I saw that Rational1 did a list of things she would do when she was free from Kuwait and Islaam.
http://www.councilofexmuslims.com/weaponstestingrange/index.php/topic,1560.0.html I found it inspiring. One of the great lies of Islaam is that Muslims live 'much like everyone else' only they don't drink or eat pork. What a lie. It is all about the things you cannot do. Everything becomes haraam, or worse, makruh. Makruh is worse because it's not out and out haraam, but if you do it, everyone will lecture you, harass you, you feel guilty, etc. So you cut out many things. And if you're a sufi or on one of the groups that's big on tazkiyah, then there are other things you don't do that are normally permissible, but for you, on your spiritual journey, they take you away from god, so they're haraam or frowned upon. Like going on vacations that aren't to visit scholars and tombs.
So anyway, you end up with a life full of 'don't's and not many 'do!'s other than praying, fasting, and being a self righteous wanker.
1. eat non-halal meat
I used to do this anyway. Sometimes I thought it was a sin, and sometimes I didn't. I think that underneath it all, for the most part, I just didn't care. But what I won't have to do is read the labels for every freaking thing in the supermarket. 2. eat pork
Done. At some sausages at breakfast, bacon on a sandwich. I look forward to eating gelatine again at some point in the future.
3. drink alcohol
I had two margaritas and a beer so far. I would like to try a mojito. I don't really enjoy it so much, but it's the fact that I can. I don't know if I will ever drink a beer again.
4. attend events where alcohol is served
Doing this without feeling extremely uncomfortable or guilty when it's related to family or friends who weren't Muslim. But now I can attend an event where the purpose is alcohol. Or hang out with a friend at a pub.
5. celebrate holidays
I did this vicariously through Christian relatives for Christmas, but this year I celebrated Halloween. I took my children out for candy as well. You know what? My Muslim husband didn't mind one bit. I was the one who was a sanctimonious jerk. Now I am excited for Christmas - you know, without the Christ part. The carols and lights and stuff.
6. celebrate anniversaries
I always did this one.
7. attend a funeral
Done, but not comfortably.
8. go to a salon without needing a private room
omg, I can't wait to go to a salon in the West. I didn't get my haircut or styled for more than a decade because of this, except when I was in the Middle East. Now I can!
9. dye my hair black
I made this mistake once.
10. get acrylics
I forgot about this! I might do it just once. Except I have children and it might make my life harder.
11. paint my fingernails and toenails
I started painting my nails when it was Ramadan. People must have thought I was having the longest period ever.
12. pluck my eyebrows
13. get a brazilian wax
14. get cosmetic surgery
I'll leave that to others.
15. wear makeup in public
16. wear perfume in public
!!!! I have been doing this! I got all new lips tints and such, foundation too. I'm looking at eyeshadows, but I was never that good at making up my eyes.
17. sing in public
No one should be subjected to my singing. Other than my family. For me the 'big thing' is to listen to music openly, and loudly. I have sort of done this, but whenever I got to the masjid or the school or anywhere there were Muslims, I would turn it off or down. Plus, many of my friends were staunchly anti music, so I hid my horrible music habit from them.
18. date
19. have sex
20. have anal sex
21. masturbate
22. walk around my house naked
23. marry a non-Muslim
N/A Although #21 is funny, bcause of how awful Muslims think it is. Yarg, I don't want to think about Muslims' sex issues right now.
24. get a tattoo
I am too much of a chicken for this. But if I wasn't, I would totally do it.
25. have statues/figurines
26. have photos on the wall
I can't wait to have art on my walls, and little figurines. I love Day of the Dead artwork, and have some packed away somewhere. I used to feel guilty even looking at art!
27. have a dog
28. pet or hold a dog
N/A, I'm allergic
29. travel alone
Did this, even in the name of the deen.
30. earn interest
31. pay interest
Oh yes, yes, give me interest, sweet sweet bank account. And I will pay it on the house that I hope to eventually have. The one I will pay a mortgage for, since I am no longer restricted by this stupid religion into living in other people's homes and paying their mortgage for them under the banner of being so pious and holy.
32. eat during the day in Ramadan
I did this as an act of rebellion during this past Ramadan, It was a little hard because I was in a Muslim country, and I didn't want to eat in front of colleagues in the office. But I would wait until after fajr to eat, and then I snuck in chips and gum and candies during the day.
33. eat and drink with either hand
I still eat with the right hand, but I no longer hold my left one under the table. [You know, to prevent you from accidentally eating with your left hand]. I even had some Muslims on my case because I cut my meat with the fork in the left and the knife in my stronger hand. They would say that I might 'forget' to switch the fork back and I might eat the meat with my left hand. How anal.
I do deliberately hold my glass or cup in the left hand now.
34. sleep on my stomach
I always did so, but now without guilt. What a stupid, superstitious religion.
35. sleep through fajr
Without feeling guilty,
36. wear normal clothes
37. wear clothes that fit
This has been wonderful, but also stranger than I anticipated. I didn't realize how big my clothes were. All of my skirts and pants are far too big in the waist and around the legs. Of course, my skirts are ankle length or longer, as are almost all my dresses. I also usually buy tops 1 or 2 sizes larger. If you're hijaabi, it's what you do, but when you're not it probably looks really dumb, and like you can't put yourself together. This is going to take time. I can't go out and buy a whole new wardrobe.
38. go to a rock concert or festival
Hell yeah.
39. dance in public
Another thing I should not subject others to.
40. flirt
41. go shopping or go out with a non-mahram
N/A, but I refuse to feel guilty any longer about having male friends, including good friends. Even to the point I felt guilty or wrong calling them 'friend' instead of 'a good brother' or 'my teacher'. The whole fear that something could happen at any time with any man - so ridiculous, and an insult to both genders.
42. criticize the laws of Islam
Doing this. But not openly.
43. have male friends
Above...
44. have gay or lesbian friends
45. have non-Muslim friends
I have non Muslim friends. Some I drifted away from over the years, especially after I got married. Islaam may play a part, but so does geography and changing lives, so it's hard to say.
46. make decisions for yourself
I started doing what I liked, but not in everything. I am mortified by how much control I gave the shaykhs, or friends, or the mosque people or my husband or these stupid books called Quran and the hadith collections. Now I have to take real control of my life without feeling guilty about it, which is what Muslims make people feel when they do this.
47. go inside other houses of worship just to look around
48. get your tarot read for a giggle
49. draw Mohammed cartoons
I thought about this, esp. #48. We'll see. I kind of don't want to have anything to do with any religion. Every day that passes, they appear stupider to me than the day before. And I have been inside churches, so my curiosity is definitely sated.
My additions:
50. Shaking men's hands
51. Not feeling like I'm doing something wrong when I watch a TV show or movie that has women dancing, or people kissing. Although I'm not entirely comfortable with sex scenes and such, and I do still look away. I am always going to be a shy person I think. But even if it showed people at a club, I would feel guilty before.
52. Saying 'four letter words'. Fuckity fuck.
53. Not sitting through boring, stupid, offensive, idiotic khutbas and lectures and saying 'Mashallah!' I used to feel more inspired watching the fundamentalist Christian preachers on TV. Even though I don't believe in their religion, at least they aren't all boring. The khatibs are almost universally boring!
54. Exercise without guilt, and break out of the sedentary lifestyle encouraged among Muslim women.
55. Being able to display my country's flag, or other sort of patriotic memorabilia without feeling guilty or being told that this is haraam, nationalism, etc. Plus, the whole 'well, if they're patriots that means they hate Muslims' fear trip.
Basically, I guess the gist is living without guilt.
Topic: Land of the Free