1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:13,000 This is the story of three Chicagoans, all raised as Christians, all who decided to ultimately reject that religion. 2 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:14,000 The Internet is down. 3 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:22,000 Nadira Rodriguez-Mohamed grew up Catholic, but found herself constantly questioning the long-held beliefs of her family. 4 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:24,000 I always felt that something was missing for me. 5 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:28,000 Ian Bushner is a law student at the University of Chicago. 6 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:32,000 It felt like that there wasn't a God. 7 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:37,000 Whitney Nichols, he's a new Loyola grad who grew up in suburban Streamwood. 8 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:42,000 I guess what I was really looking for was what felt most natural and most logical to me. 9 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:49,000 When Nadira entered high school in the mid-1990s, she became friends with a group of Muslim girls. 10 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:57,000 They just had this level of contentment and a sisterhood that was, I wanted to be a part of that. 11 00:00:57,000 --> 00:01:01,000 Ian drifted towards the Muslim students at his high school as well. 12 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:08,000 I remember defending some of my friends at school from accusations, you know, after 9-11, and then I started reading the Koran. 13 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:13,000 I said, oh, here is a form of God that I've never been presented before. 14 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:18,000 After September 11, you know, the interest actually increased. 15 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:24,000 Dr. Asad Basoul is professor at Chicago's Islamic American College. 16 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:29,000 He says the tragedy six years ago initially prompted angry questions. 17 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:37,000 But eventually, many of the curious found answers to their own spiritual questions through Islam and converted. 18 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:42,000 Sometimes, you know, negative things bring positive things, you know. 19 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:48,000 In fact, according to a first ever random sampling of American Muslims by the Pew Research Center, 20 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:55,000 21% of the nation's 2.4 million Muslims are converts to the faith. 21 00:01:55,000 --> 00:02:00,000 Eventually, I realized that I was looking to the Koran for advice, for direction, 22 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:05,000 and at the point that you believe that the Koran is a revolution from God, then you're a Muslim. 23 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:08,000 The conversion has meant many changes in their lives. 24 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:10,000 Ian prays five times a day. 25 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:13,000 You'll finish a prayer and realize, I've just screwed something up. 26 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:16,000 I've done something mean to somebody. Let me go back and correct that. 27 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:20,000 Nadira wears the scarf, or hijab, as it's called. 28 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:25,000 It is part of my character, you know, modesty, and it's just part of who I am. 29 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:29,000 I don't know if I'll ever be ready to wear the hijab. I've become more modest. 30 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:31,000 I won't wear tank tops, and I won't wear shorts. 31 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:35,000 Whitney says she has had to constantly defend her new religion. 32 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:38,000 My father asked me right after I converted, you know, 33 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:41,000 why do you want to be associated with these terrorists? 34 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:44,000 And I'm like, this is what you see? Oh, no. 35 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:50,000 And we kind of have to deal with the backlash of those who have chosen to do something so horrible. 36 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:52,000 But all say there is no going back. 37 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:57,000 At some age, everyone must decide what they believe and live their life accordingly. 38 00:02:57,000 --> 00:03:01,000 I'm Mexican, you know, I'm a female, and I chose this for myself. 39 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:07,000 If you have a personal, you know, relationship with God, whatever that may be, 40 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:09,000 however that may be, then you're in a good place. 41 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:13,000 Mark Saxenmeyer, Fox News, Chicago. 42 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:14,000 **Basnen age** 43 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:19,000 You're so, I would love to try with your survival. 44 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:21,000 Can you try delicious такой episode? 45 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:22,000 Like you eat yoga. 46 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:23,000 Like you eat yoga. 47 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:24,000 I don't like when you ăn! 48 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:26,000 You drink yoga. 49 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:27,000 All you do what you make! 50 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:29,000 You drink yoga. 51 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:30,000 I'm so often bijna coming. 52 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:31,000 F***. 53 00:03:31,000 --> 00:03:32,000 You drink yoga sci-feel brushless. 54 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:33,000 You drink yoga. 55 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:34,000 You drink yoga. 56 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:37,300 I think it's 57 00:03:38,300 --> 00:03:39,000 difficultニ twenties.