--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was an atheist, I was open-minded, and…" description: "\"I was an atheist, I was open-minded, and I began to read in that direction, in the direction of Islam, and everything that I read about it appealed to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2f/malcolm-x-213_atheist_i-was-an-atheist-i-was-open-minded-and-i_2501634.jpg" --- # I was an atheist, I was open-minded, and I began to read… ![“I was an atheist, I was open-minded, and I began to read in that direction, in the direction of Islam, and everything that I read about it appealed to me.” quote by Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2f/malcolm-x-213_atheist_i-was-an-atheist-i-was-open-minded-and-i_2501634.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2f/malcolm-x-213_atheist_i-was-an-atheist-i-was-open-minded-and-i_2501634.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2f/malcolm-x-213_atheist_i-was-an-atheist-i-was-open-minded-and-i_2501634.jpg) > “I was an atheist, I was open-minded, and I began to read in that direction, in the direction of Islam, and everything that I read about it appealed to me.” [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He describes moving from atheism to openness, finding appeal in Islam. **In simple terms:** He shifted from atheism to Islam. Key Takeaway Stay open to new ideas. Themes faith open‑mindedness conversion Mood contemplative hopeful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - spiritual seeking - interfaith dialogue - academic research - personal crisis Key Concepts religious studies personal transformation Questions to Reflect On - What evidence would change your belief? - How do you balance skepticism with openness? A Different Perspective Conversion can be influenced by selective reading. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) [Islam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islam/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Open minded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-minded/) ## Related quotes > [Somebody needs to start a restaurant called, 'Chick-Fil-Atheist' that's only open on Sunday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/somebody-needs-to-start-a-restaurant-called-chick-fil-atheist-that-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I did not come into contact with any Muslim before I embraced Islam. 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Cummings. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-gordon/after-i-consumed-frost-in-his-entirety-my-days-of-exploration-began-i/) [Spencer Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-gordon/) > [“She picked up the book she was reading, Beyond the Ice Limit, found her dog-eared place at the beginning of chapter six, and began…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-preston/she-picked-up-the-book-she-was-reading-beyond-the-ice-limit-found-her/) [Douglas Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-preston/) > [I went to the library and began to read some stuff on my own. My discovery of James Baldwin was life-changing. I read Go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/i-went-to-the-library-and-began-to-read-some-stuff-on-my-own-my/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [“The start of a new novel carried with it a sense of occasion, and the alphabets in Luna’s mind started to shuffle their letters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/the-start-of-a-new-novel-carried-with-it-a-sense-of-occasion-and-the/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [Klaus sighed, and opened a book, and as at so many other times when the middle Baudelaire child did not want to think about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/klaus-sighed-and-opened-a-book-and-as-at-so-many-other-times-when-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He began to read at haphazard. He entered upon each system with a little thrill of excitement, expecting to find in each some guide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/he-began-to-read-at-haphazard-he-entered-upon-each-system-with-a/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“She found the page, cleared her throat and began to read, " 'There was nary a doubt that I had ever seen such big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/she-found-the-page-cleared-her-throat-and-began-to-read-there-was/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) > [“Bastian looked at the book. 'I wonder,' he said to himself, 'what's in a book while it's closed. Oh, I know it's full of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ende/bastian-looked-at-the-book-i-wonder-he-said-to-himself-what-s-in-a/) [Michael Ende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ende/) > [“once i began to read I began to exist”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-dean-myers/once-i-began-to-read-i-began-to-exist/) [Walter Dean Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-dean-myers/) > [“It came upon me little by little. I came to like the life here, with its ease and its leisure, and the people, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/it-came-upon-me-little-by-little-i-came-to-like-the-life-here-with/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [I first began to read religious books at school, and especially the Bible, when I was eleven years old; and almost immediately commenced a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-first-began-to-read-religious-books-at-school-and-especially-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Malcolm X > [If Christianity had asserted itself in Germany, six million Jews would have lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/if-christianity-had-asserted-itself-in-germany-six-million-jews-would/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Adam Clayton Powell's entire political career has to be looked at in the entire context of the American history and the history of, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/adam-clayton-powell-s-entire-political-career-has-to-be-looked-at-in/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [American civil rights leader, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Lynching is a murder. For the past four hundred years our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/american-civil-rights-leader-where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Be nonviolent only with those who are nonviolent to you. And when you can bring me a nonviolent racist, bring me a nonviolent segregationist,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/be-nonviolent-only-with-those-who-are-nonviolent-to-you-and-when-you/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [You can't legislate good will - that comes through education.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/you-can-t-legislate-good-will-that-comes-through-education/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Truth is on the side of the oppressed today, it's against the oppressor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/truth-is-on-the-side-of-the-oppressed-today-it-s-against-the-oppressor/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Those type of whites who are always going to jail with Negroes are the ones who tell Negroes to be loving and be kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/those-type-of-whites-who-are-always-going-to-jail-with-negroes-are/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [We Muslims believe that the white race, which is guilty of having oppressed and exploited and enslaved our people here in America, should and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/we-muslims-believe-that-the-white-race-which-is-guilty-of-having/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I mean a real police state just to get a token recognition of a law. It take, it took, I think, 15,000 troops and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-mean-a-real-police-state-just-to-get-a-token-recognition-of-a-law/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Like Samson, I am ready to pull down the white man's temple, knowing full well that I will be destroyed by the falling rubble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/like-samson-i-am-ready-to-pull-down-the-white-man-s-temple-knowing/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Any negro who occupies a position that was given to him by the white man, if you analyze his function, his function never enables…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/any-negro-who-occupies-a-position-that-was-given-to-him-by-the-white/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Stumbling is not falling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/stumbling-is-not-falling/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [God is going to punish the white man for his misdeeds toward black people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/god-is-going-to-punish-the-white-man-for-his-misdeeds-toward-black/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [Much of what I say might sound like it's stirring up trouble, but it's the truth!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/much-of-what-i-say-might-sound-like-it-s-stirring-up-trouble-but-it-s/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I believe in the brotherhood of all men, but I don't believe in wasting brotherhood on anyone who doesn't want to practice it with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-believe-in-the-brotherhood-of-all-men-but-i-don-t-believe-in/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) [Explore all 891 Malcolm X quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) ## More Atheist quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [That the world is in a bad shape is undeniable, but there is not the faintest reason in history to suppose that Christianity offers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/that-the-world-is-in-a-bad-shape-is-undeniable-but-there-is-not-the/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [Atheist’s denial of God’s existence needs just as much substantiation as does the theist’s claim; the atheist must give plausible reasons for rejecting God’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-copan/atheist-s-denial-of-god-s-existence-needs-just-as-much-substantiation/) [Paul Copan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-copan/) > [“The atheist joined his hands. It wasn't against the Gods. He smiled, with his hands folded, saw his daughter's in-laws approaching near.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavik-sarkhedi/the-atheist-joined-his-hands-it-wasn-t-against-the-gods-he-smiled/) [Bhavik Sarkhedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavik-sarkhedi/) > [I am surprised that anyone can profess to be an atheist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/i-am-surprised-that-anyone-can-profess-to-be-an-atheist/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [“I have found it an amusing strategy, when asked whether I am an atheist, to point out that the questioner is also an atheist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-have-found-it-an-amusing-strategy-when-asked-whether-i-am-an/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [An Atheist wandering down a road where he meets up a four road junction , he asks a passer by hey !, where does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/an-atheist-wandering-down-a-road-where-he-meets-up-a-four-road/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [Good churches are not built by bad men; at least, there must be probity and enthusiasm somewhere in the society. These minsters were neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/good-churches-are-not-built-by-bad-men-at-least-there-must-be-probity/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [An ineffably holy God, who has the utmost abhorrence of sin, was never invented by any of Adam's descendents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/an-ineffably-holy-god-who-has-the-utmost-abhorrence-of-sin-was-never/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [If all the Atheists & Agnostics left America, they'd lose 93% of The National Academy of Sciences & less than 1% of the prison population.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-gervais/if-all-the-atheists-agnostics-left-america-they-d-lose-93-of-the/) [Ricky Gervais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-gervais/) > [I am an atheist. I don't think there's anything divine. 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Beyond that, I may differ dramatically in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carrier/i-am-like-all-other-atheists-only-in-that-i-do-not-believe-there-are/) [Richard Carrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carrier/) [Browse all 2,434 Atheist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was an atheist, I was open-minded, and I began to read in that direction, in the direction of Islam, and everything that I read about it appealed to me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Malcolm X" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-was-an-atheist-i-was-open-minded-and-i-began-to-read-in-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Atheist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-was-an-atheist-i-was-open-minded-and-i-began-to-read-in-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2f/malcolm-x-213_atheist_i-was-an-atheist-i-was-open-minded-and-i_2501634.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2f/malcolm-x-213_atheist_i-was-an-atheist-i-was-open-minded-and-i_2501634.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2f/malcolm-x-213_atheist_i-was-an-atheist-i-was-open-minded-and-i_2501634.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was an atheist, I was open-minded, and I began to read in that direction, in the direction of Islam, and…” — Malcolm X", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Malcolm X", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was an atheist, I was...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-was-an-atheist-i-was-open-minded-and-i-began-to-read-in-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/i-was-an-atheist-i-was-open-minded-and-i-began-to-read-in-that/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```