Yesterday I received a message from someone at the Huffington Post on my Facebook page! I was quite thrilled, let me tell you. I really respect their webpage.
They are working on doing a live webcam chat with converts whose lifestyles have changed dramatically because of their choice to convert.
And they asked me to participate.
Unfortunately, I had to tell them that my life hasn't changed that much!
I don't think that I'm quite what they're looking for, though I can speak about the experience of conversion. How we struggle to find a balance between our past and our present, how we start out tilting wildly into zealous passion, but usually even out eventually, how our stories never actually end, the journey continuing as long as we live.
However, my choice to become a Hindu was, for me, an awakening to something that I already was. The changes in my life were superficial. I celebrate different holidays. I sometimes wear different clothes. But for me there was no hijab to put on and there was no break with my family.
I wish I had thought to mention that they should approach Aliza Hausman, a Dominican woman who converted to orthodox Judaism.
They showed me an article they had done about Hispanic Americans converting to Islam. A very cool read/video!
Anyway, it got me thinking about the nature of changing your religion.
Sometimes it's a very dramatic shift, particularly if you go to the conservative ends of a religion and need to take on rules and dress codes. Sometimes it's just a quiet awakening and a slow blossoming into what you were always meant to be.
They are working on doing a live webcam chat with converts whose lifestyles have changed dramatically because of their choice to convert.
And they asked me to participate.
Unfortunately, I had to tell them that my life hasn't changed that much!
I don't think that I'm quite what they're looking for, though I can speak about the experience of conversion. How we struggle to find a balance between our past and our present, how we start out tilting wildly into zealous passion, but usually even out eventually, how our stories never actually end, the journey continuing as long as we live.
However, my choice to become a Hindu was, for me, an awakening to something that I already was. The changes in my life were superficial. I celebrate different holidays. I sometimes wear different clothes. But for me there was no hijab to put on and there was no break with my family.
I wish I had thought to mention that they should approach Aliza Hausman, a Dominican woman who converted to orthodox Judaism.
They showed me an article they had done about Hispanic Americans converting to Islam. A very cool read/video!
Anyway, it got me thinking about the nature of changing your religion.
Sometimes it's a very dramatic shift, particularly if you go to the conservative ends of a religion and need to take on rules and dress codes. Sometimes it's just a quiet awakening and a slow blossoming into what you were always meant to be.
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