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Iraqis losing their faith -- literally

UPDATE: If you are the reader having problems accessing this link, please email me your address and I will email the article to you in its entirety or you can go to www.islamonline.net and enter atheism in the search field to read it for yourself.

No, they're not leaving Islam for Christianity. Some are embracing atheism and that's surprising in a country where their religion colors just about everything.

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Posted by nmclaughlin on Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 9:57 am

What do you think?

12 comment(s)

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nemo0037

October 15, 2009 - 2:21 pm EDT

In the world of Islam, leaving the religion for any other can be a death sentence. It's the same for simply dropping religion completely. However, I would venture to guess that the emotional turmoil over the latter scenario would be greater for many than the former.

What I don't find remarkable is that some people would live through the horrors of the sectarian strife that engulfed Iraq for so many years and come to the realization that religion might indeed be a major cause of the conflict, rather than providing some help in ending it.

Get A Clue

October 16, 2009 - 6:59 am EDT

I discovered by age 10 it takes a lot less energy and effort to embrace and live the truth of reality than it does to pretend and lie and ignore the very real dangers of any organized religion.

Paul Daniels

October 17, 2009 - 11:38 am EDT

Clue:

My experience is much different. My faith gives me a focus and purpose in life; one that I would not have otherwise.

Paul Daniels

October 18, 2009 - 9:53 am EDT

“Unless you assume a God, the question of life’s purpose is meaningless” – Bertrand Russell, famous athiest.

Dogwood

October 15, 2009 - 5:06 pm EDT

Nancy Would you please identify the source of your "atheist" comment. I find it hard to believe Kurds, Druse, Shia or Sunni are lining up to become atheist. Russian or Maoian thoughts are agnostic and fleeting.

kuranes

October 16, 2009 - 10:07 pm EDT

Just as a heads-up, not all atheists are Communist. As for :agnostic," Communists usually think they know the Truth, despite crushing evidence to the contrary, which puts them more in the fundamentalist camp. As for "fleeting," any thought system can be fleeting for a given individual; I've been through several myself. I do share your curiosity as to the source of Nancy's statement, which I think is unlikely to be true.

Dogwood

October 21, 2009 - 1:17 pm EDT

It has been six days since Nancy posted her "atheist" remark. She has not yet acknowleged where did it come from.

It is dangerous to misuse jihadist propaganda as an idea of thought. Infidel is a word that strokes the backs of suicide bombers.

histrion

October 22, 2009 - 9:14 am EDT

She linked to the article from her original post (the word "leaving" is a link), Dogwood. See

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&pagename=Zone-E...

Gymnaseum

October 16, 2009 - 11:28 pm EDT

Given the very real risk of being killed if found out, don't such people deserve great applause for their bravery? So often you hear that silly mantra "There are no atheists in foxholes." This certainly disproves that.

Paul Daniels

October 18, 2009 - 10:00 am EDT

I think for many, if not most muslims, their religion is cultural, and in many cases, mandatory, i.e., it is against the law to be anything else in Saudi Arabia. What I mean is that many do not come by their faith voluntarily through a search for meaning. Rather, it is something imposed upon them by virtue of their birth. Muslim countries don't share the western view that issues of conscience should be left to the individual. So, when the structures that impose the muslim faith on citizens of a state are removed, I don't think we should be surprised that some will reject the, for lack of a better term, artificially imposed religion. In a new Iraq where there is no dictator and their are certain liberties, this is certainly an outcome that one should expect.

Gymnaseum

October 20, 2009 - 12:19 am EDT

There are interesting surveys of late that show the relative movements in and out of denominations and even in and out of faith in general in the USA. However, while it may not be compulsory, much American belief is similarly "inherited", almost unthinkingly. How many people, until a major death in the family occurs, truly question their faith? Even then, probably most do not. If faith is not questioned, it cannot be said to be a chosen faith.

Paul Daniels

October 20, 2009 - 12:12 pm EDT

Gym:

Yes, there are Americans who believe that because they were born in America they are by birth, Christians. (I have seen that analysis in this very blog). As a Christian, I know that God does not have "grandchildren." Each of us is resposible for our decision to come to Christ. Going to church is not sufficient to make one a Christian, although it sure helps. What Christ requires is that we be born again (this is what He told Nicodemus). What that means is that we are a new creature, dead to the old selfish man; one who cares as much about our brothers (and sisters) we do ourselves. Putting away pride is the hardest thing to do, but we do it because of what Christ first did for us - He died in our place and in our stead to pay a debt that we could never repay.

Unfortunately, the message of salvation has been watered down in America leaving many unsure what exactly it means to be a Christian.

I don't agree that a faith is not a chosen one unless it is questioned (at least I would not formulate it in those words). What I would say is that people should search for meaning in their life, but many do not. They seek to fill their lives with things like money, fame, drugs, etc. Man has a God-sized hole in his heart that can only be filled by, you guessed it, God.