The recent Pew study that revealed over 40% of Americans have switched religious affiliation also reveals the vibrancy and viability of American ideals concerning religious freedom and individual empowerment. Many countries have laws guaranteeing freedom of religious practice and many cultures speak glowingly of religious freedom, but without the social support to make it a reality, rhetoric about religious freedom is often nothing more than just that -- rhetoric. That over 40% of Americans felt secure enough in America's culture of religious tolerance to switch or drop their religious affiliation is a testament that our society not only has laws protecting religious freedom, that it not only speaks of religious freedom, but has also established a social atmosphere that makes personal religious sincerity and integrity truly possible.
Many have criticized America's insistent individualism as narcissistic and egotistical. At its worst, American individualism can indeed be self-centered and materialistic. But at its best, American individualism allows for the fullest and most authentic expressions of personal identity.
In my own life, this glorification of individual expression has been incredibly empowering. Not only did I feel safe some twenty years ago in embracing a religion which is a minority religion in this country, but I continue to enjoy the freedom and security to practice this faith in profound and genuine reflection of my own understanding of it.
I am very well aware that some of the opinions we progressive Muslims hold would land us in hot water in certain Muslim cultures. Some of them might land us in prison; others might make us targets for extremists who want to quash any religious opinions they disagree with. It is a sad testament to how far Islamic ideals of religious freedom and personal responsibility have been pushed aside in favor of social conformity and normative religion.
Ironically, one of the aspects of Islam that I found most appealing when I first began to study it (and which I continue to hold dear) is an individualism which rivals that of America. The Qur'an is so clear -- religion and morality are absolutely personal issues:
2:110 And be constant in prayer, and charity; for, whatever good deed you send ahead for your own selves, you shall find it with God: behold, God sees all that you do
73:20 (...) Whatever good deed you may offer up in your own behalf, you shall truly find it with God - yea, better, and richer in reward. And seek God's forgiveness: behold, God is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace
4:111 For he who commits a sin, commits it only to his own hurt; and God is indeed all-knowing, wise.
6:164 (...) Each soul earns only on its own account, nor doth any laden bear another's load.
40:40 Anyone who has done a bad deed will be requited with no more than the like thereof, whereas anyone, be it man or woman, who has done righteous deeds and is a believer withal - all such will enter paradise, wherein they shall be blessed with good beyond all reckoning!
2:256 There is no compulsion in religion.
3:20 (...) And if they surrender themselves unto Him, they are on the right path; but if they turn away - behold, your duty is no more than to deliver the message: for God sees all that is in the hearts of His creatures.
18:29 Say: "It (the Qur'an) is the truth from your Lord: And let whoever wishes believe and whoever wishes disbelieve.
10: 99 "If your Lord had willed, all the people on the earth would have believed. Do you think you can force people to be believers?"
53:31 Indeed, unto God belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth: and so He will reward those who do evil in accordance with what they did, and will reward those who do good with ultimate good
109:1 Say: O disbelievers!
109:2 I worship not that which you worship;
109:3 Nor do you worship that which I worship.
109:4 And I shall not worship that which you worship.
109:5 Nor will you worship that which I worship.
109:6 Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion.
When people ask me, how can you be American and Muslim, or question if my Muslim identity is in conflict with my American ideals, this is just one of many ways in which I can truthfully answer that my Muslim identity profoundly affirms the values that I grew up with as an American.
I can only wish and hope and continue work toward Muslim communities that are as empowering of that individualism as America has been.
Some may lament that Americans evident comfort with embracing different religious identities, or dropping religious affiliation, is a reflection of a weakness within American religion, in particular in American Christianity. I would say to them, as I would say to Muslims who would coerce other Muslims to adhere to certain norms, that a religion which has to hold onto its followers or enforce standards by fear-mongering, intimidation, threats, or violence is the truly weak one.
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