Bravest People in the World: Atheists in Islamic Countries
"Nothing is stronger than an idea whose time has
come." V.Hugo
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/08/03/arab-atheists-though-few-inch-out-shadows.html
We have our battles to wage, here in the USA and Europe. But, for the most part, the penalties for "out" atheists in the West are relatively minor. It can cost friendships, family, even jobs. There is a price to pay, but you can't go to jail, and people aren't trying to kill us. And we're making headway. Slowly, but surely.
But in Islamic countries, even this article from Indonesia tap-dances around the issue. Apostasy is illegal, and people can go to prison or even get executed for espousing doubts about their belief.
Even going against the local "norms" of zealous believers without leaving the faith can get you shot. Consider the case of young Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan, who just wanted to go to school, and survived being shot in the face for her activism.
""They shot my friends too. They thought that the bullets would silence us. But they failed and out of that silence came thousands of voices," she said to cheers from the students gathered at U.N. hall."
http://news.yahoo.com/pakistans-malala-celebrates-16th-birthday-u-n-education-141322045.html
She became an international cause celebre, but had she not survived, it's likely that we never would have heard her story.
But there are more atheists in those countries than there were and they will be followed by even more. The undoing of Islam is buried in it's people. They will learn, they will teach, and they will grow. Even as Islam is growing and gaining power all over the globe, it won't be sustainable in the long run.
I'm amazed that these people are able to get their message out. They are true heroes of our time.
UPDATE:
When I wrote this: " There is a price to pay, but you can't go to jail, and people aren't trying to kill us.", I meant generally. There are incidences of Christian violence against atheists in the West even today. Rare, but there. And usually caused more by stupidity than the belief. Usually. So I ran across this article:
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/03/15/texas-man-allegedly-killed-soldier-for-not-believing-in-god/
Not really indicative of much except that the alleged perps were stupid and insane.
come." V.Hugo
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/08/03/arab-atheists-though-few-inch-out-shadows.html
We have our battles to wage, here in the USA and Europe. But, for the most part, the penalties for "out" atheists in the West are relatively minor. It can cost friendships, family, even jobs. There is a price to pay, but you can't go to jail, and people aren't trying to kill us. And we're making headway. Slowly, but surely.
But in Islamic countries, even this article from Indonesia tap-dances around the issue. Apostasy is illegal, and people can go to prison or even get executed for espousing doubts about their belief.
Even going against the local "norms" of zealous believers without leaving the faith can get you shot. Consider the case of young Malala Yousafzai of Pakistan, who just wanted to go to school, and survived being shot in the face for her activism.
""They shot my friends too. They thought that the bullets would silence us. But they failed and out of that silence came thousands of voices," she said to cheers from the students gathered at U.N. hall."
http://news.yahoo.com/pakistans-malala-celebrates-16th-birthday-u-n-education-141322045.html
She became an international cause celebre, but had she not survived, it's likely that we never would have heard her story.
But there are more atheists in those countries than there were and they will be followed by even more. The undoing of Islam is buried in it's people. They will learn, they will teach, and they will grow. Even as Islam is growing and gaining power all over the globe, it won't be sustainable in the long run.
I'm amazed that these people are able to get their message out. They are true heroes of our time.
UPDATE:
When I wrote this: " There is a price to pay, but you can't go to jail, and people aren't trying to kill us.", I meant generally. There are incidences of Christian violence against atheists in the West even today. Rare, but there. And usually caused more by stupidity than the belief. Usually. So I ran across this article:
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/03/15/texas-man-allegedly-killed-soldier-for-not-believing-in-god/
Not really indicative of much except that the alleged perps were stupid and insane.
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