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Islam or Judaism

Esaurus

Esaurus

Member
SearchingForGod said:
This is my problem. I joined this forum first saying that I wished to join either Christianity or Judaism. After doing much thought, I've decided that Christianity probably is not for me, but now my birth religion, Islam, has come into the picture to argue its case. Judaism and Islam are very much alike. Both believe in one god with no human incarnations, both have modesty and dietary laws, and both allow for divorce and the like. Why, then, am I fighting with myself over which one I ought to follow?

Judaism, in all of its beliefs, are what I like. I love how you don't have to be a Jew to get to Heaven. I love how the concept of reincarnation and no Hell exist. And I love how being gay is okay in Judaism, as well as all the other liberal stances on contemporary issues. These beliefs made me feel as though Judaism was perfect for me at first... but I met with a rabbi to start studying and now my Islamic side feels very very sad about this. Like, mournfully sad. I was born and raised as a muslim, with all of the culture and such, and going to Judaism makes me feel as though I'd be throwing away all of my culture and beliefs for something foreign. I've been trying to find a middle ground with this side of myself with all the comparisons I can make between Judaism and Islam, but it doesn't make a difference. It all still hurts.

I think what I miss the most is the big muslim community I was once a part of. Sure, we disagreed when it came to contemporary issues, but it was still home to me. I still had others I could relate to and could notice on the street. I could wave at the other sisters wearing hijabs and they'd wave back with a smile... but if I do that now, I just get strange looks. In essence, I'm out of the club now, and that's painful.

Judaism is cool in theory, but part of me really wants to go home to its roots. I've prayed to God a lot to help show me the way, and I think he appreciates all the effort I'm putting into my search... but I have to imagine that he just wants me to choose what makes me the happiest, and that's the toughest thing to decide.

Thank you, to anyone who has read my rant. I'm just going through a lot right now and needed a place to speak and process what's going on in this scrambled head of mine. It's painful, as I keep saying.
Click to expand...

Hello Searching for God,

May I assure that God is closer than you think and has His hand out for you? Please think of how Jesus (the person of God in human flesh), interacted with the Samaritan woman in the Biblical story of the woman at the well.

Which religion do you prefer?

Please remember Jesus’ words to the woman, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water."

Note that the woman was surprised that Jesus, a Jew unashamedly asked her for water and had something to offer her despite the hostile differences between the Jewish religious culture and hers.
Unlike religionists, He made no hard religious demands. As the conversation continued, the woman asked for Jesus' offer.


When Jesus asked her to bring her husband, she admitted that she had none. Jesus then described her adulterous relationships and commended her for telling the truth of her not having a husband. She then perceived Jesus to be a prophet and changed the subject to describe the differences between the Jewish and Samaritan worship.

As the conversation continued, Jesus said,

“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

As the conversation ended, she left the water to tell the town that she met the Messiah.

The risen Messiah thus awaits our response to Him after hearing His word to give us that same “living water.” Unless the believer of a religion is led to Him, the religion is empty.

Besides happiness, God wants inner peace for you that cannot be mined away that only He can give.


Take care,
Earl
 
Servant_of_the_One1

Servant_of_the_One1

Well-Known Member
I can only give u this advise:
Follow that which makes ur heart rest, feel calm inside.

As muslim i can only speak for myself. Reciting Quran and praying gives me nice feeling of rest. When i have heavy head or dizzling or tired, i read quran and i pray. It helps for me. Also it lifts my faith in Allah swt.
 
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