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Theme Changer

 Topic: Hello From Kent

 (Read 5142 times)
  • 12 Next page « Previous thread | Next thread »
  • Hello From Kent
     OP - August 07, 2014, 06:43 PM
    Hi  Everyone,

    I'm not an Ex Muslim and don't really consider myself an ex anything as I stopped believing in god when I was about 7/8. Its was fairly easy as my family were believers but not in any strong way, so as soon as I took the time to analyse things it seemed obvious to me.

    I have become more anti-theist over the years though and it become more personal recently since my ex became very religious and started to try and push it onto my son. I never talked to him about my atheism, I just wanted him to work out what he believed for himself.

    Love reading the forum's and its very educational as whilst I have Muslim friends its really only one who I discuss religion with and she always get very angry with me and trots out the usual lines.

    I have questions and opinions and whilst I don't envisage me ever taking up a religion, I think knowledge, communication and debate are priceless.

    Richard  Smiley



    "Take the risk of thinking for yourself much more happiness truth beauty and wisdom will come to you that way" -Christopher Hitchens
  • Hello From Kent
     Reply #1 - August 07, 2014, 06:50 PM
    Hey Richard,welcome to the forum.
    My mind runs, I can never catch it even if I get a head start.
  • Hello From Kent
     Reply #2 - August 07, 2014, 06:54 PM
    Hi Richard! Welcome aboard!  parrot
  • Hello From Kent
     Reply #3 - August 07, 2014, 06:55 PM
    Thanks guys Smiley
    "Take the risk of thinking for yourself much more happiness truth beauty and wisdom will come to you that way" -Christopher Hitchens
  • Hello From Kent
     Reply #4 - August 07, 2014, 06:56 PM
    No problem. What do you find most interesting Rich?
  • Hello From Kent
     Reply #5 - August 07, 2014, 07:05 PM
    hello mate, welcome to the forum
    "we can smell traitors and country haters"


    Quote from: arX on May 01, 2011, 03:33 AM
    God is Love.
    Love is Blind. Stevie Wonder is blind. Therefore, Stevie Wonder is God.

  • Hello From Kent
     Reply #6 - August 07, 2014, 07:14 PM
    Welcome. parrot
    `But I don't want to go among mad people,' Alice remarked.
     `Oh, you can't help that,' said the Cat: `we're all mad here. I'm mad.  You're mad.'
     `How do you know I'm mad?' said Alice.
     `You must be,' said the Cat, `or you wouldn't have come here.'
  • Hello From Kent
     Reply #7 - August 07, 2014, 07:16 PM
    Lillyesque- I guess its mainly reading thoughts and opinions from people brought up as Muslims that I've never heard save for on TV debates.. although ex Muslims are probably more limited.  Ayaan Hirsi Ali is the one that springs to mind although  I am sure there are more.
    I've never actually met or spoken to an ex Muslim and of my friends certainly found them reluctant to introduce me to their families.
    Whats more, what I think I know about Islam has tended to come from television. How can I really judge the likes of Christopher Hitchens ideas seeing as he's never lived as Muslim or that the views of Muslims whether moderate or more extreme are the real Islam.
    I think if I'm being honest I find it really easy to debate religion with people if they are Christians as I know more than most of them about what their books say.  
    A friend of mine is a drinker, gay(and lives with her girlfriend and family) and she has also slept with me, yet her family both here in London and over in UAE have no idea she even leaves the house without her hair covered. She is the one who gets very angry about my atheism. I do however also understand that if she were to reveal her lifestyle to her family she's pretty sure they would disown her...and she loves them. I've never had to deal with anything like that in my life. My family couldn't care less if I believe or not. It must take a lot of guts for a muslim to come out as an atheist in most cases.
    "Take the risk of thinking for yourself much more happiness truth beauty and wisdom will come to you that way" -Christopher Hitchens
  • Hello From Kent
     Reply #8 - August 07, 2014, 07:33 PM
    Yup, your friends situation sounds very sad and very very much like a two-faced existence; I know it well.

    I myself am the gf of an ex-Muslim so I am kind of outside of things but find myself also more understood here cause of my experiences with his family.
  • Hello From Kent
     Reply #9 - August 07, 2014, 07:49 PM
    Do his family know about his atheism and about you?

    "Take the risk of thinking for yourself much more happiness truth beauty and wisdom will come to you that way" -Christopher Hitchens
  • Hello From Kent
     Reply #10 - August 07, 2014, 08:04 PM
    They know about me; not very happy about it and keep saying 'is she going to convert', it ain't gonna happen.

    They do not know about his apostasy but he has made it clear that he 'doesn't share the same morals and values they do' and he is 'of a different culture'.

    His brother has said he doesn't believe and his mum was upset and said 'it is just a phase'; they haven't shunned him though and his dad says 'we can only guide you as best we can and then it is your decision' about things in life.

    Their dad is far more reasonable than their mum, in part cause where he works he comes into contact with tonnes of people everywhere. He has also admitted that Islam was in large part 'spread by the sword'.
  • Hello From Kent
     Reply #11 - August 07, 2014, 08:05 PM
    They have said that I am a good person though and their mum says stuff like 'non-Muslims are better Muslims than Muslims'.
  • Hello From Kent
     Reply #12 - August 07, 2014, 08:21 PM
    It must be difficult for both of you, but to an extent also for his parents who whatever the beliefs genuinely think its the right thing(To be a muslim). I think also you are luckier than many. A lot of Islam is also cultural as well I suspect. A friend of mine Shabia at college came from a Pakistani family, who couldn't and also saw absolutely no reason to speak English or mix with anyone outside of their community. Some of that was possibly Islam, but a lot was more cultural.
    "Take the risk of thinking for yourself much more happiness truth beauty and wisdom will come to you that way" -Christopher Hitchens
  • Hello From Kent
     Reply #13 - August 07, 2014, 08:48 PM
    Atheism is irrational? If there was no God then how did the world come? By itself?

    If there was no God - then why do we die? Eh? Answer that one, SMARTY PANTS.

    Well it's you're choice - to BURN IN HELL.

    Don't say you weren't warned.

    Oh and welcome.  Smiley
  • Hello From Kent
     Reply #14 - August 07, 2014, 09:04 PM
    Im not sure how to take that?   ;-)

    Fortunately the people who do throw those sort of questions out don't debate rationally, they use circular arguments, which whilst being frustrating aren't of any intellectual value.

    The Hell thing has always puzzled me when ... if Satan runs hell and he's gods adversary, why would he punish you for not following god? I suspect if Hell existed it is pretty much like a never ending  stag weekend

    And thanks for the welcome
     Smiley
    "Take the risk of thinking for yourself much more happiness truth beauty and wisdom will come to you that way" -Christopher Hitchens
  • Hello From Kent
     Reply #15 - August 07, 2014, 09:30 PM
    Quote from: RJS1978 on August 07, 2014, 08:21 PM
    It must be difficult for both of you, but to an extent also for his parents who whatever the beliefs genuinely think its the right thing(To be a muslim). I think also you are luckier than many. A lot of Islam is also cultural as well I suspect. A friend of mine Shabia at college came from a Pakistani family, who couldn't and also saw absolutely no reason to speak English or mix with anyone outside of their community. Some of that was possibly Islam, but a lot was more cultural.


    Yup, in part why I don't consider such people to be truly part of Britain/Europe cause they form enclaves.
  • Hello From Kent
     Reply #16 - August 07, 2014, 10:09 PM
    Before Islam many of the middle eastern areas were very enlightened and sophisticated, certainly in comparison to much of Europe. I think that Islam came along and stopped them from progressing, it was a social hand brake had been applied. 
    "Take the risk of thinking for yourself much more happiness truth beauty and wisdom will come to you that way" -Christopher Hitchens
  • Hello From Kent
     Reply #17 - August 07, 2014, 11:11 PM
    Welcome aboard Richard Smiley
    "Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused."
  • Hello From Kent
     Reply #18 - August 07, 2014, 11:21 PM
     thnkyu
    "Take the risk of thinking for yourself much more happiness truth beauty and wisdom will come to you that way" -Christopher Hitchens
  • Hello From Kent
     Reply #19 - August 08, 2014, 01:06 AM
    If you're not an ex-muslim what you are doing here?





    I joke. Welcome!
    أشهد أن لا إله
  • Hello From Kent
     Reply #20 - August 08, 2014, 01:11 AM
     parrot Welcome!
    Don't let Hitler have the street.
  • Hello From Kent
     Reply #21 - August 08, 2014, 02:44 AM
    Hi Richard. Welcome to the forums, and have a rabbit!  bunny
    Quote from: yeezevee on February 11, 2016, 02:05 PM
    how fuck works without shit??


    Let's Play Chess!

    harakaat, friend, RIP
  • Hello From Kent
     Reply #22 - August 08, 2014, 12:09 PM
     Afro
    "Take the risk of thinking for yourself much more happiness truth beauty and wisdom will come to you that way" -Christopher Hitchens
  • Hello From Kent
     Reply #23 - August 08, 2014, 02:38 PM
    Welcome, Richard!  parrot
    The future is full of thrilling possibilities.
  • Hello From Kent
     Reply #24 - August 08, 2014, 03:45 PM
     Afro
    "Take the risk of thinking for yourself much more happiness truth beauty and wisdom will come to you that way" -Christopher Hitchens
  • Hello From Kent
     Reply #25 - August 08, 2014, 04:08 PM
    I find it interesting your friend has such a problem with your atheism when she self identifies as a muslim and lives a life and is a sexuality that islamically will see her tortured for eternity. Cognitive dissidence at it's best.
    `But I don't want to go among mad people,' Alice remarked.
     `Oh, you can't help that,' said the Cat: `we're all mad here. I'm mad.  You're mad.'
     `How do you know I'm mad?' said Alice.
     `You must be,' said the Cat, `or you wouldn't have come here.'
  • Hello From Kent
     Reply #26 - August 08, 2014, 05:44 PM
    She claims that she will only be punished for a certain amount of time., then allowed into paradise, bit like a prison term. I can't argue that point as whilst I think I know more about religion than the average person, I would claim relative ignorance of Islam. Is this a concept you are aware of?
    I think she is struggling quite a bit which is why she gets very angry. As an example with Israel, her views border on anti-Semitism(although I daren't suggest that) and is totally closed to any blame being apportioned to Hamas. I think she's having real issues in her head but if I suggest conflicting emotions I get shouted down!! :-)
    "Take the risk of thinking for yourself much more happiness truth beauty and wisdom will come to you that way" -Christopher Hitchens
  • Hello From Kent
     Reply #27 - August 08, 2014, 06:43 PM
    The quran makes no mention of hell being a place of limited torment that I can recall. It's eternal. It's actually really fucked up, the descriptions are very vivid in islam. It actually describes how you'll be thirsty and be forced to drink boiling water, how you'll have your skin ripped off only to have new skin replace the old so the pain is always fresh (no dulling of the sensors), beaten with iron maces, etc. Seriously fucked up shit.
    `But I don't want to go among mad people,' Alice remarked.
     `Oh, you can't help that,' said the Cat: `we're all mad here. I'm mad.  You're mad.'
     `How do you know I'm mad?' said Alice.
     `You must be,' said the Cat, `or you wouldn't have come here.'
  • Hello From Kent
     Reply #28 - August 08, 2014, 06:49 PM
    I think you can make the argument that islam itself is anti-sematic. On the one hand jews and christians are referred to as "People of the Book". Islam doesn't consider itself quite a separation of the previous faiths, but as a continuation of them. I myself find when I read the quran that I often get the impression the authors expect the readers to be familiar with the torah and gospels. But Mo really fucking hated the jews in later life. He wiped out entire villages, enslaved the women and girls, and it even says that a jew will run to hide behind a tree or a rock, and the rock will come to life and say "O muslim! There is a jew behind me! Come kill him!"
    `But I don't want to go among mad people,' Alice remarked.
     `Oh, you can't help that,' said the Cat: `we're all mad here. I'm mad.  You're mad.'
     `How do you know I'm mad?' said Alice.
     `You must be,' said the Cat, `or you wouldn't have come here.'
  • Hello From Kent
     Reply #29 - August 08, 2014, 08:21 PM
    I am aware of the rock verse, its come up a few times recently when discussing Hamas's true ambitions.  Lets be honest, OT god is not a nice chap, its full of some undeniably immoral stories. What does a kid learn from the story of Noah's ark? He created man, knew they wouldn't be good, so decides to kill the entire world population(Save The Noah's), all of the women and children and all the animals(Obviously the sea life and the water birds got a free pass) on the entire planet and start a genetically dangerous in-breeding project with 8 members of one family who've just risked life and limb for 40 days trying to stop the lions getting into the antelope pen managing to avoid all the poisonous inhabitants from stinging or biting them. They are now told to get fucking because they have to re-populate the world.

    I do suspect however its a lot easier for me to express that opinion to a Christian that tell a Muslim that Mo was a blood thirsty warlord who married a 6 year old. Wink
    "Take the risk of thinking for yourself much more happiness truth beauty and wisdom will come to you that way" -Christopher Hitchens
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