Why I Converted to Christianity: Reflections Inspired by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
By Bobby Darvish, Iranian-American Ex-Muslim, Former Vegan, Former Democrat, Former Socialist, Former CAIR-Columbus Executive Director, Former Muslim Forum of Utah President, Christian Conservative LDS
As an Iranian-American who grew up amidst the chaos of war, revolution, and religious authoritarianism, my journey from Islam to Christianity is one of liberation, self-discovery, and spiritual fulfillment. When I recently came across Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s testimony of her conversion to Christianity, it deeply resonated with me. Her courageous decision reminded me of my own path out of the darkness of Islamic dogma into the light of Jesus Christ. Like her, I realized that the values I sought—truth, love, freedom, and justice—could only be found in Christianity.
The Failure of Islam to Deliver Peace
Growing up in a strict Muslim environment, I witnessed firsthand the violence, hypocrisy, and oppression inherent in Islamic societies. My childhood memories are filled with traumatic events: being searched at airports, enduring bombings, and losing loved ones. As I matured, I saw how Islam—especially as practiced under theocratic regimes—perpetuates fear and subjugation. Despite its claims of being a “religion of peace,” I found it to be anything but.
This disillusionment deepened during my time as an imam, the Executive Director of CAIR-Columbus, and the President of the Muslim Forum of Utah. I worked tirelessly to reconcile the faith’s teachings with the modern values of human rights and freedom, but I could not escape the fact that the Quran and Hadith themselves justify terror, misogyny, and the suppression of dissent. The idea of “submission” to an infallible text and an unreachable god left me spiritually empty.
A Shift Toward Truth
Like Ayaan Hirsi Ali, I explored secularism and even embraced socialism for a time. I thought that progressive politics and veganism would lead to justice and equality, but these ideologies proved to be equally hollow. The leftist movements I encountered often allied themselves with the very Islamists who undermined freedom and human dignity. This hypocrisy was impossible to ignore.
What finally began my spiritual awakening was reading the Bible and studying the life of Jesus Christ. Unlike Muhammad, whose life is marked by conquest and contradictions, Jesus embodied love, sacrifice, and truth. His Sermon on the Mount, with its call to love even one’s enemies, was the antithesis of the Quranic verses that sanction violence against unbelievers (Quran 9:29). I found in Christ a model of virtue and in Christianity a faith that uplifts rather than oppresses.
Finding Freedom in Christianity
For Ayaan Hirsi Ali, converting to Christianity was a declaration of freedom and a rejection of the shackles of Islamic authoritarianism. I share that sentiment. My conversion was not just a spiritual decision but also a cultural one—a reclamation of my Iranian heritage, which was historically Christian before Arab-Islamic imperialism. The Alani Christians, part of my ancestral lineage, valiantly resisted Islamic expansion. Their story inspires me to this day.
Joining the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) added another layer of depth to my faith. Its emphasis on family, community, and individual agency aligns perfectly with my conservative values. The LDS Church’s teachings restored my hope in humanity’s divine potential and the sacredness of liberty. For the first time, I felt at peace with myself and my Creator.
The Courage to Speak Out
Like Ayaan Hirsi Ali, I know the risks of speaking out against Islam and embracing Christianity. Apostasy is considered a capital crime in many Islamic countries, and criticism of Islam often invites threats and violence. But silence is not an option when so much is at stake. Both of us have faced accusations of “Islamophobia” by Islamists and their leftist allies, but this term is nothing more than a tool of censorship.
Conclusion: The Call to Freedom
My journey mirrors Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s in many ways. We both rejected the lies of Islam, endured the alienation that comes with leaving it, and found profound hope in Christianity. Her courage to embrace the truth, even at great personal cost, reminds me of why I converted: because Christianity is the only path to true peace and freedom.
To my fellow ex-Muslims, and to anyone questioning Islam, I say this: do not be afraid to seek the truth. Jesus Christ’s promise is simple and eternal: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28, KJV). That promise changed my life, and it can change yours too.
References
- Ali, Ayaan Hirsi. Infidel: My Life. Free Press, 2007.
- The Holy Bible, King James Version.
- Quran 9:29, https://quran.com/9/29
- Matthew 11:28, King James Bible, https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Matthew-11-28/
- Spencer, Robert. The Truth About Muhammad: Founder of the World’s Most Intolerant Religion. Regnery Publishing, 2006.
- Tennent, Timothy C. Christianity at the Religious Roundtable: Evangelicalism in Conversation with Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam. Baker Academic, 2002.
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