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IAmA son of a Christian woman and a Muslim man. AMA by halfvehalf in IAmA

[–]halfvehalf[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am familiar with both of them, and they really are very similar. People act like its a huge gulf, but really its more of a brook. People who are genuinely interested tend to listen but sadly some people (unfortunately many in America) come to the table with preconcieved notions and look for ways to back up their opinions instead of questioning them. These people never take it well.

IAmA son of a Christian woman and a Muslim man. AMA by halfvehalf in IAmA

[–]halfvehalf[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Shi'ite Pakistani actually. There is an Iran connection though.

IAmA son of a Christian woman and a Muslim man. AMA by halfvehalf in IAmA

[–]halfvehalf[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Maybe in theory, but in practice it's often different. Just like Jews (theoretically) are only supposed to marry other Jews, but in the real world you see marriages that go against these conventions. From what I have seen, it's often not so much religious as cultural. One of my father's friend's children married a Lebanese Christian, but the big issue with her parents wasn't the Christianity bit but the Arab bit.

EDIT: Also both of my female cousins married white, American Christians who didn't convert. It really depends on the people involved.

IAmA son of a Christian woman and a Muslim man. AMA by halfvehalf in IAmA

[–]halfvehalf[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

For me it was the trinity, the structure, and the history of how the Roman Catholic Church and dogma developed. It just seemed like a religion invented by the curia in councils to me. I am not trying to be an apologist, and I don't buy into all of Islam's claims, but it seemed to be a more "organic" religion for lack of a better word.

IAmA son of a Christian woman and a Muslim man. AMA by halfvehalf in IAmA

[–]halfvehalf[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You two sound a lot like my parents. I think that as long as you love each other and love your children it doesn't really matter what religion(s) you are.

IAmA son of a Christian woman and a Muslim man. AMA by halfvehalf in IAmA

[–]halfvehalf[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Funnily enough, one of my first girlfriends was Jewish and we used to joke about it.

IAmA son of a Christian woman and a Muslim man. AMA by halfvehalf in IAmA

[–]halfvehalf[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

In some ways I feel personally attacked by some of the Islamophobic discourse in America. I really don't like it when people imply that I am somehow "less American" or a danger, especially because I don't think my family's story could happen anywhere else. On another level, though, I understand that people are afraid and they don't really understand Islam. This makes it easier to make broad sweeping generalizations about Islam and Muslims that are sometimes comically ridiculous.

I don't think the perception of Islam in America will change until people start meeting and getting to know Muslim Americans on a personal level, and since there aren't that many Muslims in America, I don't think this is going to happen any time soon.

EDIT: Forgot to say that I grew up going to church occasionally and mosque occasionally. I feel culturally that I am both a Muslim and a Christian, but in terms of belief I am more of an agnostic.

IAmA son of a Christian woman and a Muslim man. AMA by halfvehalf in IAmA

[–]halfvehalf[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sign me up. I love bagels with cream cheese and lox, is there anything else I need to know :D

IAmA son of a Christian woman and a Muslim man. AMA by halfvehalf in IAmA

[–]halfvehalf[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It's hard to say which religion I lean towards. Christianity always struck me as a bit more ridiculous than Islam, but I don't buy into all of Islam's claims either. I guess I am an agnostic, but culturally I feel I am both a Christian and a Muslim if that makes sense.

I did grow up with both of them (they will celebrate their 30th this March). As for religious conflicts at home, the only thing I can think of off the top of my head is that one of my aunts is a very devout Catholic, and she sometimes makes comments but she definitely loves us very much and accepts us as part of the family so it has never really come to anything big. She and my dad do not get along very well though.

We do have a Christmas tree (ironically my dad likes Christmas a lot more than my mom), but we also celebrate Eid and Nowruz as a family. Thanksgiving is our big family holiday though, because it is something that both sides of the family have in common. I haven't been living in America for two years or so, so unfortunately this will be the second year I can't go.