Your religious affiliation, or lack thereof, and why?

[Eranian Commonwealth]

Why did you decide Islam was most appropriate for you?

[Cyrisnia]

لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا الله مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ الله
la 'ilaha 'illa-llah, muhammadun rasulu-llah
There is no god but God, and Muhammad (SAW) is the messenger of God.

I am a Muslim. After years of a religious journey I have settled into Islam for 4 months now. I recently began to tell people that I have converted, and, naturally, have had mixed responses. Now, I was born in a fairly non-religious family, though we did identify as Christians. After my paternal grandmother died, my father was shaken up and we began to attend church weekly. In the youth Bible Study I felt embarrassed because the other kids my age knew all about Christianity (they were raised going to church) and had so many verses memorised. That made me determined to learn everything I physically could about Christianity. But the more I studied, the more I felt... Like I was being lied to, by my pastors and by the Christian majority. I finally gave up going to church and began to study religion. I first looked at Judaism, then Islam, followed by various pagan practices until finally I began to practice Buddhism. But I couldn't shake the feeling that I was meant to be worshipping God. So I began to research Christianity (I had dismissed other branches of Christianity, assuming they'd all be liars). And, though I temporarily found Anglicanism appealing, I gave up hope. Then, one day, I had an urge to reread the Qur'an. No sooner than I had finished Surat Al-Fatiha (the first Surah of the Qur'an) I decided Islam was my home after all. So, no. I am not the religion I am today because it was imposed upon me. I am here in Islam because I researched and found it was the religion that made sense to me. I believe Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala guided me to Islam, after years of a religious search.

I'm happy you've found peace Something we all strive for.

[Eranian Commonwealth]

لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا الله مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ الله
la 'ilaha 'illa-llah, muhammadun rasulu-llah
There is no god but God, and Muhammad (SAW) is the messenger of God.

I am a Muslim. After years of a religious journey I have settled into Islam for 4 months now. I recently began to tell people that I have converted, and, naturally, have had mixed responses. Now, I was born in a fairly non-religious family, though we did identify as Christians. After my paternal grandmother died, my father was shaken up and we began to attend church weekly. In the youth Bible Study I felt embarrassed because the other kids my age knew all about Christianity (they were raised going to church) and had so many verses memorised. That made me determined to learn everything I physically could about Christianity. But the more I studied, the more I felt... Like I was being lied to, by my pastors and by the Christian majority. I finally gave up going to church and began to study religion. I first looked at Judaism, then Islam, followed by various pagan practices until finally I began to practice Buddhism. But I couldn't shake the feeling that I was meant to be worshipping God. So I began to research Christianity (I had dismissed other branches of Christianity, assuming they'd all be liars). And, though I temporarily found Anglicanism appealing, I gave up hope. Then, one day, I had an urge to reread the Qur'an. No sooner than I had finished Surat Al-Fatiha (the first Surah of the Qur'an) I decided Islam was my home after all. So, no. I am not the religion I am today because it was imposed upon me. I am here in Islam because I researched and found it was the religion that made sense to me. I believe Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala guided me to Islam, after years of a religious search.

Ignore my last, anyway what made you consider Islam to be the truth?

[Distruzio]

لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا الله مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ الله
la 'ilaha 'illa-llah, muhammadun rasulu-llah
There is no god but God, and Muhammad (SAW) is the messenger of God.

I am a Muslim. After years of a religious journey I have settled into Islam for 4 months now. I recently began to tell people that I have converted, and, naturally, have had mixed responses. Now, I was born in a fairly non-religious family, though we did identify as Christians. After my paternal grandmother died, my father was shaken up and we began to attend church weekly. In the youth Bible Study I felt embarrassed because the other kids my age knew all about Christianity (they were raised going to church) and had so many verses memorised. That made me determined to learn everything I physically could about Christianity. But the more I studied, the more I felt... Like I was being lied to, by my pastors and by the Christian majority. I finally gave up going to church and began to study religion. I first looked at Judaism, then Islam, followed by various pagan practices until finally I began to practice Buddhism. But I couldn't shake the feeling that I was meant to be worshipping God. So I began to research Christianity (I had dismissed other branches of Christianity, assuming they'd all be liars). And, though I temporarily found Anglicanism appealing, I gave up hope. Then, one day, I had an urge to reread the Qur'an. No sooner than I had finished Surat Al-Fatiha (the first Surah of the Qur'an) I decided Islam was my home after all. So, no. I am not the religion I am today because it was imposed upon me. I am here in Islam because I researched and found it was the religion that made sense to me. I believe Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala guided me to Islam, after years of a religious search.

Course you knew you'd get one from me.

[Cill Airne]

لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا الله مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ الله
la 'ilaha 'illa-llah, muhammadun rasulu-llah
There is no god but God, and Muhammad (SAW) is the messenger of God.

I am a Muslim. After years of a religious journey I have settled into Islam for 4 months now. I recently began to tell people that I have converted, and, naturally, have had mixed responses. Now, I was born in a fairly non-religious family, though we did identify as Christians. After my paternal grandmother died, my father was shaken up and we began to attend church weekly. In the youth Bible Study I felt embarrassed because the other kids my age knew all about Christianity (they were raised going to church) and had so many verses memorised. That made me determined to learn everything I physically could about Christianity. But the more I studied, the more I felt... Like I was being lied to, by my pastors and by the Christian majority. I finally gave up going to church and began to study religion. I first looked at Judaism, then Islam, followed by various pagan practices until finally I began to practice Buddhism. But I couldn't shake the feeling that I was meant to be worshipping God. So I began to research Christianity (I had dismissed other branches of Christianity, assuming they'd all be liars). And, though I temporarily found Anglicanism appealing, I gave up hope. Then, one day, I had an urge to reread the Qur'an. No sooner than I had finished Surat Al-Fatiha (the first Surah of the Qur'an) I decided Islam was my home after all. So, no. I am not the religion I am today because it was imposed upon me. I am here in Islam because I researched and found it was the religion that made sense to me. I believe Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala guided me to Islam, after years of a religious search.

Well it's good to hear you've found a faith that fits you! If you don't mind me probing but what denomination would you consider yourself to be (if any at all)?

Thank you! Now, to give you a fun response... The "denomination" I consider myself is… Muslim! Ha ha! I don't really consider myself a member of a school as I do believe we are all Muslims, and as Muslim's we should focus on other things far more important that sectarianism. Now, I suppose if I were to identify, I would likely be categorised as a Sunni Muslim.

لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا الله مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ الله
la 'ilaha 'illa-llah, muhammadun rasulu-llah
There is no god but God, and Muhammad (SAW) is the messenger of God.

I am a Muslim. After years of a religious journey I have settled into Islam for 4 months now. I recently began to tell people that I have converted, and, naturally, have had mixed responses. Now, I was born in a fairly non-religious family, though we did identify as Christians. After my paternal grandmother died, my father was shaken up and we began to attend church weekly. In the youth Bible Study I felt embarrassed because the other kids my age knew all about Christianity (they were raised going to church) and had so many verses memorised. That made me determined to learn everything I physically could about Christianity. But the more I studied, the more I felt... Like I was being lied to, by my pastors and by the Christian majority. I finally gave up going to church and began to study religion. I first looked at Judaism, then Islam, followed by various pagan practices until finally I began to practice Buddhism. But I couldn't shake the feeling that I was meant to be worshipping God. So I began to research Christianity (I had dismissed other branches of Christianity, assuming they'd all be liars). And, though I temporarily found Anglicanism appealing, I gave up hope. Then, one day, I had an urge to reread the Qur'an. No sooner than I had finished Surat Al-Fatiha (the first Surah of the Qur'an) I decided Islam was my home after all. So, no. I am not the religion I am today because it was imposed upon me. I am here in Islam because I researched and found it was the religion that made sense to me. I believe Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala guided me to Islam, after years of a religious search.

Ignore my last, anyway what made you consider Islam to be the truth?

Now, I always was "drawn" to Islam, that is the first few times I considered Islam, I felt some sort of connection to it. Almost like I already knew about Islam. But Islam made sense to me, in regards to how a religion should be. I felt that a lot, and I mean a lot of religions were "Burger King Religions" - that is, you can have it your way. If I could have a dollar for every time I heard "Oh, i'm a Christian but everyone is going to heaven. Even if you don't do any of the things God says is required to go to Heaven." Or "Oh, I don't identify with organised religion. I believe in this, this, this, that, and that. Its my own religion" I would be the richest man alive! I never could grasp how that was what "religion" was meant to be. To serve the people rather than serve God? Then I saw the churches that were "Rock Churches" where they had full, live rock bands, sold "cool" teeshirts and I even spoke to Youth Pastors who said "We get the latest phones to use in church to stay up to date with the youth!" It had become all materialism! And I found Islam was that balance. It was unrelenting, it is God's way or no one's way, and it had not gone the way of many Churches preaching materialism. Furthermore, it disturbed me that there are 3 major versions of the Bible, all to different lengths. That, often times, translations could be insanely different. How could a Work of God be altered and argued over? And I found the Qur'an to be unchanged, universally accepted. And you can change but 1 word in Arabic and Muslims around the world would notice instantly. "God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind." - That is from the Bible, and when I asked a priest about it... He said "that is little s, son. Jesus is the big S Son of God. There is a difference". And that blew me away. Right there, I knew Jesus was a prophet of God, and not God himself!

لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا الله مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ الله
la 'ilaha 'illa-llah, muhammadun rasulu-llah
There is no god but God, and Muhammad (SAW) is the messenger of God.

I am a Muslim. After years of a religious journey I have settled into Islam for 4 months now. I recently began to tell people that I have converted, and, naturally, have had mixed responses. Now, I was born in a fairly non-religious family, though we did identify as Christians. After my paternal grandmother died, my father was shaken up and we began to attend church weekly. In the youth Bible Study I felt embarrassed because the other kids my age knew all about Christianity (they were raised going to church) and had so many verses memorised. That made me determined to learn everything I physically could about Christianity. But the more I studied, the more I felt... Like I was being lied to, by my pastors and by the Christian majority. I finally gave up going to church and began to study religion. I first looked at Judaism, then Islam, followed by various pagan practices until finally I began to practice Buddhism. But I couldn't shake the feeling that I was meant to be worshipping God. So I began to research Christianity (I had dismissed other branches of Christianity, assuming they'd all be liars). And, though I temporarily found Anglicanism appealing, I gave up hope. Then, one day, I had an urge to reread the Qur'an. No sooner than I had finished Surat Al-Fatiha (the first Surah of the Qur'an) I decided Islam was my home after all. So, no. I am not the religion I am today because it was imposed upon me. I am here in Islam because I researched and found it was the religion that made sense to me. I believe Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala guided me to Islam, after years of a religious search.

Course you knew you'd get one from me.

:) Thank you!

[Big Jim P]

لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا الله مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ الله
la 'ilaha 'illa-llah, muhammadun rasulu-llah
There is no god but God, and Muhammad (SAW) is the messenger of God.

I am a Muslim. After years of a religious journey I have settled into Islam for 4 months now. I recently began to tell people that I have converted, and, naturally, have had mixed responses. Now, I was born in a fairly non-religious family, though we did identify as Christians. After my paternal grandmother died, my father was shaken up and we began to attend church weekly. In the youth Bible Study I felt embarrassed because the other kids my age knew all about Christianity (they were raised going to church) and had so many verses memorised. That made me determined to learn everything I physically could about Christianity. But the more I studied, the more I felt... Like I was being lied to, by my pastors and by the Christian majority. I finally gave up going to church and began to study religion. I first looked at Judaism, then Islam, followed by various pagan practices until finally I began to practice Buddhism. But I couldn't shake the feeling that I was meant to be worshipping God. So I began to research Christianity (I had dismissed other branches of Christianity, assuming they'd all be liars). And, though I temporarily found Anglicanism appealing, I gave up hope. Then, one day, I had an urge to reread the Qur'an. No sooner than I had finished Surat Al-Fatiha (the first Surah of the Qur'an) I decided Islam was my home after all. So, no. I am not the religion I am today because it was imposed upon me. I am here in Islam because I researched and found it was the religion that made sense to me. I believe Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala guided me to Islam, after years of a religious search.

I would say that this is the best way to find ones religion. I myself studied a wide variety of religion until I found Satanism. The only one that fit me.

[Othelos]

لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا الله مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ الله
la 'ilaha 'illa-llah, muhammadun rasulu-llah
There is no god but God, and Muhammad (SAW) is the messenger of God.

I am a Muslim. After years of a religious journey I have settled into Islam for 4 months now. I recently began to tell people that I have converted, and, naturally, have had mixed responses.

How so, if you don't mind me asking?

[Cill Airne]

لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا الله مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ الله
la 'ilaha 'illa-llah, muhammadun rasulu-llah
There is no god but God, and Muhammad (SAW) is the messenger of God.

I am a Muslim. After years of a religious journey I have settled into Islam for 4 months now. I recently began to tell people that I have converted, and, naturally, have had mixed responses.

How so, if you don't mind me asking?

To which part? How I recently began to tell people, or the mixed responses? I've been telling people, usually, by saying "I'm a Muslim."
I've had mixed responses as some people say "okay." while others say… "What, are you a terrorist now? You going to blow up the building? Are you going to start beheading Christians? You don't look Muslim, how can you be one? Well, why don't you go move to Saudi Arabia then?"

[The Alma Mater]

How so, if you don't mind me asking?

To which part? How I recently began to tell people, or the mixed responses? I've been telling people, usually, by saying "I'm a Muslim."
I've had mixed responses as some people say "okay." while others say… "What, are you a terrorist now? You going to blow up the building? Are you going to start beheading Christians? You don't look Muslim, how can you be one? Well, why don't you go move to Saudi Arabia then?"

Isn't the last part something your religion actually requires you to do ? Genuine question - I know that extremists like ISIL claim that it is the duty of all muslims to settle in the caliphate, while most moslims elsewhere say "whatever" and stay put. But who is right ?

[Murkwood]

لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا الله مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ الله
la 'ilaha 'illa-llah, muhammadun rasulu-llah
There is no god but God, and Muhammad (SAW) is the messenger of God.

I am a Muslim. After years of a religious journey I have settled into Islam for 4 months now. I recently began to tell people that I have converted, and, naturally, have had mixed responses. Now, I was born in a fairly non-religious family, though we did identify as Christians. After my paternal grandmother died, my father was shaken up and we began to attend church weekly. In the youth Bible Study I felt embarrassed because the other kids my age knew all about Christianity (they were raised going to church) and had so many verses memorised. That made me determined to learn everything I physically could about Christianity. But the more I studied, the more I felt... Like I was being lied to, by my pastors and by the Christian majority. I finally gave up going to church and began to study religion. I first looked at Judaism, then Islam, followed by various pagan practices until finally I began to practice Buddhism. But I couldn't shake the feeling that I was meant to be worshipping God. So I began to research Christianity (I had dismissed other branches of Christianity, assuming they'd all be liars). And, though I temporarily found Anglicanism appealing, I gave up hope. Then, one day, I had an urge to reread the Qur'an. No sooner than I had finished Surat Al-Fatiha (the first Surah of the Qur'an) I decided Islam was my home after all. So, no. I am not the religion I am today because it was imposed upon me. I am here in Islam because I researched and found it was the religion that made sense to me. I believe Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala guided me to Islam, after years of a religious search.

I would say that this is the best way to find ones religion. I myself studied a wide variety of religion until I found Satanism. The only one that fit me.

Knowing about other religions really helps you to know your own. I've been a Catholic since birth, but there is benefit in studying other creeds.

[Cetatsenia]

To which part? How I recently began to tell people, or the mixed responses? I've been telling people, usually, by saying "I'm a Muslim."
I've had mixed responses as some people say "okay." while others say… "What, are you a terrorist now? You going to blow up the building? Are you going to start beheading Christians? You don't look Muslim, how can you be one? Well, why don't you go move to Saudi Arabia then?"

Isn't the last part something your religion actually requires you to do ? Genuine question - I know that extremists like ISIL claim that it is the duty of all muslims to settle in the caliphate, while most moslims elsewhere say "whatever" and stay put. But who is right ?

I'm pretty sure all that Muslims are supposed to do is make the pilgrimage to Mecca at some point in their life. And I wouldn't take ISIL's ideas on what Muslims are supposed to do at face value.

[Arkinesia]

Have you read about Pascal's Wager?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... ligion.jpg

I hadn't heard of him but now I have and will apply this maxim to my life!

Pascal's Wager is logically very weak. It assumes that the only possible god is the Biblical God or Quranic God or similar. That may be untrue, there could be a god who just lets everyone into heaven if they don't kill someone. Or maybe the god just lets everyone in. Even Hitler.

[Distruzio]

How so, if you don't mind me asking?

To which part? How I recently began to tell people, or the mixed responses? I've been telling people, usually, by saying "I'm a Muslim."
I've had mixed responses as some people say "okay." while others say… "What, are you a terrorist now? You going to blow up the building? Are you going to start beheading Christians? You don't look Muslim, how can you be one? Well, why don't you go move to Saudi Arabia then?"

Racism is... kinda funny sometimes.

[Cill Airne]

To which part? How I recently began to tell people, or the mixed responses? I've been telling people, usually, by saying "I'm a Muslim."
I've had mixed responses as some people say "okay." while others say… "What, are you a terrorist now? You going to blow up the building? Are you going to start beheading Christians? You don't look Muslim, how can you be one? Well, why don't you go move to Saudi Arabia then?"

Isn't the last part something your religion actually requires you to do ? Genuine question - I know that extremists like ISIL claim that it is the duty of all muslims to settle in the caliphate, while most moslims elsewhere say "whatever" and stay put. But who is right ?

No, it is not a requirement to live in a caliphate (mind you, the last state to claim to be a Caliphate collapsed in 1924, and it was not recognised by all Muslims as a Caliphate). ISIS/ISIL/IS was just denounced by 120 Islamic Scholars around the world as being Non-Islamic, and they released 24 points as to why. Two of these are "It is forbidden in Islam to declare a caliphate without consensus from all Muslims." and "After the death of the Prophet, Islam does not require anyone to emigrate anywhere." Now, Muslims are obligated to perform Hajj once in their life, if possible, which is a journey during Ramadan. But it does not require emigration, or immigration, to any location. So, it is not "most muslims saying whatever" - its that Muslims are not required to emigrate from their home countries to another location.

To which part? How I recently began to tell people, or the mixed responses? I've been telling people, usually, by saying "I'm a Muslim."
I've had mixed responses as some people say "okay." while others say… "What, are you a terrorist now? You going to blow up the building? Are you going to start beheading Christians? You don't look Muslim, how can you be one? Well, why don't you go move to Saudi Arabia then?"

Racism is... kinda funny sometimes.

It certainly can be… My favourite response, from most of my coworkers, is that they seem to think I am joking, or doing it to make someone mad/angry.

[Othelos]

How so, if you don't mind me asking?

To which part? How I recently began to tell people, or the mixed responses? I've been telling people, usually, by saying "I'm a Muslim."
I've had mixed responses as some people say "okay." while others say… "What, are you a terrorist now? You going to blow up the building? Are you going to start beheading Christians? You don't look Muslim, how can you be one? Well, why don't you go move to Saudi Arabia then?"

The mixed reactions...it seems like people are letting their ignorance on the topic show (if they're serious).

[Right-Wing Anarchy of Egoism]

I'm an agnostic who likes to think that maybe there is some kind of god somewhere not attached to any religion in particular. I'm currently exploring Finnish and Old Norse mythologies to see if they'd fit me and if they don't I'm going to research other religions as well to explore my own spirituality.

[Eranian Commonwealth]

I'm an agnostic who likes to think that maybe there is some kind of god somewhere not attached to any religion in particular. I'm currently exploring Finnish and Old Norse mythologies to see if they'd fit me and if they don't I'm going to research other religions as well to explore my own spirituality.

Can I recommend you look at Zoroastrianism? Not to proselytize, but I think that even if you don't convert you will find it interesting (:

[Eranian Commonwealth]

Isn't the last part something your religion actually requires you to do ? Genuine question - I know that extremists like ISIL claim that it is the duty of all muslims to settle in the caliphate, while most moslims elsewhere say "whatever" and stay put. But who is right ?

I'm pretty sure all that Muslims are supposed to do is make the pilgrimage to Mecca at some point in their life. And I wouldn't take ISIL's ideas on what Muslims are supposed to do at face value.

'The Caliphate' and al-Hajj are different things. The Caliphate is the 'Vatican City' of Islam (except it's usually an empire). The Caliph (Khalifa, Emperor-ish) is the 'Pope' of (Sunni) Islam. al-Hajj (the pilgrimage) is the pilgrimage to Mecca (al-Makkah), the holy city of Islam with the Ka'aba and all that stuff. Ideally the Caliphate will also control Mecca (as did Muhammad, the Umayyads, Abbassids and Ottomans), however it is not mandatory for all Muslims to travel to the Caliphate. All Muslims do however have to make the journey to Mecca at least once in their lives.

[Right-Wing Anarchy of Egoism]

I'm an agnostic who likes to think that maybe there is some kind of god somewhere not attached to any religion in particular. I'm currently exploring Finnish and Old Norse mythologies to see if they'd fit me and if they don't I'm going to research other religions as well to explore my own spirituality.

Can I recommend you look at Zoroastrianism? Not to proselytize, but I think that even if you don't convert you will find it interesting (:

Thank you for the tip. I'll look into it more. For what I know already, it has fascinated me greatly how concepts of Zoroastrianism like a savior figure and virgin birth have passed to Christianity, a religion whose adherent I have been for three years from my confirmation.

[Immoren]

I'm an agnostic who likes to think that maybe there is some kind of god somewhere not attached to any religion in particular. I'm currently exploring Finnish and Old Norse mythologies to see if they'd fit me and if they don't I'm going to research other religions as well to explore my own spirituality.

"Problem" with Finnish paganism is that currently its practically a revivalist neopaganism based on few oral stories, and writings of opinionated Christians writing about silly fennic pagans. Basically a mix of wishful interpretation and coloured outsider accounts.
Put obviously its not necessarily a problem.

[Benuty]

I'm an agnostic who likes to think that maybe there is some kind of god somewhere not attached to any religion in particular. I'm currently exploring Finnish and Old Norse mythologies to see if they'd fit me and if they don't I'm going to research other religions as well to explore my own spirituality.

"Problem" with Finnish paganism is that currently its practically a revivalist neopaganism based on few oral stories, and writings of opinionated Christians writing about silly fennic pagans. Basically a mix of wishful interpretation and coloured outsider accounts.
Put obviously its not necessarily a problem.

Sounds like a certain Christian priest who wrote a good portion on the Norse .

[Cill Airne]

To which part? How I recently began to tell people, or the mixed responses? I've been telling people, usually, by saying "I'm a Muslim."
I've had mixed responses as some people say "okay." while others say… "What, are you a terrorist now? You going to blow up the building? Are you going to start beheading Christians? You don't look Muslim, how can you be one? Well, why don't you go move to Saudi Arabia then?"

The mixed reactions...it seems like people are letting their ignorance on the topic show (if they're serious).

Sadly, they have been serious. :-\

[Right-Wing Anarchy of Egoism]

I'm an agnostic who likes to think that maybe there is some kind of god somewhere not attached to any religion in particular. I'm currently exploring Finnish and Old Norse mythologies to see if they'd fit me and if they don't I'm going to research other religions as well to explore my own spirituality.

"Problem" with Finnish paganism is that currently its practically a revivalist neopaganism based on few oral stories, and writings of opinionated Christians writing about silly fennic pagans. Basically a mix of wishful interpretation and coloured outsider accounts.
Put obviously its not necessarily a problem.

Which one fits Karhun kansa's version of Finnish mythology?

[Immoren]

"Problem" with Finnish paganism is that currently its practically a revivalist neopaganism based on few oral stories, and writings of opinionated Christians writing about silly fennic pagans. Basically a mix of wishful interpretation and coloured outsider accounts.
Put obviously its not necessarily a problem.

Which one fits Karhun kansa's version of Finnish mythology?

Again. Basically it too is based on what remaining oral stories were written down (Kalevala for example) and what were observations by Swedes and Novgorodians/Russians. It's attempt at genuine revival, but it's also based on fragmentary assumptions (to my knowledge) and recounts. But I don't put down anyone who wants to practice it.
Propably the "mythology" *part* of it is more *genuine* than "practices" *part*.

[Cetatsenia]

I'm pretty sure all that Muslims are supposed to do is make the pilgrimage to Mecca at some point in their life. And I wouldn't take ISIL's ideas on what Muslims are supposed to do at face value.

'The Caliphate' and al-Hajj are different things. The Caliphate is the 'Vatican City' of Islam (except it's usually an empire). The Caliph (Khalifa, Emperor-ish) is the 'Pope' of (Sunni) Islam. al-Hajj (the pilgrimage) is the pilgrimage to Mecca (al-Makkah), the holy city of Islam with the Ka'aba and all that stuff. Ideally the Caliphate will also control Mecca (as did Muhammad, the Umayyads, Abbassids and Ottomans), however it is not mandatory for all Muslims to travel to the Caliphate. All Muslims do however have to make the journey to Mecca at least once in their lives.

I'm well aware of the differences between the two, I never said they were the same.