Are converts more devout than others?

Society Religion & Philosophy
1

I was listening to a talk show on the radio and the host (an A-1 jerk, btw) made the comment that converts in any religion are more fanatic and more zealous than the original followers of the religion. Be it Islam, be it christianity, judaism, hinduism or buddhism. His point was that the converts try to follow all the real and imaginary rules of the religion too literally and do stuff which even the normal (born to that religion) people will shake their heads. He meant it in a negative way. His opinion is derived from the view that all religions evolve to certain extent (some more, some less) over a period of time… but the converts (or reverts) go back to the basics and start re-inventing the wheel, every step of the way.

Whats your opinion? Whats your experience, if any, about converts and whether they are generally more zealous and devout than the born-to-the-faith followers of the religion?

ps. Ofcourse, I am talking in general terms. No single opinion will fit everyone in this category. Just thoerize, pls. :slight_smile:

2

It totally depends on what motivated the conversion.

For example, something the reason for conversion are social. When the whole village in Africa turns Muslim or Christian, usually influenced by the decision of the elders. In such cases people tend to carry on with their original way of life, custom & culture. Weather those customs were compatible with their new acquired religion or not. Change comes slowly if at all.

On the other hand, if a person studies the doctrine of a religion and then converts, he or she is more likely to follow it to the word. For example, many Westerners go to India & give their allegiance to one of the Hindu gurus & are far more dedicated to their acquired/accepted faith than the average Indian Hindu.

Sometimes religion is also a political statement and in such a case it's a totally different ball game.

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Well, here we are talking about converts who convert because they think they found the answer to their spiritual needs. After studying a religion in depth, and accepting it.

Not talking about those who convert to marry the guy or the gal of their dreams or to follow the dictat of the village elder. For them, in most cases, it may be nothing more than just a passing nuisance.

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Re: Are converts more devout than others?

[QUOTE]
Originally posted by Faisal: *
**Whats your opinion? Whats your experience, if any, about converts and whether they are generally more zealous and devout than the born-to-the-faith followers of the religion?
[/QUOTE]
*

In my opinion (not saying that this is necessarily accurate, this is just a personal opinion of one person) - reverts are usually more devout. But devout doesn't mean kai the individual is a literalist, reading the ayats in the Quran literally. True devoutness would be true moderation. In my experience, i've found that reverts tend to be much more pious and humble Muslims - unlike someone who is born into Islam, (generally speaking). For eg., everything that i used to know about Islam upto a certain age came from my parents and childhood teachers - 95% of them were Pakistanis. Everything i knew about Islam, upto a certain age, hung in the backdrop of Pakistani cultural contexts. When my sister got married, we had certain customs during her nikah and valima that since then i have learned have no place in Islam. Those are part of Pakistani social shaadi customs, but not Islam's. Those are customs that my parents feel obligated to perform because i guess they are so inculculated with the Pakistani society's way of doing things, laykin for me - i see no place for those customs in Islam.

In Nova Scotia, i knew two guys from the Caribbean who had reverted to Islam about fifteen years ago. One of them told me that he had been through everything in life - drugs, jail, prostitution, you name it and he had done it and seen it all. Today, he leads the prayers at the university mosque and offers counselling to all the Pakistani/Arab/African Muslims. He's looked upto by so many Muslim youths. The best part about him, IMHO, is his humbleness - he was sooooo intelligent but so humble. You know how they say that, with some individuals, you can see noor in their faces... i've never seen anyone else with the noor he had on his face. And the primary difference i have noticed in him and his friend, as well as other Muslim reverts i personally know, is kai - when they approach ANY issue be it marriage or going on a trip or studying - they approach it through Islam's frame, they go straight to the Quran. Whereas someone like me would tend to rely upon how Pakistani culture approaches that situation - marriage is a classic example i already mentioned above.

The point of my long winded rambling is that, in my personal experience, i have found reverts to be far closer to their faith and more pious in their interactions with others, less worried about what "society" will say if they refuse to follow a social custom or norm. This of course is NOT true for everyone, so i am making no generalizations. Everyone is unique. i am only stating the above based upon my personal experiences.

5

Good topic

Yeah it is true. the converts on the whole are more zealous and more self righteous than the regular run of the mill religious knuckleheads. There is a constant need for rationalizing their being and further prosyletizing by saying.." Hey, look at me...I was a jackass before but now that I am a hindu, muslims, sikh, isai....I am also a self righteous knucklehead"

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hindus,jews and saudis were original it is their home brew religens

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its not always true....
professors lang's book "even angels ask" has some good lines on this issue, although not directly addressed....

but in general, the common followers of the religions pay more attention to the converts, and being in the picture, their good deeds r highlighted while the 'common' follower will continue with his good practices and most often than not, dies without ever being noticed....

8

I think what the guy is saying is true. It’s only his way of putting it that’s making it sound demeaning. Some people have that trait. They make even the most beautiful thing sound dirty…

Anyways, the reason it’s true is that everytime a convert joins any faith or cult for that matter, he always has to do his best. Peer pressure, expectations, loyalty, dedication…Many people feel the need to express it…

The case with Islam is that there is basically no big hoohaa everytime someone converts. We say our mubaraks and part our ways. Good job, welcome to the brotherhood. Also the pressure is taken off greatly by the fact that every action is not judged by any man but Allah :swt:.

Also going to the Masjid a few times lets the convert know that the Masjid apart from being Allah :swt: house of worship, it’s also like a men’s club. Sit around, make some tea, talk…Even that is sawab…

That is also the success behind every faith and movement. An ideology is brought forth, people like it and do their best to uphold the ideology with their lives if necessary. That is the reason that when movements take shape, they are so powerful…Everyone is doing their best…

That’s why the Ashaba-e-Karaam were referred to as the best of the best people to ever step on the Earth. And truly, if I have a Muslim name today, it is due to their excellence and sacrifices that I proclaim the Kalima today.

9

Some points that might be the reason why converts are more earnest with their new religion than people born to it:

Converts sometimes feel they have to "prove" themselves to the members of the new religious grouping

Converts normally had to go through soul searching before changing their religion and therefor has a more valid reason why they belong to the religion

Converts often lose something (eg. friends/family/status) when changing religion

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i dont think that the converts have to prove to anyone......they embraced Islam by choice...so once they have made this choice, they do not need to prove anything to others......

but i do believe that they turn out to be better muslims coz they accepted islam by choice, unlike those who r muslims by birth....

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by knightofhearts: *
i dont think that the converts have to prove to anyone......they embraced Islam by choice...so once they have made this choice, they do not need to prove anything to others......

but i do believe that they turn out to be better muslims coz they accepted islam by choice, unlike those who r muslims by birth....
[/QUOTE]

issues and politics related to islam always focused towards arab countries. how many times people even in this forum talk about bangaldesh/indonesia

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well that is something else....west has always targetted Arab when it comes to religion......

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by rvikz: *

issues and politics related to islam always focused towards arab countries. how many times people even in this forum talk about bangaldesh/indonesia
[/QUOTE]

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[QUOTE]
Originally posted by armughal: *
but in general, the common followers of the religions pay more attention to the converts, and being in the picture, their good deeds r highlighted while **the 'common' follower will continue with his good practices and most often than not, dies without ever being noticed....*
[/QUOTE]

i completely agree with you!

14

I would have to agree that converts to a religion would naturally be more zealous in the practise of the religion.

Logical IMHO... that if they are converts, their prior beliefs/teachings were unsatisfactory, thus the need to convert. Perhaps a traumatic upset in ones life.

To find purpose.

And the sense of looking for purposeful and satisfying way of living is why conversion takes place.

Whether:

Muslim, Christian, Buddist converts, etc.

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British and Muslim?, Abdal-Hakim Murad