Uzbek,
Welcome to the forums. I have only just read your post and want to thank you for it.
When anyone leaves Islam for Christianity or Christianity for Islam, both sides think of it as a major "win" for their side.
Yes they think. And I will not lie. I do think also in the same way.
IMHO what is happening is that the person who leaves is seeking after a close relationship with God. Anyone can be religious and follow a set of teachings and behaviors, but only a relationship with God will satisfy the hungering spiritual soul of man.
Right. It seems to me that a lot of people do not satisfy with the concepts of their religions and seeking more appropriate way to approach to God. So if you trace the rise of Islam you can see that more and more people embracing this religion. For example after 9/11 only in USA in 2001 there were 34 000 converts to Islam (Source: Terror in America, Muslim American Leaders: A Wave of Conversion to Islam in the U.S. Following September 11," MERIM Special Dispatch, November 16, 2001)
Nobody still could not explain me this phenomenon.
We spend a lot of time, whether Muslim or Christian "doing" things to try and find that relationship. It's very human. Very few people know themselves unconditionally loved and accepted. We know ourselves accepted when we receive a pat on the back. Oftentimes if we are criticised for any reason, we take it very personally. We ache to be accepted. In religion, we do all that Islam requires to know we are accepted by God according to Islam. In religion we do all that Christianity requires to be accepted by God according to Christianity. What is deep in the heart of man is a yearning, a deep spiritual hunger, that is not filled by doing things for Him, but by "being" in relationship to Him. As long as religion is the only basis for that relationship, people will swap between denominations, churches and even religions seeking to find that hunger filled.
Well If I understood you correctly religion can not help one to approach God. This is very confusing for me. If not why on earth I need religion? Isn’t that sound to live without shelter. I reckon we need religion to approach God to be in relationship with Him otherwise why we are disputing on the minor points of two religions. So can I derive the proper conclusion that this Guy was not satisfied with religion and with how religion helped him approach to Almighty? Only today I heard 3 different opinions:
1.Because those who change their religion think about short term.
2. Because of corruption
3. Spiritual Hunger.
So which is true? All of them in some extent. But we are trying to obviate one more reason. MAYBE HE FOUND TRUTH? Why you don’t want to consider this option?
Jesus talked about this in John 6: 25-69. He said
Quote:
32Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
You see, no amount of religious activity, no matter how genuine, no matter how much it's based on good works will ever satisfy that hunger... it is God alone who can satisfy you and that is why some people go on searches through all religions. Until they find God through Jesus they will never be satisfied. Jesus said in those same verses.
Ohh Carol I see your point you mean it is just a matter of time and soon this guy will embrace other religion such as Buddhism or Judaism because he will not be able to satisfy his spiritual hunger.
35Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.
But isn’t that paradox that people who was satisfying their spiritual hunger are running away from the sinecure. Would you leave a decent life in Australia and go to Iraq in order to satisfy yourself? I doubt.
May all those who desire to never hunger again feed on the 'bread of life" alone.
This comes in peace
Carol
Same to you. Selamun Aleykum