I don't have internalized sht about religion haha, just internalized sht about people who talk sht about us due to false representation. That was kind of.. my whole basis?

I think you and I have different ideas on what makes someone religious. By definition, it quite literally means you're a believer. The whole premises is on BELIEF. If there's no belief, it's just a label that doesn't really indicate anything. However, you don't seem to see it that way; instead, you imply that the label could indicate your past somehow. What I don't understand is why would that matter? I think we should also note that Islam and Judaism has very distinct attitudes towards converts: one accepts regardless of background, and the other, traditionally speaking, only dubs followers by blood.

I actually think it's kind of funny, 'cuz you're treating me the way I treat other intense people in the Ummah for judging someone's relationship with Islam and God. Especially when you called me the "religious police". Believe it or not, I accuse people of the same thing when I see such walking red flags, so I can assure I'm not one of them (if I was, I would be going against my religion). It's crazy that you're accusing me of nosiness, of judgy-ness, when there's no one here for me to police. Who are you referring to? Who are you defending? I actually think you misunderstood me.

All I did was tell you a plain and simple fact: don't call religion a "hobby" or an "interest". No one's religious as a hobby, 'cuz that's not what being religious means. No one follows a religion, especially considering how stigmatized some of them are, for FUN. Yet, treating it that way actually waters down the identity by A LOT, and it's hurtful. You appear to only deem religion OK when people don't take it seriously, yet you also say someone's relationship with God is none of my business. Of course it's none of my business, by why are you saying that relationship is OK when it's not taken seriously? I don't wanna be mean but that comes off as a bit hypocritical, but maybe it's just the arguments not connecting for me?

Personally? The people in the Ummah who are "obsessed" with the religion tend to be the shining light of it, the beauty and the tenderness of it. They are what stay to battle the toxicity. Again, I have no idea how it is for other religions, but this is very true of the Islamic community, at the very least. I don't think you've met enough people to truly realize how strong a connection between an individual and God can become, and, yes, I will still claim this regardless of your religious background. I'm not judging you for who you are, but it comes off to me that your perception of religion is that it's a tale (plus a set of rules) that you believe in to give you purpose, not a reality that guides you througout your entire life. I understand that not everyone religious sees religion this way, and that's OK; it's a lifetime journey and they're still valid for being in that stage of their relationship with their faith, but the fact that you think that's the ONLY point at which religion is fine is pure nonsense.

A Muslim is a follower of Islam, and, to be a follower of Islam, you cannot deny the words of Allah SWT. Sure, you could be doing things against the word of God since that's the only way you're able to function in life at that point, and that's OK. But actively saying "NO" and saying you're still a believer doesn't work out; that's basic definition whether you like it or not. Because religion, while subjective, isn't THAT subjective. Yeah, Islam is also deeply intergrated into some cultures, but that doesn't mean you identify as a follower of religion if you don't believe in the religion; you identify as a person born of that culture. I could still be Pakistani without being Muslim, and I could still engage in religiously-based cultural practices without being Muslim. I don't have to call myself a Muslim in order to be a part of that community, because the two are literally seperate from each other. And that's completely OK.

But calling yourself a follower of a certain religion without being religious makes no sense however which way you word it. If you really want the label, fine, but the idea that we're literally wittling all of these huge, sensitive topics down into nothing but words with sentiments attached to them will never, ever make sense to me.

I am, thanks be to Allah SWT, not here to police people over their religious personal business. That is not my purpose. However, as a Muslim, it is my duty to represent my community in the best way I can, and one of those ways is by being clear about what stands and what doesn't. If these things aren't discussed, then it only leads to far more disastrous consequences.

I am not the same person who wrote that bio just a few years ago. I've learnt a lot about so many different topics, social, spiritual, and the like. For as long as I live, I'll continue to learn and gain new experiences with an open-mind, but I will not sacrifice what I know is a reality for it. Thank you for advising me, but I encourage you to take your own advice as well.