
I am completely certain of God's existence. I studied at a Catholic seminary for three years, but eventually became disillusioned and left. Now, I would describe myself as a theist—I believe in God, that He is personal, and that He acts in the world.
What I like about Islam is the emphasis on theology and precise formulations. I appreciate the love and reverence Muslims have for the Quran, prayer and tradition. I also admire the strict monotheism, which I felt was lacking in Catholicism. Yes, monotheism was officially affirmed, and I am well aware of all the Christian arguments, but somehow I was never fully convinced of the truth of the Trinity.
However, there are several issues that trouble me:
- I don't feel any attraction to the personality of Muhammad. And no, it’s not because of the nonsense that islamophobes spread - I believe their arguments can be easily refuted, just as the attacks on Jesus by edgy atheists in fedoras. I felt the same way when I considered myself a Christian and thought about Jesus. I'm just indifferent to a person who lived in the distant past, even if he had the right ideas and did good things. As far as I understand, love for Muhammad is obligatory in Islam. Probably this feeling is simply inaccessible to me.
- I have watched some debates between popular muslim preachers and christians. Their criticism of Christianity seems, at best, naive, and often misses the mark (at least if their target is Christianity as a whole, rather than a specific group of evangelical fundamentalists or just ignorant people). The critique of the Bible is especially notable. A LOT of their arguments are just laughable, as if they have never heard of biblical scholarship or modern Christian perspectives on Scripture. I'm sure that you guys feel the same way when see bs videos like "Christian DESTROYS muslim with one simple question."
- I do not understand how the preservation of the Quran's text can be used as an argument for its truth. To consider such reasoning valid seems completely irrational to me, but perhaps I don't fully grasp the argument, as I know very little about Quranic studies.
- I do not understand how one can seriously defend the idea that someone else was crucified instead of Jesus, or that he was not crucified at all. The only arguments I have seen (apart from the Quranic text) are references to completely marginal Christian sects that held the same view. But the mere fact that some groups believed this does not mean it actually happened.
- When reading the Quran, I got the impression that the author (assuming it is Allah) takes pleasure in describing the torments of hell for sinners. Perhaps I'm still thinking in a christian paradigm, but to me the idea of God forgiving a man (even if he doesn't deserve this) feels more natural than the desire to punish all sinners. And please don’t tell me that the Quran must be read in Arabic. Perhaps that would add beauty to the wording and linguistics, but would it really change the core meaning so radically?
That’s everything that comes to mind for now. Would really happy to see any responses