The “Apostate Blogger” Project

It occurred to me that one way of opening Islamic societies up is to obtain greater visibility for people like me who have rejected Islam: Apostates. Naturally, Muslims aren’t going to promote our presence, so we have to.

I’m going to start a new blogroll, linking to blogs written by apostates from Islam. I think it’s admirable that out of such a repressive religion, people are nevertheless choosing to speak up. They have my support, even if I don’t agree with all their views.

If you are an apostate from Islam and have a blog (and obviously, if you don’t object to being on my blogroll), please drop a comment here and I will add you.

All apostate blogs (and some notable Muslim apostates and websites) will be listed in the sidebar under “Other Apostates.”

43 Responses

  1. totaltransformation, on February 17th, 2007 at 4:52 pm Said:

    You have a very interesting blog, and something many people need to hear about. Stay strong.

    BTW are you worried about receiving any death threats for you apostasy?

    -J. Kaiser

  2. apostate, on February 17th, 2007 at 5:01 pm Said:

    …are you worried about receiving any death threats for you apostasy?

    I haven’t received any so far. I’m not worried, but I’m cautious. I live in a country with actual laws. I’d be worried if I were in a Muslim country.

  3. totaltransformation, on February 17th, 2007 at 5:07 pm Said:

    I hope you remain safe, from what I have heard what you are doing can be very dangerous. Doesn’t Islamic law call for the execution of apostates?

    I have read your blog long enough to know you are an atheist. Despite that I hope you don’t mind if I include your continued safety in my prayers- if I am right it’s good news for you, and if you are right it doesn’t matter anyway. :-)

    I will be sure to keep checking in on your blog. It gives an incredibly interesting view point.

    -J. Kaiser

  4. apostate, on February 17th, 2007 at 5:11 pm Said:

    Pray away, J. I appreciate the sentiment. :)

    Yes, Islamic “law” calls for the execution of apostates. But I’m not in a Muslim country and I don’t socialize with Muslims, so I guess I’m safe enough.

    Life is dangerous, so I don’t stress this danger more than that of crossing the street against the light while trying to chase down a bus.

  5. MA Khan, on February 18th, 2007 at 4:27 am Said:

    Hi there, great blog. Pls visit us at islam-watch.org run by a group of ex-Muslims. Feel free to forward some of your essays to our site. We will publish them with a link your site, which shoud help boost there readership of your site.

    -MA Khan

  6. apostate, on February 18th, 2007 at 8:50 am Said:

    MA Khan, appreciate it! I will send something along.

  7. Saul Wall, on February 18th, 2007 at 10:10 pm Said:

    Do you have a blog in Arabic or another language of the Islamic world? As much as I love to hear the views of people from other cultures in my own language, I often worry that so many of the people who need to hear opinions such as yours are shut out by the language barrier.

    I have often heard about how Arabic nations, due to the Islamic grip on culture, have a very slow rate of translation of the works of other cultures. It would seem to me that one way to make a great impact on the world is to get as many of the works of enlightenment authors translated into Arabic and made available in a format that is easily accessed and not easily censored (like image files). Internet cafes are popping up all over the Middle East so if the West is going to compete with zealots and the like we ought to be doing a better job of explaining out values. Let them know that there is something to the West beyond Brittany Spears photos, and Larry King with his pet psychics.

    But I digress. I like you blog so far.

  8. apostate, on February 18th, 2007 at 10:21 pm Said:

    Saul: Thanks for the comment.

    I don’t blog in any other language. I have actually never researched how to go about writing on the Internet in, say, another script. I’ve tried to read Urdu blogs hosted by the BBC, but the type is pretty hard to read.

    Personally, I feel English is more or less a global medium of communication now, especially on the Internet. No doubt, this is very anglo-centric of me, but I find English an elegant easy-to-learn and extremely expressive language which most people in the literate world understand to some degree.

    In any event, it’s the language I know best.

    You’re right that Arab countries don’t translate books into Arabic with much frequency. Censorship is an issue that takes precedence over translation though. For instance, when I was in Saudi, I couldn’t find any books on philosophy in large English bookstores – they were banned.

    Traveling outside Saudi Arabia, things are a little better. The Internet is not so rigidly controlled, nor are books banned with as heavy a hand. Many Muslim countries have their own famous apostates writing in the native language – Taslima Nasreen in Bangladesh and Nawal Al Saadawi in Egypt are two examples.

    And I would love it if I could make our own leaders read the greats of Western enlightenment so they can figure out what our values are – because we’re losing sight of them here in the West.

  10. apostate, on February 20th, 2007 at 12:38 pm Said:

    Thanks, Esra’a. I will add those.

  11. Abdul-Quddus, on March 16th, 2007 at 6:00 am Said:

    Salaam, my sister in apostasy. ;O) I definitely wish to join The Apostate Blogger Project. You’re the reason why I created my blog. Glad to meet another former Muslim who’s an atheist. I don’t relate much to those ex-Muslims who’ve left Islaam for Christianity, though I try. What do you think of the Secular Islam Summit?

  12. apostate, on March 19th, 2007 at 11:08 am Said:

    Abdul-Quddus – I’m pleased that this blog inspired you. I put you on my blogroll a while ago. I answered your question about the Secular Islam Summit in a post.

  13. Larry Houle, on May 27th, 2007 at 12:43 am Said:

    ALLAH – A PERFECT GOD – A GOD OF REASON
    THE CREATION OF A NEW MODERN ISLAM

    There needs to be a Reformation of Islam. All peace loving Muslims who believe in the teachings of an ALLAH of PEACE AND LOVE must stand up and demand the reform of Islam. If Islam is not reformed then it is no longer a religion but a totalitarian system on a par with Nazism, Communism and Fascism. To take man’s natural Concept of ALLAH, a conception of Peace and Love and Goodness, an all Wise, all Loving ALLAH for all mankind, and turn ALLAH – by bastardizing his teachings into a murderous ALLAH of hate, death and destruction, for the creation of a totalitarian system is one of the greatest sins that can be committed against ALLAH. The greatest danger mankind faces is the smuggling of a nuclear weapon by an Islamic Fundamentalist into a major western city killing millions to the glory of ALLAH.

    In order to reform Islam you must start with the following declaration:

    ALLAH AS THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE – THE CREATOR OF ALL LIVING THINGS IS PERFECT.

    ALLAH AS A PERFECT GOD – IS A GOD OF REASON

    AS A PERFECT GOD – A GOD OF REASON – ALLAH IS ALL PEACE AND LOVE

    ALL MANKIND ARE THE CHILDREN OF ALLAH

    ALL CHILDREN OF ALLAH ARE CREATED EQUAL AND THEIR LIVES ARE SACRED TO ALLAH

    ALLAH IS NOT AN IRRATIONAL BEING. IF ALLAH IS IRRATIONAL THEN ALLAH IS NOT PERFECT AND THEREFORE SINCE ALLAH CANNOT BE IMPERFECT AN IRRATIONAL ALLAH IS NOT GOD

    The above lays the intellectual framework for an Islamic Reformation.

    All teachings in the Koran and all Islamic texts (written or verbal ) that are not the teachings of ALLAH – A PERFECT GOD – A GOD OF REASON are the teachings of man. This means that all teachings recorded in the Koran and all other Islamic texts, revelations, writings, sayings, fatwas of murder, killing, death and destruction, violence, hate, suicide bombers, violent jihad, terrorism, torture, maiming, wife beating, inferiority of woman, women as instruments of sexual pleasure in paradise, honor killings, stoning, cutting off limbs, child sex, bigotry, intolerance, slavery, inequality of infidels, inequality of any human being, that infidels can be murdered as a holy duty, that Muslims who renounce Islam can be killed, that Muslims (or anyone) who challenge the teachings of Islam can be murdered, etc are irrational AND NOT THE PERFECT TEACHINGS OF ALLAH – A PERFECT GOD – A GOD OF REASON – A GOD OF ALL LOVE AND PEACE.

    All Imams/ Fundamentalists who quote these phrases from the Koran are blaspheming against Allah.

    Osma bin laden and all other terrorists who issue Fatwas calling for death and destruction are blaspheming Allah – A PERFECT GOD – A GOD OF REASON.

    By teaching young Muslims that ALLAH IS A PERFECT GOD – A GOD OF REASON – that all the teachings of ALLAH – A PERFECT GOD MUST BE PERFECT we will occupy the moral and intellectual unassailable high ground. All the above mentioned teachings of Jihad, killing of infidels, terrorism etc are sins against ALLAH – A PERFECT GOD – A GOD OF LOVE AND PEACE. No ALLAH who is ALLAH would ever preach that killing and murdering of any human being in his name will be rewarded by accession to paradise. You cannot climb to heaven on the corpses of the murdered. All such teachings are the commands of evil men and false prophets. If ALLAH commanded that infidels (or any other human being) be killed then he would be irrational and evil and no longer perfect – no longer GOD.

    This is the only way to rescue Islam from these brutal killers

    Any Muslim who refuses to accept that Allah is A PERFECT GOD – A GOD OF REASON – and refuses to follow the teachings of Allah – A GOD OF REASON are no longer Muslims. This means that those who support suicide bombers – if they continue to support this evil – are not Muslims – they are blaspheming against the very essence of ALLAH – A GOD OF PEACE AND LOVE – A GOD OF REASON. Any Muslim who commits acts of violence, acts of terrorism, acts of violent jihad in the name of Allah are not Muslims – they’re just MURDERERS. All teachings in the Koran that are not of ALLAH – A GOD OF REASON – blaspheme ALLAH and are evil. They must be renounced and denounced totally and completely WITHOUT EQUIVOCATION. These teachings must be removed from the Koran and a NEW MODERN KORAN published. The publication of a MODERN KORAN will be an instant worldwide best seller.

    In this way you can start to drive a stake through the heart of the evil irrational Islamic teachings.

    Sincerely,

    Larry Houle
    http://www.godofreason.com
    E-mail: intermedusa@yahoo.com

  14. torduange, on July 25th, 2007 at 10:53 pm Said:

    you inspired the renaming of my own blog, actually. although i am an apostate from the secular humanist values that permeate my own country and which i still struggle with.

    anyway, i look forward to seeing your archives fill up even more.

  15. The OC Apastate, on August 20th, 2007 at 8:37 pm Said:

    I love your blog. It was one of the blogs that inspired my own apostate blog. Keep up the good work!

  16. Xmuslim, on September 6th, 2007 at 9:11 pm Said:

    Hi,
    I was thinking about starting a site on which I can share my experiences with others and get them to come out of the “blind faith” mode that they are in so that they can make the best out of this life. I came across your site and it inspired me so much that I signed up and wrote my first post at this late hour.

    Thanks
    Xmuslim.

  17. apostate, on September 7th, 2007 at 8:05 am Said:

    XMuslim, Torduange, and OC Apastate, thanks. I’m very glad you were inspired. I will check out your blogs and add you to the apostate blogroll. Good luck!

  18. curtz, on September 14th, 2007 at 2:58 am Said:

    > Hello,
    We have finished our new site
    Islam-documents.org (which is the improvment of the other islam-documents.com, based in Tunisia).

    There is thousands of texts (around 10 000) about the origins of islam, with a critical, humanist, and scientist view. It is now the bigger “sourcebook” on that subject.

    A new version will be available soon.

    All is in french.

    Bye. Take care.

    > GC

  19. Belachan, on September 14th, 2007 at 9:37 am Said:

    Hi Apostate,

    I admire your courage and intelligence. I always wondered how Muslims (especially women) could continue their loyalty when they know that Muhammad raped, plundered, stole, killed, kept slaves, and lied. He broke every commandment (Biblical) and moral value that mankind is expected to live by — regardless of religious background. I now know that there are some of you smart women out there and I am so proud of you.

    I was born in Malaysia and I can honestly say that I am terrified of where that country is heading. I have come up with a blog to express my feelings and I would love for you to show my link as I continue to be more dedicated in speaking up for the non-Muslims in Malaysia. I have relatives who are Muslims and I would hope that they would wake up and start to THINK!

    Always remember that even if your family has abandoned you, you will always have some of us. Feel free to contact me as I live in San Jose. If you need a friend, I am here!

  20. apostate, on September 14th, 2007 at 2:44 pm Said:

    Belachan – Thanks for the kind words!

    I will add you to the apostate blogroll, but it is not clear to me if you are an apostate from Islam or if you were raised as a Christian.

    As you may have noticed, this is an atheist blog, and I think, honestly, that your arguments against Islam are a double-edged sword. Be careful you are not flattering yourself that Christianity is exempt from the criticisms you level against Islam. Myself, I find them both about the same.

    But I do support anyone’s right to follow whatever religion they want: And even though Christianity, in its time, was just as intolerant of dissidents and apostates as Islam is now, that isn’t the case in most secular Christian-majority countries today, and certainly, ex-Muslims who have left Islam to embrace Christianity, deserve that freedom.

  21. Belachan, on September 14th, 2007 at 4:26 pm Said:

    You are right. I was born and raised a Catholic although one of my aunt married a Muslim man which resulted in some of my relatives being Muslims.

    My interest (especially in my blog) is not to preach but to point out the mistakes of the Malaysian government in taking huge steps backwards in time by attempting to impose the Shariah law on the heads of those of us who cannot possible be subjected to specific religious laws.

    There are mistakes that the Christians have done (ages ago) but no Christian country (NOW) is trying to impose their Christian tenets on those who do not follow their practices.

    The other is to point out the inconsistencies in Muhammad’s teachings. Every religion in the world has come about attempting to make us better human beings with morals and values and inner growth. Islam is the only one that was started by a man such as Muhammad who attacked innocent people with the sole purpose of looting, plundering, killing all the men and then dividing the women and children as slaves. There was also the attempt to convert people by holding a sword over their heads.

    As to your lack of family support, I can relate to that because I lost both my parents by the time I was 18 so I know what it feels like.

  22. apostate, on September 15th, 2007 at 2:22 pm Said:

    There are mistakes that the Christians have done (ages ago) but no Christian country (NOW) is trying to impose their Christian tenets on those who do not follow their practices.

    Except in the United States.

    Also, I don’t see how the past of Christianity — just because it’s now mostly over — can absolve Christianity itself of evil.

  23. Belachan, on September 15th, 2007 at 8:14 pm Said:

    Because Christianity does not preach evil. Christianity taught us to love our neighbor. No where in the Bible does Jesus teach us to do evil.

  24. apostate, on September 15th, 2007 at 9:41 pm Said:

    Belachan, I’ve got the word of a billion Muslims that Islam doesn’t preach evil. I have just as much reason to believe them as you. I have nothing further to say on this. I’m an atheist for a reason. You’re preaching to the wrong person.

  25. extecymn, on December 6th, 2007 at 12:14 am Said:

    hm.. thank you man

  26. SyncReer, on February 16th, 2008 at 10:02 pm Said:

    Mine are ineffectual too, pointed out Kath, Which is handy.

  27. sam, on March 7th, 2008 at 10:02 am Said:

    your life, blog and mind are fascinating

  28. Freedom, on March 11th, 2008 at 7:41 am Said:

    Apostate You are a beautiful lady and I can certainly understand why you would be an Apostate I myself am I have rejected religion altogether at this point because I believe nature and human beings deserve better then religion has to offer…….

    The fact is the greatest evils ever committed were committed in the name of Allah or what ever deity and it was called good simply because it was done in the name of Allah yet there is no greater evil then that evil which is blamed on good religion has caused so much suffering sense its birth the world would be better off if religion had never been invented but instead a movement to wellbeing had been.

    Larry Houle Muhammad was a sick violant twisted man and islam is all based on him it actually worships him not Allah you would have to be able to go back in history and somehow reform Muhammad to reform islam! And that can not be done!

  29. shafqat, on July 3rd, 2008 at 1:45 am Said:

    Helloo…this is Shafqat Aziz from Pakistan..nice to meet you..its a nice effort…..i,m doing the same in my humble capacity but under tremendous pressure after denouncing Islam…though no big threat for life yet but being terminated thrice in a years by employers means so much suffering here in this insecured society. Anyhow i,m under presure but not lost all of my hopes..

    be in touch…regards

  30. Atheist Mohammed, on July 12th, 2008 at 9:06 am Said:

    Dear Apostate,
    I’ve gone through your blog and I truly find it very exciting. The idea your argument for bringing ex-Muslims bloggers together is very interesting and should be supported. Feel free to include my blog in your list and please keep the good job you are doing

    Regards
    Mohammed

  31. Tauriq Moosa, on July 22nd, 2008 at 2:46 am Said:

    I love this idea. I am the spokesperson for an atheist society in Cape Town, South Africa. Go ahead an add the blog I run (marchofunreason.wordpress.com)

  32. Sandy, on August 13th, 2008 at 5:12 pm Said:

    Your blog is a delightful point of light in the dark and dismal world of dogma. I felt fresh and clean after reading your words.

    I’m not an official athiest because that gives too much power to the theists. I simply don’t think theism is relevant. As hard as it is to do among the scared and huddled religious masses, I’ll keep quietly ignoring dogma and I’ll pray to god every day to save me from the christians and the muslims. Good luck on your journey. >^;^<

  33. Omair, on October 5th, 2008 at 5:13 am Said:

    Not an atheist, because to me that suggests a certainty, and any sure claim about divinity be it positive or negative is on logically precarious ground. I am against organized religion and scriptures, and all devout Muslims call me infidel, so I suppose I belong here in the ranks of ‘the apostates’.

  34. Omair, on October 5th, 2008 at 5:24 am Said:

    By the way, great blog! Been following it for months now. Loved your post on ‘why honour killings are a religious issue’.

  35. insanna, on November 27th, 2008 at 6:39 am Said:

    Hi, I like your blog, very intellectual. I’ve just started an apostate blog here, http://www.exmuslimdiaries.wordpress.com

  36. Joe, on January 9th, 2009 at 2:47 pm Said:

    Why is it significant to write about something you no longer believe in? Does Islam have some kind of invisible “tractor beam” effect on your life?

    It seems like the purpose of this blog is to look over your shoulder as opposed to looking where you are going.

    If I’d changed from Catholicism to Presbyterianism, I’d be quicker to call myself a Presbyterian instead of an ex-catholic.

    What are you (as opposed to what you are not)?

  37. Td, on January 27th, 2009 at 1:58 am Said:

    http://nizars.com/

    Another apostate for your project…

  38. oddinnuendo, on February 25th, 2009 at 4:12 am Said:

    Hey hey. Yet another apostate to add to your blogroll. This is a great idea. Adding your link too!

  39. blueish, on March 17th, 2009 at 1:11 am Said:

    Hey, I recently started blogging after years of debating if it was a good idea. I finally decided that I need to for the sake of my sanity. Thanks.

  40. Ryan, on May 25th, 2009 at 10:15 pm Said:

    Great job hustling the haters. And then you criticize the Prophet for hustling the believers.. lol… what hypocrisy!

    The beauty of this world is that good and evil both exist.. so while you continue to spread negativity, Islam encourages people to spread kindness, give to charity, etc..

    And on the contrary, Islam is not repressive, since embracing Islam I have found the freedom I have always yearned for.

    The funny part is, without Islam your cause would not exist and you would have to find another aspect of life to hate and blame your misfortunes on. What a convenient scapegoat to your lack of sound judgment and reasoning.

  42. wajahat, on June 8th, 2009 at 10:09 pm Said:

    Hay RYAN can you give me your email address i want to talk with you my email address is. I m also muslim like you
    wajahatimam@gmail.com

  43. Stat Quo, on July 4th, 2009 at 9:57 am Said:

    You may add me to your blogroll.

Leave a Reply