A Note from Marini

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Jan 03, 2007

Hi all,

I just want to share a brief note I wrote to a Muslim friend and this is for everyone who is in the same situation being challenged about their belief by non-Muslim friends as well as those like me who have freed themselves from the fetters because they were once challenged themselves.

Don't you see? Your reaction is the exact reaction I showed when another person challenges me about my previous belief in Islam. It is an emotional subject, to which you reacted as I did; I got defensive and shot back with responses that were quite emotional, trying to debunk the challenger and accusing him of trying to force their beliefs onto me. Now, I have crossed over that line.

I must make it clear that I am not forcing anyone or imposing my views on anyone. I only want to explain my point of views just as how one should explain when he or she is asked to explain in the first place! When I try my best to give my explanations to you because you have asked me to, you then become defensive and accusative, saying that I am forcing you to accept my views! How typical, and how fascinating, really, to see that religion could be such a powerful force that could make one so irrational. In most cases, the discussion only degenerates into an ad hominem argument, either taunting me if I am actually a qualified expert to explain the Koran or that I am one against millions of Muslims and so I must be more wrong than the millions of Muslims in this world.

From my experience so far, the Muslims whom I have talked who say 'they will go read the book some more first' (to try and prove me wrong, but I think more importantly not to prove me wrong, but to prove the religion wrong) only confirms my opinion that they have not read the book and understood the book so well and they have become so defensive and so self-assured already. And to justify their lack of knowledge or reading, they only say neither anyone nor I myself can understand the book without the help of teachers or experts. They just cannot follow the discussion and only give me the standard response of contexts, biased Orientalist arguments, the Koran is perfect and infallible, and all kinds of sophistries.

Looking back, as a non-believer myself, an apostate, a sinner in the eyes of Islam, a free human being, at the reactions of Muslims friends when I try to explain to them my views, I realize that they were being just like me back then and I can only marvel at the transition I have made. I realize that in order to understand and discuss reasonably, one must look at a religion, or any topics at hand, impartially without always assuming that it is right and must be able to analyze calmly. I realize that most Muslims are incapable of doing just that, just as I was incapable of it myself before. And for the less impassionate Muslims, they would only refer me to texts and several different versions of the same materials but not explaining to me the verses and issues which I asked of them.

Now, I only see the same reaction over and over again when I try to discuss Islam and the Koran. I see the old me in them. The only difference is that I have succeeded to challenge myself and break away from this veil of ignorance and stubborn faith that has held me back from reason and independent thinking for so many years since childhood. One thing I realize is with faith and belief, there is often incapability to question and reason, and insofar as there is such incapability or unwillingness, whatever discussions we may share will just lead to nowhere.

Thank you

--
MARINI




Dear Marini,

Congratulations, and yes you are so right. I hope your muslim friends can see as well.
I post this without adding many words so that your words can speak directly and clearly to our muslim brothers, sisters, and friends. May the new year bring freedom to many many of them. Welcome to freedom, and be safe.

with best wishes,
doubtless.