Tuesday, 20 November 2012

Problem Solved?

Does the internet address and help eradicate the problems faced by converts? Well it certainly made me aware of the issues and I believe it does to an extent help resolve some problems.  There are organisations that use their website offering support ranging from psychological to moral. It seems the virtual space represents real life problems and almost gives a feeling of hope for converts who are struggling to ‘fit in’ with the offline Muslim community. Converts seem to discuss their broad issues at ease and it’s easy to engage with likeminded converts of similar experiences. This alone offers a moral support for someone feeling a sense of isolation, therefore making the internet a useful tool allowing interaction and a sense of becoming part of a large online family. It is a familiar trait on forums which allow such discourses; however websites also seem to have Q&A sections where converts can usually enquire about their issues from imams – which are again useful for the new Muslim.
The internet gives access to support which can usually be extended into offline support and applied in mosques and Muslim centres. Of course there is support available on a ‘glocal’ level, allowing access to a wider support network.
Cyberspace is almost pivotal in accessing information about conversion and could be a starting point for an improved conversion experience – especially for women who often find some mosques don’t facilitate for women. However there are still issues such as learning to practise tajweed for Qur’an recital, which would usually require face to face interaction with a teacher that the internet cannot resolve. Initially I held the view that the internet couldn’t do much for the convert and would only confuse one more, it couldn’t tackle the problems but only highlight them. How wrong was I! I’d call myself an advocate of its usefulness for the convert, however I am aware it cannot solve all the problems. The internet can however act as a basis to tackle some problems but one must also be careful of false virtual identities where people can fake their ‘problematic conversion experiences’. Finally a list of websites demonstrating support projects and forums in which dialogue between converts is seen – indicating that bonding I was talking about earlier!
Websites:

·         http://convertstoislam.org/
Forums:
·         http://www.revertmuslims.com/


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