Seeking Direction, Once a Christian
Assalamu alaikum, everyone. I used to be a Christian, went to church every Sunday, sang in the choir-that was my life until lockdown hit. Then depression and loneliness pushed me into atheism for about three years. Eventually, I came back to faith because I just couldn’t deny there’s a Creator, and atheism felt so empty and hopeless. My struggle with Christianity isn’t the faith itself-I still love the hymns and the church buildings-but the people around me. My relatives and other Christians I know can be so cruel, selfish, and backstabbing. I’ve seen church committee members using harsh words and even physically hurting the poor. And the pastor-he’s clearly a womanizer. Meanwhile, the Muslims I’ve met have been truly good-hearted. My best friend from college, the colleague I live with now, and even a sister I have feelings for-all Muslims, and they’ve been nothing but kind. No one ever pressured me to convert. I even fasted with my friend during Ramadan and found a lot of peace in it. I admire the strong unity I see among Muslims; I don’t find that in the Christians around me. Now, when I try to read the Bible or pray to Jesus, I just remember all the pain my family went through because of those people, and I can’t bring myself to do it. But when I read the Qur’an, it still feels foreign and uncomfortable. I’m really confused. What should I do?