The Search Begins

And thus begins my public investigation of Islam.

It seems simple enough to research one of the most publicized religions of our time. But what I thought I knew about Islam and what I am now learning about it are two completely different things. The media protrays Islam as some fanatical, terrorist-farming social club that exists solely to foster discord between themselves, Christians and Jews. We, in America, have been led to believe that there is this vast sea of Muslims that are just foaming at the mouth to topple our perfect way of life, to oppress our women, to blow up all our tallest skyscrapers. And, granted, there has not been a very audible rejection of this point of view by Muslims in America (is this because they remain silent, or is this because they have been effectively silenced by the media? I don't know.).

But, really, could a religion that has been around for 1400 years really survive on this platform of hate? There have been many cults (both Christian and otherwise) here in America that have had similar messages of hate, but they have never gained such popularity. Perhaps we have been misled.

What does Islam really teach? What does this "religion of peace and submission" really have to offer to humanity? And, dare I ask, what does it have to offer me?

I guess that now is the appropriate time for an introduction. My name is Jen, and I am a 25 year old occasional student, optician, mother of two, and new wife of a wonderful man who happens to be Muslim. I was raised a Christian, and when I was younger, even wanted to become a Christian missionary to China. A few people have asked me what happened to that childhood dream, and I don't really have a great answer, other than my life has changed directions a bit and has taken on a different direction.

I have always been inquisitive about things... perhaps too much of a thinker at times. When I get interested in a subject, I research it to death until I have learned more than enough to satisfy my questions about it. I guess that makes my knowledge broad, but shallow. I can carry on a two minute conversation about a large variety of subjects.... an hour long conversation about far fewer. The urge to collect my finds about the subjects I research has led me to make several attemts at websites before.... but like many people I have an easy time starting projects, but a much more difficult time finishing them.

This time though, I hope to be different. This is a subject that I know must be of some interest to others.... according to CNN.com, Islam is also the fastest growing religion on the planet ( http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9704/14/egypt.islam/ ). It is my intention to simultaneously document my journey into the heart of Islam and create a mature dialog between Islam and other religions traditions, especially Christianity. This will not be a forum for hate-mongering. This will be a place to honestly question one's beliefs, in the hope of finding the truth... whatever that truth may be.

I truly beleve that God wants us to question our beliefs. God does not want us to blindly follow our cultural traditions, the religion we were raised with, or what is safe and popular. I believe that God respects and honors the humble truth-seeker. And if the truth really is found in the cultural tradition/religion one was raised with, then shouldn't our beliefs in said tradition/religion be fortified by such a search? And if, perhaps, our traditions/religions are not quite the solid truth we were raised to believe that they are, isn't now the best time to figure that out?