[kenni12]

I was raised as a christian, but recently became an atheist. I've experienced christianity enough to be critical and skeptical about it. But lately I've been hearing christians asking "Why don't you critise islam?", if anyone asked me, my response would be "I have no experience of islam, so it would be somehow unwise to critise a religion I don't really know about, unless the media was 100% factual".
Time and time again, we hear from devouted proud muslims about how great Allah and Mohammed is and how awesome their religion is. But I ask myself, if this is so, then why are there so much negative reports about it, and why are there reports about people deconverting and keeping it a secret?.
Most of the famous outspoken atheists are former christians especially the ones on youtube, that's why the issues the point out are usually related to christianity , but how come even in the western world, there are no atheists who have experienced islam enough to critise it and give their opinions about why they left it?.

[Xotol]

I've seen myself. A few times actually.

[Einheri]

If you've ever seen Muslims drinking then you're looking at people who don't believe in Islam/Allah. If you honestly believed that drinking would send you to Hell (Jahannam in Arabic) for eternity then you wouldn't do it (I certainly wouldn't if I believed that: Not burning forever in Hell > Alcohol). A lot of them are culturally Muslim i.e they say they're Muslim for cultural reasons rather than having an actual, genuine belief. This is very common with second and third generation Asians.

[4TSR]

(Original post by Einheri)
If you've ever seen Muslims drinking then you're looking at people who don't believe in Islam/Allah. If you honestly believed that drinking would send you to Hell (Jahannam in Arabic)for eternity then you wouldn't do it (I certainly wouldn't if I believed that: Not burning forever in Hell > Alcohol). A lot of them are culturally Muslim i.e they say they're Muslim for cultural reasons rather than having an actual, genuine belief. This is very common with second and third generation Asians.

Doing a sin doesn't mean you are going to hell. They just think oh well I believe in god but I wanna drink I know I'm being bad but I hope god forgives me/i'll repent later...etc...etc

[Algorithm69]

There are many ex-Muslim atheists. I don't think you've been looking very well. Ayaan Hirsi Ali is probably the most prominent, as is Salmon Rushdie, who was born into a Muslim family, and Ibn Warraq. Also, TheJinnAndTonicShow on Youtube has ex-Muslim panellists.

[Perseveranze]

Nearly all I've come across are clueless about Islam. And most seem to be Iranians, who apostized out of emotional regress (because they have this deeeeeeeeeep hate for Islam all of sudden)

Including some on this forum, like that asyzle girl or whatever her name is. Saying how "muslim don't eat pig because Muhammad didn't, yet it isn't in the Qur'an".

/facepalm

[blackhoney123]

Guys, I'm an ex muslim atheist and it is very difficult to see people like myself. There are a lot of ex muslims/ ex muslim atheists out there. It's just that we are afraid to speak. Religion is seen as the fundamental part of someone in our culture and if people like me ever spoke about leaving Islam, we risk losing our family, friends and relatives, therefore many people just shut up about it and lead there lives. If your looking for ex muslim atheists try the council of ex muslims of Britain.

[S-man10]

(Original post by Perseveranze)
Nearly all I've come across are clueless about Islam. And most seem to be Iranians, who apostized out of emotional regress (because they have this deeeeeeeeeep hate for Islam all of sudden)

Including some on this forum, like that asyzle girl or whatever her name is. Saying how "muslim don't eat pig because Muhammad didn't, yet it isn't in the Qur'an".

/facepalm

Wouldn't it go to say that many muslims are equally clueless about the world?

[Politricks]

(Original post by Perseveranze)
Nearly all I've come across are clueless about Islam. And most seem to be Iranians, who apostized out of emotional regress (because they have this deeeeeeeeeep hate for Islam all of sudden)

I've also noticed a lot of Iranian atheists, I think their resentment came from the fact that Islam has Arab origins, and that Arabs tried to 'Arabize' Persia, then it probably developed to them questioning Islam and some of its beliefs, leading them to atheism.

I think that's the case, I'm no expert, Iranian atheists, tell me what let you to atheism?

[harmony_01]

Usually Iranian.

[harmony_01]

(Original post by S-man10)
Wouldn't it go to say that many muslims are equally clueless about the world?

True.


This would mean that we should all try to learn about something instead of making preconceptions. I imagine if there was a balanced pHD thesis on a topic of Islam asked on TSR, the vast number of references would be Sheikh Google coupled with a few Daily Mail articles in there.

[Perseveranze]

(Original post by S-man10)
Wouldn't it go to say that many muslims are equally clueless about the world?

Not sure what you're trying to imply, but whatever it is, that's not because of religion.

(Original post by Politricks)
I've also noticed a lot of Iranian atheists, I think their resentment came from the fact that Islam has Arab origins, and that Arabs tried to 'Arabize' Persia, then it probably developed to them questioning Islam and some of its beliefs, leading them to atheism.

I think that's the case, I'm no expert, Iranian atheists, tell me what let you to atheism?

It's more judgemental based on what they see.

Iranians have executed more people in 30 years than 1000 years of Islamic history has. And this is down to their deviant beliefs and other weird practices.

[Dandaman1]

The reason you probably don't find quite so many vocal ex-muslim atheists is because those who leave Islam, under Sharia law, are to be put to death for the crime of apostasy. While you can leave most Christian sects in relative safety, and even follow up with a career in criticizing religion, to do so from Islam would be a huge threat to one's personal safety. There is a violent, barbaric and backward side to this religion that does not deserve one ounce of tolerance in modern society.

Before the user Perserveranze attempts a rebuttal, may I remind him that his avatar features a picture of a masked Islamic man with a handgun...

[Strüberry]

Me. Started having my doubts early last year and now I'm an atheist in all but name. I've met loads and they're definitely out there. For the record, not Iranian.

[DaveSmith99]

Fear of being murdered/completely disowned by your mental fundamentalist family prevents many muslims from openly rejecting it. That and the Quran says you should die for turning you back on Islam.

Edit: Neg me all you like, a good proportion of muslims would be kicked out of the family for turning their back on the religion and the Quran says the punishment for apostasy is death. These things are facts.

[B-Man.]

There are a lot of ex-Muslim atheists. I'd imagine the vast majority don't see any benefit in declaring their apostasy, but recognise the cons (e.g. possibly loosing family ties or other relationships), so you never find out about them. Even those that identify as atheists remain hidden, as they are lumped into the Muslim category, either because of their ethnicity or for having a Muslim name. It’s not like ex-Muslims wear a t-shirt letting everyone know of their new beliefs.

There are more vocal ones, such as Farhan Qureshi, a former Muslim apologist, who is now agnostic and chooses to debate Muslim & Christian apologists. Here is an article in which he declares his apostasy if you're interested. It also has links to some debates too.
http://www.faithfreedom.org/articles...e-my-apostasy/

However, be warned that almost everyone who posts on the FaithFreedom website are ignorant bigots. Farhan Qureshi seems to be the only exception.

Edit: Here is a list of ex-Muslims if you're interested.

[kenni12]

(Original post by Algorithm69)
There are many ex-Muslim atheists. I don't think you've been looking very well. Ayaan Hirsi Ali is probably the most prominent, as is Salmon Rushdie, who was born into a Muslim family, and Ibn Warraq. Also, TheJinnAndTonicShow on Youtube has ex-Muslim panellists.

Really, I have always imagined that like some christians, some muslims just follow bits of the religion that fit their personality and disagree with each other about what there religion says or what their god thinks, would you say that's true?.

[kenni12]

(Original post by Einheri)
If you've ever seen Muslims drinking then you're looking at people who don't believe in Islam/Allah. If you honestly believed that drinking would send you to Hell (Jahannam in Arabic) for eternity then you wouldn't do it (I certainly wouldn't if I believed that: Not burning forever in Hell > Alcohol). A lot of them are culturally Muslim i.e they say they're Muslim for cultural reasons rather than having an actual, genuine belief. This is very common with second and third generation Asians.

Of course, there are muslims who drink, just like there are alot of christians who have premarital sex or align with homosexuals(hell there are even gay people who call themselves christians nowadays, IDK why), people who are in a religion just follow the parts of it that they like and attack others for those they don't like, that's the reason why religion shouldn't be taken seriously especially when it comes to influencing the society.

[Algorithm69]

(Original post by kenni12)
Really, I have always imagined that like some christians, some muslims just follow bits of the religion that fit their personality and disagree with each other about what there religion says or what their god thinks, would you say that's true?.

Well yes, that's self-evident, but what has that got to do with your initial question about there being no outspoken ex-Muslim atheists?

[kenni12]

(Original post by Algorithm69)
Well yes, that's self-evident, but what has that got to do with your initial question about there being no outspoken ex-Muslim atheists?

Nothing much but since you're an ex muslim, I just wanted to know about islam for an ex muslims point of view for once, because if I point these stuff out they'd say I don't know about islam, so I shouldn't critise. Also does the quran have contradictions and fallacies?