How religious are you?

[Karachi]

Assuming most people here are muslims, how religious are you? have you gained or lost interest in Islam over the years?

For me I was pretty religious few years ago, and I was almost a mullah some 10 years ago. Today however I am pretty much secular, of course I do believe in God and a creator and I do like some good things in Islam and other religions. However overall as a religion Islam is a very big burden, especially considering most muslims dont even know which version of Islam to follow, we have so many sects, I am just about Sunnis here. The (violent) and (intolerant) parts of Islam have distanced me from this religion, no one can deny these parts of Islam or any other Abrahamic religions for that matter. Today I am actually happier in life, since I dont have a burden of belief on my shoulders, Of course I am still searching and I will always keep searching for the meaning of life, till the end of my life, I can never become a atheist, because deep inside I am spiritual and I know there is something out there to believe in. However I would most likely never go back to become a traditional muslim, for many many reasons, the list is endless.

[Karachi]

I actually know 4 arabs, who were Religious Salafis some 10 years, who have become atheists today

[Shamlawar Khurasani]

Islam doesn't require from us to be "religious". In fact, in our theology there is no concept of "religiosity".

Most people who are religious and Muslim are usually driven by other motives than religious prescriptions. Fanatics, radicals and religious zealots of all persuasions have much in common. A new atheist fanatic follower of Richard Dawkins reasons and argues in the same fashion as a supporter of ISIS.

In Islam our way of life is practical and balanced. There is in fact a prohibition of religiousness. There is a narration about men who wanted to fast everyday, abstain from marriage and stay in masjid all day. The prophet Muhammed sal Allahu Alayhi wasalam admonished them and said that he sleeps, eats, brakes his fast and rests as any common man. He lived a balanced life where operated as a common man. Not like a religious fanatic.

The reason why some "religious Muslims" experience burn-out and apostasy eventually is because they approached Islam in the wrong way from the outset.

In most cases you can actually predict some peoples future based on the way they carry themselves as religious people or fanatic atheists or left wing activists. Within a decade they usually turn 180 degrees.

[Khostai]

Well I am also secular, and belive that there must be some kind of creator, but I do have doubts about the Quran being the true word of God and even if Muhamad was what the people now claim him to be or what he claimed to be.

[Khostai]

Islam doesn't require from us to be "religious". In fact, in our theology there is no concept of "religiosity".

Most people who are religious and Muslim are usually driven by other motives than religious prescriptions. Fanatics, radicals and religious zealots of all persuasions have much in common. A new atheist fanatic follower of Richard Dawkins reasons and argues in the same fashion as a supporter of ISIS.

In Islam our way of life is practical and balanced. There is in fact a prohibition of religiousness. There is a narration about men who wanted to fast everyday, abstain from marriage and stay in masjid all day. The prophet Muhammed sal Allahu Alayhi wasalam admonished them and said that he sleeps, eats, brakes his fast and rests as any common man. He lived a balanced life where operated as a common man. Not like a religious fanatic.

The reason why some "religious Muslims" experience burn-out and apostasy eventually is because they approached Islam in the wrong way from the outset.

In most cases you can actually predict some peoples future based on the way they carry themselves as religious people or fanatic atheists or left wing activists. Within a decade they usually turn 180 degrees.

how is praying 5 times a day not relligious? I find preying ones a day to much to be honest.

[Shamlawar Khurasani]

how is praying 5 times a day not relligious? I find it preying ones a day to much yo be honest.

Being Muslim depends on practicing Islam. The belief system depends on practice.

if your definition of religiosity is practicing Islam, than we can say that every practicing Muslim is religious. But Christianity as it is practiced by current Christians doesn't require daily prayers as an essential part of faith. They can be very religious.

This is why practice cannot be the definition of religiosity.

[DaZahroJaam.]

exteremly spiritual, not religious at all. I have not been very religious since a young age but I know when I got older, I lost whatever more curiosity I had towards it. But I swear to the great divinity out there, when I stand in front of a tall mountain, I am moved to tears. Others may feel close to God when they pray or do whatever religious people do but I feel so so close to God right then. Or a tall tree. The hair on my neck just stands..

[Shamlawar Khurasani]

exteremly spiritual, not religious at all. I have not been very religious since a young age but I know when I got older, I lost whatever more curiosity I had towards it. But I swear to the great divinity out there, when I stand in front of a tall mountain, I am moved to tears. Others may feel close to God when they pray or do whatever religious people do but I feel so so close to God right then. Or a tall tree. The hair on my neck just stands..

So you are a animist https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animism

[Manzareh]

Assuming most people here are muslims, how religious are you? have you gained or lost interest in Islam over the years?

For me I was pretty religious few years ago, and I was almost a mullah some 10 years ago. Today however I am pretty much secular, of course I do believe in God and a creator and I do like some good things in Islam and other religions. However overall as a religion Islam is a very big burden, especially considering most muslims dont even know which version of Islam to follow, we have so many sects, I am just about Sunnis here. The (violent) and (intolerant) parts of Islam have distanced me from this religion, no one can deny these parts of Islam or any other Abrahamic religions for that matter. Today I am actually happier in life, since I dont have a burden of belief on my shoulders, Of course I am still searching and I will always keep searching for the meaning of life, till the end of my life, I can never become a atheist, because deep inside I am spiritual and I know there is something out there to believe in. However I would most likely never go back to become a traditional muslim, for many many reasons, the list is endless.

You was almost a mullah!!!?? Where did you study? Which scholars were your teachers? And what's almost mean. You did an Alim course somewhere?? If not then don't flatter yourself.

Also, the definition of what makes a person religious is highly debatable. It could be character, some could define it as praying 5 times a day.

[DaZahroJaam.]

no shamlawar. just because i am amazed by something does not mean i am going to start worshiping it. i believe in God but not necessarily due to the things that are taught out there. spirituality comes from within while religiousness has an outsider for the source.

[Manzareh]

exteremly spiritual, not religious at all. I have not been very religious since a young age but I know when I got older, I lost whatever more curiosity I had towards it. But I swear to the great divinity out there, when I stand in front of a tall mountain, I am moved to tears. Others may feel close to God when they pray or do whatever religious people do but I feel so so close to God right then. Or a tall tree. The hair on my neck just stands..

The tall mountain and trees are almost doing it. Try lying down in a pit and realise that it will be you in your grave one day. Spiritually alone will not safeguard you from the torment of the grave due to your arrogance of dismissing and doubting the words of Allah in the Quran.

Now hurry get digging

[Manzareh]

Being Muslim depends on practicing Islam. The belief system depends on practice.

if your definition of religiosity is practicing Islam, than we can say that every practicing Muslim is religious. But Christianity as it is practiced by current Christians doesn't require daily prayers as an essential part of faith. They can be very religious.

This is why practice cannot be the definition of religiosity.

Exactly, what is ones salah when the character is unislamic? Nothing but the bare minimum of being a Muslim.

[DaZahroJaam.]

The tall mountain and trees are almost doing it. Try lying down in a pit and realise that it will be you in your grave one day. Spiritually alone will not safeguard you from the torment of the grave due to your arrogance of dismissing and doubting the words of Allah in the Quran.

Now hurry get digging

shut your ****ing face. if i am happy through out my days in life, i will survive the grave too. your faith is selfish. you believe in God because you are afraid that if you don't you will burn and ooo, that is so bad. mine is not. i have no guilt in my heart for believing in what i believe in. i am sure God is not going to stand me to burn in the same line of sinners who have killed, robbed or stolen. he can't be that selfish. if he stands me in a different line that leads to another pit of fire, specifically for those who believed him to be kinder than he actually was, i will burn gladly. so yeah..not scared of the grave.

[Karachi]

The tall mountain and trees are almost doing it. Try lying down in a pit and realise that it will be you in your grave one day. Spiritually alone will not safeguard you from the torment of the grave due to your arrogance of dismissing and doubting the words of Allah in the Quran.

Now hurry get digging

This is the problem with Islam, there is no room for even a little debate, anyone who tries to question somethings, usually gets killed. Is this your so called "peaceful" faith?

Well I already know it's not peaceful, but you muslims sure try to fool non muslims, but even most of them are not getting fooled now

[Karachi]

You was almost a mullah!!!?? Where did you study? Which scholars were your teachers? And what's almost mean. You did an Alim course somewhere?? If not then don't flatter yourself.

Also, the definition of what makes a person religious is highly debatable. It could be character, some could define it as praying 5 times a day.

I was a lot in to religion studying from every source I could find, I use to pray 5 times, heck I was forcing my brothers to pray. I was a member of the Salafi mosque here in Mississauga Canada, I even did my Summer Classes in madrassah here in Chatham Ontario. I was under the influence of several people and friends back then