Hi
OP - November 08, 2010, 09:42 PM
Hi,
I hope you don't mind reading this overly verbose introduction. I started with the desire to write a couple brief paragraphs but it extended a bit longer than anticipated.
I discovered this site after watching an inspiring video by Nessrriinn. I've been an atheist for most of my life and, since I don't see myself as having 'abandoned' religion, there was an initial inclination to just read a couple posts here and then move on. In recent years, I've lurked on a variety of religious and non-religious forums, hoping to gather snapshots of the diversity of opinion and ideology. The free-thinking camps I've frequented tend to be composed of many ex-Christians, a smaller number of life-long agnostics/atheists and the occasional Christian apologist but rarely any ex-Muslims or Muslims. I wanted to know what the believing outsiders were thinking.
Religious perspectives have been of great interest to me since my early youth. To me, the human hand in scripture was always extremely probable. That's why it has been baffling to me that so many people take this bible/Quran stuff so seriously. As a teen, I used to spend time discussing religion with Christian friends wondering if I could identify the utility of willful self-deception. One devout Christian was honest enough to share his primary reason for believing - that having faith makes one stronger. That kind of frank opinion was one I could almost respect. Further, I could see much value coming out of religious affiliation, community and ritual. Sure, folks could go around their communities musing about the truth of mythology while acknowledging to the more learned that such stories are but metaphors.
From the level-headed outlook of my fellow Canadian theist friends, religion seemed friendly and pretty innocuous. What I didn't realize is that, if I were to travel south into the heart of the neighbouring country, people actually believe this stuff. An even greater shock would later occur in a random conversation with a Muslim neighbour. I silently observed his unflinching lecture on the literal truth of creationism, Noah's Ark, the healing powers of Jesus, the evil conspiracies of Jews and non-believers, and the imminent return of Imam Medhi. Although I was dumbfounded by such statements, I appreciate that he was willing to have such a dialog with me. I've met other pious Muslims who refused to even shake my hand.
Encounters like these helped me realize first-hand the dangers of dogmatic religion. Religious indoctrination of children, promotion of divisiveness and deprivation of critical thinking are all evils in my opinion. Hatred and devotion to ignorance can be witnessed on a daily basis in the real world and on some Islamic sites. It seems that organized Islamic ideologies have much tighter controls over doctrinal questioning by it's adherents than other religions. Driven by fear, family and group-think pressures, I can understand why so many born into the religion stay within the fold.
In an increasingly globalized and fragile world, I see the necessity of cosmopolitanism. Ethnic and ideological tribalism ought be relegated to the fringes. In order to do so, brave and open-mined individuals need to champion the merits of critical thinking, freedom, equality, pluralism and integration. I'm delighted to see that, against many obstacles, members on this site have managed to break free of the spell. I hope to stick around for a while to hear these stories, learn from you and interact.
Topic: Hi