Just a quick hello & intro
OP - June 05, 2017, 04:26 PM
Hi everyone,
Just wanted to say a quick hello. I'm an ex Muslim (agnostic atheist) originally from Chechnya but living in western Europe most of my life (actually emigrated back in the Soviet era). I've been free from religion and superstition in general for the last two years, although it's only been a year since I've become comfortable (happy even) self-identifying as an atheist.
So in terms of Islamic belief and praxis, I was basically on the whole neo-traditionalist tasawwuf tip apart from a brief pseudo-Salafi/Ikhwani tip when I first decided to become a "born again" Muslim whilst attending university 20 years ago (wish I could go back in time and talk some rational sense into my younger self!).
My reasons for leaving Islam (and organised religion in general) I think are pretty much the same as most people here: the theological incoherence of and lack of proof for the doctrinal claims of Islam, the highly unjust legal system, the problematic history and present day state of affairs (all that jazz basically).
Leaving Islam has made me rather antithetical to much of traditional Chechen culture which centres around the customary law Chechens call adat. Adat itself predates Islam (in fact the Chechens weren't fully Islamised until around the early to mid 19th century) but has much of the same ultra-patriarchal themes running through it as Shariah. There are other problems with the culture such as clan loyalty and blood vengeance which of course predated Islam but in my opinion the religion and the customs seem to strengthen each other in a sort of twisted feedback loop. I envy the Kurdish (specifically the Turkish and Syrian part, not so much in Barzani's northern Iraqi fiefdom) and Amazigh nationalist movements to be honest, they seem to be genuinely secular and dare I say progressive (certainly when it comes to things like gender relations and generally doing away with oppressive/cruel religious and cultural customs).
What else? In terms of being open about my atheism, it's not a problem with my immediate family (especially with most family members over 50) as they are very secular products of Soviet modernity. Frankly, they thought I was batshit insane for getting heavily into religion whilst living in western Europe (they totally have a point). The real problem arises with relatives 30 and below, many are obsessed with Islam to a worrying degree (so I have to tip-toe around some of them with my criticisms of Islam and religion in general). In terms of suffering for my apostasy (other than being angry with myself for believing in evidence free nonsense for the last 20 years), as a straight Chechen male living in western Europe (with a secular family to boot) I've had it easy (haven't had to pay any real price). My deepest sympathies (for what it's worth) to anyone here who's had to pay a heavy emotional and material cost for their apostasy.
Lastly, I must give a massive thank you to the contributors to the Quranic studies today thread. The papers you've linked to (and your personal posts) have been utterly fascinating and eye-opening. Much kudos to you all! Makes me wish this forum existed in that late 90s tbh. The only downside of that thread is that I'm spending too much time reading all the wonderful papers you've put there when I have exam revision and a dissertation to be getting on with!
Long shot (or maybe not): any Chechen atheists here?
Topic: Just a quick hello & intro