Arab News —

Diane  Breslin is an ex-Catholic Christian living in US. She lost faith after reading the Bible, but her continued belief in God led her to explore other religions including Buddhism, Hinduism. In this first of the three-part series, Breslin recounts her Irish Catholic background and says that it was only by instinct that she always would talk to God — the One and Only — before going to sleep.

When I am asked how I became a Muslim I always reply that I always felt myself to be a believer in the ONE AND ONLY, yet I first realized what that meant when I heard about a religion called Islam, and a book called Qur’an.
But let me first start with a brief synopsis of my American overwhelmingly traditional Irish Catholic background.
My dad left the seminary after a three-year stint to train as a missionary. He was the oldest of thirteen children, all born and raised in the Boston area. Two of his sisters became nuns, as was his aunt on his mother’s side. My dad’s younger brother was also in the seminary and quit after 9 years, just before taking his final vows. My grandmother would wake at dawn to dress and climb the hill to the local church for early morning mass while the rest of the house was sleeping. I remember her as being a very stern, kind, fair, and strong woman, and rather deep — unusual for those days. I’m certain she never heard mention of Islam, and may God judge her as to the beliefs she held in her heart. Many who never heard of Islam pray to the One by instinct, although they have inherited labels of various denominations from their ancestors.

More:   http://www.arabnews.com/news/525511