Hi everyone. I have read a few introduction posts here and there, and I can definitely see the support system in place here. I am happy to have joined a forum that allows me to be myself and express who I am without fear or judgement.
I was raised in a very strict, culturally and religiously, Middle Eastern household in America. You can already see the cultural divide there. I cant remember how young I was when I put on the hijab (7?) and I still wear it to this day. My parents do not know that I am no longer Muslim, and I live in a community with a large Muslim and Arab population and I do not want to ostracize myself from my community or family by removing the hijab.
I consider myself atheist, as much as dislike that word and any other label. But I mentally left Islam in my teenage years and practically in my early twenties (I am 25 now). A lot of things in the Quran did not make sense, and when I would question things the answer I would most often receive was along the lines of "because god says so."
As a woman, I am offended by a lot of things in Quran. For example, "beating" your wife is she is not compliant (I don't care how you justify that, domestic violence is never justifiable), the concept of concubines, the "72 virgins in heaven," a woman's court opinion counting as half of that of a man, etc.
There is no doubt that there is beauty and good in every religion, and I believe that was the intention when social reforms such as Muhammed decided to speak up against the injustice inflicted in their society. But I feel like common sense and logic are more practical for me than believing in an invisible god. I believe the idea of "god" came during a time of darkness when humans had no answers to many ailing questions.
Currently, I am in school working on a doctorate degree (we are on summer break though). I work full time which keeps my mind busy and distracted. I am planning on relocating to another part of the US once I graduate to a start a new life away from the prison that I feel I am in now.
I'm not sure what to add to this, but please feel free to ask
Topic: Hello all :)