Why I Left The Islamic Faith
Richard L. Dixon
Hello my name is Richard L. Dixon and I am also an ex-convert from Islam.
I converted to Islam in the spring of 2003 while working at DePaul
University as the acting director of Dining Services. I had just gone
through a painful divorce and rejected my relationship with Christ. Up to
that point before my conversion, I had been studying Islam for close to a
year. In fact I even wrote a paper defending Islam as a religion of peace
and tolerance (I would be happy to send it to you) and speaking out
against the likes of Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and Franklin Graham for
being hateful and racist. Needless to say, they were correct in their
characterization of Islam and I was wrong. During this period, I was very
close to a group of Muslim students on campus because I had helped to set
up a Halal station in the Dining facility that I was over. In fact, I was
in close contact with the Founder and President of the Islamic Food &
Nutrition Council Of America (IFANCA). I was very much into the sphere of
things. I remember the day that I approached one of the student with my
proclamation that there is no other god but Allah and the prophet Mohammad
was his messenger. After my conversions I started attending prayers at the
Student Center on Fridays afternoons. I even participated in a panel
discussion with other college students who also had recently converted to
Islam. I even made a speech during that discussion detailing my
conversion. I remember in particular, one college student who challenged
my conversion on the fact that I was doing this because of my divorce and
succumbed to the moment and not because I truly believed in Allah. I was
quite dismayed in the boldness in his assertion and generally stuttered in
my response to him. I replied that he was a liar (typical response when a
Muslim is proved wrong) and that my conversion was genuine. Actually he
was right and that I was wrong because even doing that discussion I had
misgivings about my conversion to Islam.
My misgivings reflected on several accounts:
1. I didn't appreciate the fact that Muslim Men and women prayed in
segregated groups and women were treated as second-class citizens.
2. My ritualistic prayers did nothing for me because I could not establish
a personal relationship with god.
5. How could Islam be a religion of peace when it adherents were at war
with other religions around the world.
4. Why did Muslims who were citizens in this country have so much disdain
for the United States?
5. Even though Islam preached tolerance toward religions, why there was
none in predominantly Muslim countries when it concerns other religious
minorities.
Even with these misgivings about my new found faith I continued to speak,
walk, and pray in the ways of Islam. One day while I was closing up, a
group of Christ Missionaries from the Moody Bible Church came in and asked
that I know of anyone who wanted to receive salvation from God. Well I sat
down and talked with them because I say it as an opportunity to defend the
Islamic faith against the unbelievers. Throughout the discussion we went
back and forth. They were very kind and non-threatening yet quite
persuasive. However, I stood firm in what little belief I had in the
Prophet Mohammad. They asked could they come back next week to talk to me
and I said yes. Well the next week they brought back a young man of
Lebanese descendent who was a Missionary as well who happened to be well
versed in the Quran. The first question that he asked me if I died right
now would I go to heaven? I said that my works here on earth would get me
to heaven. He then dismantled my very belief and thought process. A few
weeks later, I gave my life back to Christ and starting attending services
at Moody Bible church. I did not and still have not told the Muslim
students at DePaul University that I have recanted my belief in Islam (I
have since left DePaul to seek other foodservice opportunities) this is
the first time that I have publicly come out and boldly state that I have
left the Islamic faith.
Several incidents in my life these past few months have further convinced
me and validated my decision to leave Islam as the right thing to do.
First the war in Iraq has affected me personally because I have a brother
over there. For the sake of my brother’s security I will not disclose
where he is stationed. Observing on the news, Internet, and to my brother
about the horrible things that Islamists have done to innocent persons has
convinced me that Islam is a religion of war and violence and not one of
peace. Beheadings, the intentional targeting of non-combatants, and a
declaration of war against non-believers is not the characteristics of a
great religion. As I had stated earlier, Islam is at war with every
religion of the world and violence exists between Muslims and non-Muslims
in over sixty countries.
Secondly, while working another position as a foodservice manager I have
run across and befriended a young Muslim woman (I did not wish to reveal
her name for safety purposes) who recently migrated from India on her
husband’s visa. In the time that she has been in this country, he has
verbally, physically, and sexually abused her. She finally had enough and
decided to leave by which time her family turned their backs on her. She
was characterized as a whore, slut, unfaithful, and her own father has
threatened to kill her. In addition, her soon to be ex-husband has
constantly left threatening messages on her cell phone and has stated over
and over again that he could come to her place of employment and kill her,
himself, and everyone else that was associated with her in any type of
way. As a direct result, she has had to seek psychological counseling
because of this emotional trauma. She has been declared an enemy of Islam.
She cannot seek confide, seek solace, or safety with any of her relatives
and friends because she has been betrayed by them. In each case, they have
taken the side of the husband because he has all the rights and she has
none. I am happy to say that she is staying with an uncle and his wife who
has seen past this entire situation and realize that this young woman’s
husband and immediate family members have acted like monsters towards her.
She is in therapy, seeking a divorce, upgrading her immigration status,
and found a new job. She is a thoroughly modern woman who will be an
outstanding American citizen. Her experience has convinced me that under
Islam, women have no rights and are the property for men to do as they
wish with them.
In retrospect, we in this country should cherish our freedoms rather they
be speech, assembly, or religion and don’t them for granted even for the
slightest moment. In most Muslim countries with the exception of one
(Turkey), there are no freedoms and definitely no tolerance of other
religions. It is my hope and prayers that these countries soon become free
and open to all their citizens as in the United States.
Faithfully submitted In Jesus Christ,
Richard L. Dixon
P.S. All correspondence can be directed to me at [email protected] |