Thank you,
I take that as you acknowledge an academic defeat that got you thinking. That's a good first step.
Now, have you been introduced to Jesus Christ as the only begotten Living Son of God who died for the sins of man and was resurrected in the flesh and is risen and is the only name given from heaven to man by which salvation can be attained?
If you have, have you accepted the Free gift of salvation and your name is written in the book of life?
If you have any further question or debate on either of those, let me know
Yes, indeed it is a full defeat. I am still learning about Christianity but indeed not debating.
All behaviour is learned, from the time we were toddlers and through adulthood. I mean, faith, religion, what we think, how we behave, etc. All have been taught either from those around us in different forms and aspects. That is we, are all truly products of our environment.
That being said, virtually anything can go from taboo to normal. On average, it takes more than two months before a new behaviour becomes automatic -- 66 days to be exact -- before what was odd or new becomes a habit. The mind can be changed either through force, traumatic circumstances or simply by the person in question wanting to change. Normal can be adhering to Islamic practices: doing prayers on time, performing Friday prayer, fasting on certain days, reciting and honouring the Quran, not supporting Churches, walking by them, entering them, etc. But, normal can also be the opposite. Do not accept normal as something set in stone. The only thing holding you back from achieving the life you're meant to live, is you.
To that end, I am following a schedule that helps me to get over my old habits. This is basically a set of activities that challenge these habits to make sure that my change is permanent. This is strictly managed by my supervisors. Examples of activities that get me over the edge are: eating haram food, make sure there is no fasting during Ramadan or other certain Islamic days were Muslims fast, intentionally reserving Friday prayer time slots for non-Islamic activities, also, if there is a non-Islamic event, work, meeting, etc, we try our best to make it on Friday. I also work as a volunteer Church sitter, where I clean the Church sanctuary in preparation for its next use for Sunday worship (and occasionally for other events); carrying out the tasks specified by the cleaning schedule and assigned by the Church management.