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ltux's review
5.0
Such an amazing and brave look at religion, and especially such a potentially volatile religion. It really (not surprisingly) struck me how much of what he said can be associated with ANY major religion (looking at you Christianity). Really enjoyed his perspective and insights. Understanding our fellow humans a little better. Great book... highly recommend... wish it was a required read for many/all... especially those involved in foreign affairs.
branch_c's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of the most rational discussions of Islam that I've encountered, and it deserves to be widely read, since it would be unfortunate if the rise of the current clown-in-chief of the US allows the extreme right to hijack the conversation about Islam even more than it already has.
As Rizvi says in this book:
"...it's crucial to emphasize the difference between criticism of Islam and anti-Muslim bigotry. The first targets an ideology. The second targets human beings. This is an obvious, significant distinction, yet both are frequently lumped together under the unfortunate, reductive umbrella term 'Islamophobia.' Again, human beings have rights and are entitled to respect. Ideas, beliefs, and books don't and aren't." (p. 137)
Conservatives should find much to agree with in this book, when it comes speaking honestly about Islam and its role in inspiring terrorism. They should also keep in mind, however, that people like Rizvi, who were raised in a Muslim environment, are exactly the people with the knowledge and potential to make a difference in this area. Therefore the West needs to accept, embrace and engage with people like him rather than attempting ill-advised restrictions in a vain effort to secure the borders against Muslims. And of course religious conservatives should also examine their own beliefs in light of what Rizvi says about religion in general.
Liberals, meanwhile, should also find plenty to agree with here. Rizvi is an intelligent, educated atheist who speaks articulately and wisely in favor of freedom of speech, trust in science and inclusiveness in society. However, they should note that defense of Muslims need not extend to defense of Islam. It should go without saying, since Islam is not a race, but apparently it needs to be said: it is not racism to criticize the ideology of Islam.
As demonstrated eloquently in this book, it should be entirely acceptable in the modern world to be anti-Islam, as well as to be anti-Christian, anti-Hindu, anti-any other belief system whose adherents claim to know how God wants everyone on earth to live.
This book includes fascinating points about the history of Islam, the realities of the Muslim world today, and the interpretations of the Quran and hadith. Rizvi speaks with passion and intelligence about his own culture and its place in the global society. Highly recommended, along with The End of Faith (Harris) and Heretic (Hirsi Ali).
I'd also recommend that those who intend to criticize Islam should read the Qur'an, just as those who wish to criticize Christianity should read the Bible first, although for me at least, neither experience was enjoyable or particularly enlightening.
As Rizvi says in this book:
"...it's crucial to emphasize the difference between criticism of Islam and anti-Muslim bigotry. The first targets an ideology. The second targets human beings. This is an obvious, significant distinction, yet both are frequently lumped together under the unfortunate, reductive umbrella term 'Islamophobia.' Again, human beings have rights and are entitled to respect. Ideas, beliefs, and books don't and aren't." (p. 137)
Conservatives should find much to agree with in this book, when it comes speaking honestly about Islam and its role in inspiring terrorism. They should also keep in mind, however, that people like Rizvi, who were raised in a Muslim environment, are exactly the people with the knowledge and potential to make a difference in this area. Therefore the West needs to accept, embrace and engage with people like him rather than attempting ill-advised restrictions in a vain effort to secure the borders against Muslims. And of course religious conservatives should also examine their own beliefs in light of what Rizvi says about religion in general.
Liberals, meanwhile, should also find plenty to agree with here. Rizvi is an intelligent, educated atheist who speaks articulately and wisely in favor of freedom of speech, trust in science and inclusiveness in society. However, they should note that defense of Muslims need not extend to defense of Islam. It should go without saying, since Islam is not a race, but apparently it needs to be said: it is not racism to criticize the ideology of Islam.
As demonstrated eloquently in this book, it should be entirely acceptable in the modern world to be anti-Islam, as well as to be anti-Christian, anti-Hindu, anti-any other belief system whose adherents claim to know how God wants everyone on earth to live.
This book includes fascinating points about the history of Islam, the realities of the Muslim world today, and the interpretations of the Quran and hadith. Rizvi speaks with passion and intelligence about his own culture and its place in the global society. Highly recommended, along with The End of Faith (Harris) and Heretic (Hirsi Ali).
I'd also recommend that those who intend to criticize Islam should read the Qur'an, just as those who wish to criticize Christianity should read the Bible first, although for me at least, neither experience was enjoyable or particularly enlightening.
teuliano's review against another edition
A fascinating read as I know little about Islam. Now I'll need to read something from someone with the opposite view and try to figure out what I think as somewhere in between.
nicolet2018's review against another edition
3.0
The title caught my eye. How could atheist and muslim go together? Were they not the exact opposite in terms of belief?
Lately, I have been thinking about how religions like Islam and Christianity merge the beliefs with identity of a person.
How would it be like if you grew up in a family that practices Islam or Christianity and then decided you do not believe?
Is that okay?
Will you be ostracized and rejected by your family?
This book was written by a Muslim turned atheist. I felt that he gave an interesting picture of religion and why it did not make sense to him. The arguments and answers he received when he questioned what he learnt did not make sense.
The author mentions alot about the politcal situation in the Middle East and quite alot about the origins of Islam.
He raises a controversial point that critisizing a belief is not wrong. One of his strongest beliefs is that being secular can only benefit. I was really surprised to read that there is a rising number of Muslims who do not believe in the religion they grew up in.
Some parts were quite dry and boring. But I like the new perspective he brings. I found the theory on Identity Formation by Erik Erikson to be very interesting.
He raises the point that religion brings comfort to others. How can being atheist and believing in fact and reason comfort?
I liked his letter in Chapter 9. It spoke about death and how a person never really is gone through science. It was more thoughfult then I would have expected.
Now of course not everyone will agree with this. But that is okay.
Here are some quotes I liked:
"One of the ugliest and most sinister aspects of any religion is this intricate entanglement of ideology with identity, with often dore consequences for those who have the ability and the courage to successfully pry the two part."
Page 69, Chapter 3
"When it comes to how we form pur identities, birth gives us a head start. From the day we are born, we are assigned a racial or ethnic identity, a nationality, a biological sex, and often a familial religious affiliation that is obviously not belief-based just yet, but will unavoidably mark us (sometimes dramatically, as with rituals like genital circumcision).
These "inborn" identifiers are unearned attributes that we did nothing to achieve, and that nobody can take away from us."
Page 87 - 88, Chapter 4
"Then, there are the 'acquired' identifiers, those we actually earn by the way of exploration, drive, deliberation, and effort - these are markers of Marcian identity achievement.
As we evolve, we gain an education; form values and perspectives on our lives and the world based on what we learn from our experiences; earn a definitive social/or financial status in our communities by working hard and making decisions; settle into our professions; become parents, philantrophists, journalists, artists, engineers, business people, physicians, and more.
The more of this we do, the less likely we are to have foreclosed, and the less urgent our need to cling to our inborn identifiers."
Page 90, Chapter 4
"Remember, your cultural beliefs aren t really you. They are simply part of a medium you were cultured in where you were raised.
You know, deep down, that if you were born into a Hindu family, you'd probably be Hindu; and in a Christian family, you'd be Christian. You know, deep down, that your faith is really just an accident of birth. So logically speaking, it can't be aboit ideas, can it?
Ideas don't come with birth. They need to be considered, explored, and evaluated. What does come with birth, however is your sense of identity."
Page 96 - 97, Chapter 4
"Think about that for a second. Do you really think you need your religion in order to be good?"
Page 97, Chapter 4
"I would wonder why I had done this. No one had told us to behave this way in this particular situation. The man was grateful, which made us feel nice, but that isn't why we gave him our food. And we certainly didn't do it thinking it would get us any reward from God, or that we'd get punished in the afterlife if we didn't do it. It was the furthest thing from our minds. Yet we did it, because we know what it would feel like if we were in that man's position. We knew what it would feel like to be hungry, and could imagine how horrible he must have felt to be in the shape he is in. We did it because we could empathize with him."
Page 222, Chapter 9
Lately, I have been thinking about how religions like Islam and Christianity merge the beliefs with identity of a person.
How would it be like if you grew up in a family that practices Islam or Christianity and then decided you do not believe?
Is that okay?
Will you be ostracized and rejected by your family?
This book was written by a Muslim turned atheist. I felt that he gave an interesting picture of religion and why it did not make sense to him. The arguments and answers he received when he questioned what he learnt did not make sense.
The author mentions alot about the politcal situation in the Middle East and quite alot about the origins of Islam.
He raises a controversial point that critisizing a belief is not wrong. One of his strongest beliefs is that being secular can only benefit. I was really surprised to read that there is a rising number of Muslims who do not believe in the religion they grew up in.
Some parts were quite dry and boring. But I like the new perspective he brings. I found the theory on Identity Formation by Erik Erikson to be very interesting.
He raises the point that religion brings comfort to others. How can being atheist and believing in fact and reason comfort?
I liked his letter in Chapter 9. It spoke about death and how a person never really is gone through science. It was more thoughfult then I would have expected.
Now of course not everyone will agree with this. But that is okay.
Here are some quotes I liked:
"One of the ugliest and most sinister aspects of any religion is this intricate entanglement of ideology with identity, with often dore consequences for those who have the ability and the courage to successfully pry the two part."
Page 69, Chapter 3
"When it comes to how we form pur identities, birth gives us a head start. From the day we are born, we are assigned a racial or ethnic identity, a nationality, a biological sex, and often a familial religious affiliation that is obviously not belief-based just yet, but will unavoidably mark us (sometimes dramatically, as with rituals like genital circumcision).
These "inborn" identifiers are unearned attributes that we did nothing to achieve, and that nobody can take away from us."
Page 87 - 88, Chapter 4
"Then, there are the 'acquired' identifiers, those we actually earn by the way of exploration, drive, deliberation, and effort - these are markers of Marcian identity achievement.
As we evolve, we gain an education; form values and perspectives on our lives and the world based on what we learn from our experiences; earn a definitive social/or financial status in our communities by working hard and making decisions; settle into our professions; become parents, philantrophists, journalists, artists, engineers, business people, physicians, and more.
The more of this we do, the less likely we are to have foreclosed, and the less urgent our need to cling to our inborn identifiers."
Page 90, Chapter 4
"Remember, your cultural beliefs aren t really you. They are simply part of a medium you were cultured in where you were raised.
You know, deep down, that if you were born into a Hindu family, you'd probably be Hindu; and in a Christian family, you'd be Christian. You know, deep down, that your faith is really just an accident of birth. So logically speaking, it can't be aboit ideas, can it?
Ideas don't come with birth. They need to be considered, explored, and evaluated. What does come with birth, however is your sense of identity."
Page 96 - 97, Chapter 4
"Think about that for a second. Do you really think you need your religion in order to be good?"
Page 97, Chapter 4
"I would wonder why I had done this. No one had told us to behave this way in this particular situation. The man was grateful, which made us feel nice, but that isn't why we gave him our food. And we certainly didn't do it thinking it would get us any reward from God, or that we'd get punished in the afterlife if we didn't do it. It was the furthest thing from our minds. Yet we did it, because we know what it would feel like if we were in that man's position. We knew what it would feel like to be hungry, and could imagine how horrible he must have felt to be in the shape he is in. We did it because we could empathize with him."
Page 222, Chapter 9
steveinadelaide's review against another edition
4.0
I learned an incredible amount from reading this book. Great to read something about Islam as a culture and a religion from someone who was/is an insider but does so with a non-religious perspective. Highly recommended!
slapshottechnology's review against another edition
5.0
Good read. Refreshing to hear the perspective from another religion and their journey to truth. Enlightening to see this Religion of Peace and the common sense that speaks to the oppposite of it.
ltux's review against another edition
5.0
Such an amazing and brave look at religion, and especially such a potentially volatile religion. It really (not surprisingly) struck me how much of what he said can be associated with ANY major religion (looking at you Christianity). Really enjoyed his perspective and insights. Understanding our fellow humans a little better. Great book... highly recommend... wish it was a required read for many/all... especially those involved in foreign affairs.
oumaimabendjama's review against another edition
3.0
“Human beings have rights and are entitled to respect. Ideas, books, and beliefs don’t, and aren’t.”
In his book, Ali advocate for freedom of speech that guarantees his right to criticise/question any ideology ( including Islam), because he has seen what it looks like not to be able to express ideas and opinions in fear of governmental persecution in countries such as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. But he has also lived through the ani-Muslim bigotry that arose after 9/11, so he is persistent in making the distinction between criticising an ideology and dehumanizing a whole community. He still sees himself as a part of the Muslim community even after rejecting his faith hence comes the title of this book.
As many have already said, this book can really contribute to the creation of healthy debates on Islam and its interpretations, especially among Muslims in the west. I am not sure, however, that it will have the same kind of impact on the Muslim community elsewhere.
A good summary of what goes on in the minds of most modern ex-Muslims.
andheaventoo's review against another edition
5.0
one of the few books that i have come to the end of, and felt absolutely bereft.
as someone in a situation similar to the author's own trajectory in his youth, this book was a rare and vital resource. the state he describes, that of a questioning muslim in a society that would at best, disown you and at worst, kill you for it, is a lonely and secretive one - one that i know from experience.
this book was bittersweet and important. i am grateful that i found it.
as someone in a situation similar to the author's own trajectory in his youth, this book was a rare and vital resource. the state he describes, that of a questioning muslim in a society that would at best, disown you and at worst, kill you for it, is a lonely and secretive one - one that i know from experience.
this book was bittersweet and important. i am grateful that i found it.