The Dynamics of Faith: Personal Conversion and Resources for Religious Transition

Understanding the complexities of religious transition requires both personal narratives and accessible resources. On Saturday, September 16, 2017, Nabeel Qureshi, age 34, entered into the joy of his master, Jesus Christ, after enduring a yearlong battle with cancer. Nabeel was born in California as a U.S. citizen to Pakistani immigrants who fled religious persecution at the hands of fellow Muslims. His parents were devout members of the peaceful Ahmadi sect of Islam, which differs from orthodox Islam on some minor doctrines but shares with it a belief in the six articles of faith and holds to the five pillars of the faith.

Core Beliefs and Pillars of Faith

  • The Six Articles of Faith: Belief in tawheed [absolute monotheism], belief in the prophets, belief in the books, belief in the unseen, belief in the day of judgment, and belief in the decree of Allah.
  • The Five Pillars: Reciting the shahada (witness of faith), praying the salaat (ritual prayer), paying the zakaat (alms), fasting, and performing hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca).

Nabeel’s family was the most loving and tightly knit family that he knew, and it was entirely centered on Islam, which formed the framework and blueprint of his life. By the age of 5, he had read the entire Qur’an in Arabic and had memorized many chapters. His parents also trained him in apologetics so that he would not only believe in Islam, but could defend it and refute other religions like Christianity.

Encountering the Claims of Christ

In August 2001, while a student at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, Nabeel observed fellow student David Wood reading the Bible in his free time. Nabeel challenged David’s belief in Christianity, beginning with the charge that the Bible had been corrupted over time. Wood aspired to be a Christian apologist, and the two young men formed a friendship and engaged in debate that lasted for several years. In working through David’s arguments and examining the evidence for himself, Nabeel eventually became convinced of the general reliability of the New Testament.

Intellectually, Nabeel held to Islam for several subjective reasons, but objectively, the central claim was that Islam was true because Muhammad was a true prophet of God. However, after studying primary sources and biographies, Nabeel eventually concluded that he could not reasonably hold to the idea that Muhammad is the greatest of prophets and history’s most perfect man. From December 2004 to April 2005, Nabeel experienced three vivid dreams that strongly suggested to him that Christianity is true and that Christ should be followed.

The Final Conversion to Christ

Returning to his apartment, Nabeel placed the Qur’an and the Bible in front of him. For the first time, the Qur’an seemed utterly irrelevant to his suffering and irrelevant to his life. With nowhere left to go, he opened up the New Testament and started reading. Very quickly, he came to the passage that said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” He began reading fervently, reaching Matthew 10:37, which taught him that he must love God more than his mother and father. As he noted, “But Jesus, accepting you would be like dying. I will have to give up everything.” The next verses spoke to him, saying, “He who does not take his cross and follow after me is no...

Resources and Support for Leaving Christian Science

For others questioning their religious path, The Ex-Christian Scientist provides information, resources & support for those leaving or questioning Christian Science. This community offers a variety of tools for those navigating their departure from the church:

  • How to leave the Mother Church & CS Association
  • Glossary of Christian Science Terminology
  • Historical Context and Recommended Books
  • Health Resources and Therapy Resources
  • Healthcare Guide: Stocking the Medicine Cabinet
  • Helping Family still in CS

First-Hand Experiences and Cultural Context

The transition often involves processing personal history, such as stories titled "My Parents Tried to Raise My Cat From the Dead" or the observation that "it takes her 25 seconds to choose CS over me." Community members also share insights on specific church traditions, noting that the Thanksgiving Day service is the only ‘special’ service the Christian Science church offers. The readings from the desk include the Presidential proclamation for Thanksgiving, as well as a few first-hand experiences. Additionally, the community addresses those who are here under Familial Duress and provides a space for those who find that Easter baskets confound them, asserting that they celebrate because celebrations are fun.

Furthermore, the site provides information on figures like Paul Brunton – CS turned Philosopher, who is best known as one of the early popularizers of Neo-Hindu spiritualism in western culture. As the community evolves, changes are coming to ExChristianScience.com, moving from a blog format to a more evergreen site where the content will remain but the format will change.