As-salaamu 'alaykum and greetingz,

I was just scrolling thru my blog earlier, lookin out for things I need to improve etc (as you do). Anyways, I noticed some comments that I'd missed...specifically the comments under the story 'Ameer ul-Mu'mineen'. I'd missed a comment by Visitor:

I enjoyed reading your blog entry to do with david-dawed, however it also showed up the point that christians and muslims will argue until they are both blue in the face ( possibly from juice! ) about their beliefs. All religions are a con, you have been brainwashed, your entry highlighted the brainwashing of this guy david, i dont care what he converted from, the fact he follows any religion at all sickens me. Stop blindly following things people have told you, or what you are pressured into and start thinking for yourself. You only have a short time on this Earth, don't waste it following the restrictions of religion.

I thought I'd reply here. I dunno if Visitor still checks this blog out...but just in case...thanks for droppin by :) I really liked that story ('Ameer ul-Mumineen') cuz it was well-written and it keeps you reading till the end. The storyline was wicked too. Ya know, I'd say exacltly the same thing as Visitor, that religion is a con and it has too many restrictions. I'd say exactly the same...IF I hadn't found Islaam, cuz Islam isn't a religion, its a way of life. When I think of the word 'religion', I think rituals and robotic actions, and unnecesary restrictions. That's because I don't think of Islam as religion..like i said, its a complete way of life. It teaches me how to eat, drink, walk, talk, dress, deal with money, people, animals, plants...etc. I'd say now that not all religions have unnecesary restricitons...you can't murder 'cuz its inhumane, you can't mistreat the elderly 'cuz its just wrong, you can't dress like a pro 'cuz there'll definitly be unwanted consequences, you can't eat or drink certain foods 'cuz they're impure..for the body and mind. These are just a few examples of some 'rules' (for want of a better word) that many religions have. Most of it is common sense. Most people spend half their lives trying to work out whats 'right' and whats 'wrong', why we're here on this earth, what'll happen to us after we die...the million dollar question[s]. I think 'religions' provide the answers to these questions from the beginning so one doesn't have to 'waste' their life trying to work why they're living it (the life..). I dunno if I'm making any sense lol...but yeah, that's my view. I can think for myself, and I *have* thought for myself, which is why I'm a Muslim.There's alot more I wanna say, but I dunno how to put it eloquently :P...or even coherently lol. But yeah...that's what I think of 'religion'..I don't think its a bunch of rules to brainwash you into robotic-like actions. Well, Islam ain't anyway. Other religions, (specifically Christianity and Judaism), aren't a bunch of dead rules either, its just the people who tend to follow religions make it seem so. (That's a diff story in itself tho...). To end, I don't think I've been brainwashed or pressured or restricted. Nor have over 95% of people on this earth who follow a religion. But to each his own, innit? :)