what am I?

[zarya]

Hi everyone,
I thought this was a pretty interesting subject considering I have been pondering over my own creed for the past couple of years. My family is muslim just as the rest of my relatives. My parents never did the traditional islamic prayers with the exception of Ramadan when they would fast and pray. I had not been educated about any religion except Islam. Actually I hadn't been educated about Islam either for neither my parents, my illiterate grandmother, my uncle or my brothers and I had ever read the Quran. We were refugees in Pakistan and these were my family members.
When I moved to the US, I began learning about other religions and of course about the big bang theory. I loved reading and I still do, so learning about these beliefs were neither shameful or forbidden in my perspective. I studied religions back to the Greek societies and the mythical gods. It was about two years ago when I declared to myself that I was not a muslim, or anything else for that matter. Religion, in my view, is a story we create as society shifts in a direction we distaste, so that we can gain control. I don't believe in the big bang theory either. So today, I am an atheist and I don't think that that will ever change. I can always lie to myself and others and say that I am muslim but in the back of my mind, I will always know. Both of my best friends are devout Christians and that has never been an issue for any of us.
It will be quite interesting if I go back to Kurdistan, after I am done with medical school, date a guy and have to tell him that I am an atheist. I don't think I will ever get a call back. But I really don't care. I have always been freespirited, never caring about rumors and gossip. I love who I am and if I don't believe in God, well then I don't.

[dyaoko]

When I am in my death bed, I want to have lived my life based on my own choices not what others chose for me

I loveed your signature , I agree with you, and I admire your courage to change your relligion and think of your own...

by my idea, an athehist who thinks , is so much better than a muslem who doenst think ! peopel who Think [not just follow like a blind] are always better .

by the way one question, why u were in Pakistan ? in which part of kurdistan u were born?

[KurdistaniIraq]

Hi everyone,
I thought this was a pretty interesting subject considering I have been pondering over my own creed for the past couple of years. My family is muslim just as the rest of my relatives. My parents never did the traditional islamic prayers with the exception of Ramadan when they would fast and pray. I had not been educated about any religion except Islam. Actually I hadn't been educated about Islam either for neither my parents, my illiterate grandmother, my uncle or my brothers and I had ever read the Quran. We were refugees in Pakistan and these were my family members.
When I moved to the US, I began learning about other religions and of course about the big bang theory. I loved reading and I still do, so learning about these beliefs were neither shameful or forbidden in my perspective. I studied religions back to the Greek societies and the mythical gods. It was about two years ago when I declared to myself that I was not a muslim, or anything else for that matter. Religion, in my view, is a story we create as society shifts in a direction we distaste, so that we can gain control. I don't believe in the big bang theory either. So today, I am an atheist and I don't think that that will ever change. I can always lie to myself and others and say that I am muslim but in the back of my mind, I will always know. Both of my best friends are devout Christians and that has never been an issue for any of us.
It will be quite interesting if I go back to Kurdistan, after I am done with medical school, date a guy and have to tell him that I am an atheist. I don't think I will ever get a call back. But I really don't care. I have always been freespirited, never caring about rumors and gossip. I love who I am and if I don't believe in God, well then I don't.

Zarya Islam is a beautifull religon, study it before you judge it, and I promise it will reestablish your faith.

[zarya]

Thanks for the compliment dyaoka. Not having a faith does not bother me just because I know I am a good person. My parents have always taught me not to steal, lie and spread rumors about others. I love to give charity and help people, which is why I am becoming a doctor. I have met many muslims and people of other faiths who do wrongs yet call themselves faithful. But about your question of why I was in Pakistan; it was because my family is from Halabja. My parents fled after 1988 and I was actually born in a refugee camp in Iran. Then a year later, someone told us that the Pakistani government would be sending refugees to Europe and America so we migrated there. But unfortunately, we ended up living there for 11 years, which was pure hell.
And as a response to KurdistaniIraq, I just want to say that I am not stupid. I did not suddenly make the decision that I did not believe in God. I studied the Quran in English including the Bible and the Torah as well as the Greek mythology and found them all to be an extention and addition of the same beginnings.

[Vladimir]

Welcome.. nice introduction post. Too bad this forums look a little bit dead sometimes.

[dyaoko]

so which languages can u speak ? pakstani and kurdish ?

[zarya]

I speak Urdu/Hindi, Kurdish, Persian and English. I am fluent in all those languages but I can also speak a little of french.

[Tirigan]

I speak Urdu/Hindi, Kurdish, Persian and English. I am fluent in all those languages but I can also speak a little of french.

Cool!

But I think people must believe in something/GOD to not lose connection with our ancestors and the earth were we live on. Don’t care which religion. Don’t care about GOD exists or not. We must believe in GOD. We’re not animals, we’re human beings!

Atheist are just pitiful people…

[dyaoko]

We’re not animals, we’re human beings!

well Humans Think , Humans Decide , Humans have Freedom .

Atheist are just pitiful people…We must believe in GOD.

MUST is against human's freedom of belief.

if all humans followed their ancesotrs there would never be INVENTIONS . look at middle east and look at europe, one followed their father's beliefs, the other became Rebel against their belifes... and they are Modern now middle east is borrowing their science.

[Tirigan]

I don’t care what people believe or they are just atheists. It’s just my opinion. I’m not a religions extremist. I never pray and I’m never going to the church or mosque or synagogue. I just believe in GOD and respect him very much and that’s all.

[Tirigan]

if all humans followed their ancesotrs there would never be INVENTIONS . look at middle east and look at europe, one followed their father's beliefs, the other became Rebel against their belifes... and they are Modern now middle east is borrowing their science.

Science is very important but not everything. What is more important is that people must work hard and work together to a better life and better future.

You can combine science with religion. The smartest man ever, Einstein, was very religious.

We must believe in GOD. But religion must not control our lives and our development and progression. Religion is something personal and that’s why I think government must be secular and that religion must have no power. But connection with GOD you must never loos.

You’re not right. Here in Europe is a lot of trash. They are doomed. People here are deranged and derailed, because they lost contact with GOD.

[Piling]

Where it is written that people MUST believe in God (except in religious books of course) ? If I don't believe in something, nothing could change it. Are you able to prove that God exists for exiging it of people ?

[Tirigan]

I don’t care about people choices. Everybody is free to choose his/her own path. It’s just my opinion. And no, I can’t proof the existents of the Almighty; I’m not a messiah. And I don’t need any proof.

[Piling]

Then don't tell that people MUST believe in God. In fact how could you be sure that God want that all people MUST believe in him ? Are you in God's head to read his mind and will ?

[zarya]

Tirigan, I understand what you are talking about. Everyday in America, I see women degrading themselves, men abusing the innocent and many other horrific acts. But the fact is America is a great country. Women's rights are many times protected as well childrens' and the elderly. Islam is a religion that many times gives a man the wrong sense of power; making him believe that he is higher and more favored in the eyes of God.
Everyday in muslim countries, women are raped and then shamed from their families. They are abused but are not to say a word. It is quite absurd that some muslim men believe that they will get an unlimited number of virgins in Heaven. Some religions regrade women just as the unfaithful.

I respect every religion for the peace that it brings to people's hearts. But I can't identify one country where religion has a strong hold and that is very developed. Science is everything. If there wasn't science, you probably wouldn't live a very long life and you wouldn't be cured of your ailments. As far as I am concered, science has done more good for people than religion. Being in medical school, I realize the importance of research and science. God isn't the one trying to find the cure for AIDS and cancer, it is us humans.

I also of course agree with Piling because I am an atheist. Everyone has the freedom to choose what they believe in and if they do not believe in God then forcing themselves to belive is a facade. I don't believe God exists. But hey, I still read the Quran, Bible and Torah, because they help you live a better, more righteous life. But I disregard what it says about God.

And by the way Tirigan, it isn't us atheists who are killing each other. Muslims, jews and christians are killing each other. It is you faithful believers who in the name of God, kill others who believe. So who is really the pitiful one?