After looking at some aspects of superstition, it is only appropriate that we also look at religious beliefs. Most Humanists see religion as founded in superstition, but there is no doubt that religions hold billions of people in thrall.

Apostates

The articles grouped here are all stories of apostates from one religion or another. I have read many such stories and talked to many apostates. Some of them have converted from one religion to another, but many have moved away from religious faith and found Humanism. Our beliefs are such an important part of our identity, and contribute so much to our self esteem, that renouncing a faith will always be a very difficult process. I am thankful that I never had to undergo it.

Religions exert their grip in various ways. There are the obvious doctrines about an afterlife. Fear of hell or the promise of paradise can be powerful persuaders. But perhaps religion’s strongest hold is in the sense of community that it creates. Many people have religious doubts, but it is a brave person who is prepared to step away from the sheltering comfort of their community. Apostates are often punished by the community. They may be socially excluded. If the life of a community centres round a church, mosque, synagogue or temple, then the apostate is to some degree excluding him- or herself. But believers can react very strongly against those who reject their faith and may well imagine that such people are in league with evil powers. When their own families react like this, it can be particularly painful for apostates. Apostasy can completely split families and sometimes contributes to the breakdown of marriage.

Support

Apostates may be able to regain a sense of community by joining a Humanist or secularist organisation. Even if there are none in the area, there are internet communities that, while not as supportive as a real-life community, do lessen the sense of isolation. Although all human communities suffer from internal dissension from time to time, I have found Humanists to be usually friendly and supportive, many of them having already trodden the path of apostasy. It is noticeable how many non-believers in the USA have been encouraged to “come out” by the recent spate of high-profile books by authors such as Daniel Dennett [1], Sam Harris [2], Richard Dawkins [3] and Christopher Hitchens [4]. It is as though they have been given permission to be non-believers. Those living in a very religious environment and constantly hearing denigration of any who do not accept the dominant religion must easily see themselves as unusual and defective. All four of these authors have been rapturously received by large audiences because they were daring to say very publicly what many of the listeners had thought privately.

Islam

If it is difficult for apostates to break away from fundamentalist Christianity, it is much more difficult for apostates from Islam. Although in past ages Christian apostates, heretics and blasphemers were horribly punished, sometimes being tortured and put to death, Christianity has been forced to come to terms with a world of multiple beliefs and to give a little more than lip-service to the words attributed to Jesus, “Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s”. (This statement is often interpreted as an acceptance of the separation of religion and state.) Islam, on the other hand, has no such saying, and separation of mosque and state is a much more difficult idea for many Muslims. In consequence, despite the obvious conflict with Article 18 [5] of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (which celebrates its 60th anniversary next year), a number of Islamic states have severe legal penalties for apostasy. In some it even carries a death penalty.

Even in pluralist, Western societies, breaking away from Islam can be a very difficult process. Most Muslims are immigrants or descendants of recent immigrants, who tend to live in more closed communities than those around them. They therefore face even greater isolation if they reject their religion. Moreover, although we are often told that “Islam is a religion of peace”, many of its adherents seem, in practice, to have a short fuse, ready to explode in anger and hatred if they feel religiously offended. The same emotions are often directed at apostates. Known apostates frequently receive death threats.

It is hardly any wonder that few people of Muslim background are prepared to announce their apostasy publicly. We must be grateful for those who courageously take this dangerous step. One such is Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who despite the murder of her colleague, Theo van Gogh, continues to speak out for the liberation of those oppressed by Islam [6]. Anyone who is further interested in the problems faced by Muslim apostates is recommended to read a book by Ibn Warraq [7], which tells the stories of some 20 apostates in their own words.

Ex-Muslims

It is perhaps a good sign that, as reported in the August 2007 edition of International Humanist News, groups of ex-Muslims have been set up in various parts of Europe. We must hope that these groups will receive support from the Humanist organisations in their countries, and that none of us will lose sight of those suffering under the repressive regimes and human rights abuses in many Islamic countries.

Some who leave a religion talk sadly of “loss of faith”. For many it is a real loss, but for others it is a lightening, a liberation. If we abandon any belief in an afterlife, we ought logically to make the most of the life we have. So many religious believers undervalue their present lives, hoping for better to come in another life. Humanists tend to invest much more in the only life they know they have.

Our contributors to this section have bravely shared their stories with us. I am sure that many readers will join me in thanking them for their courage and continued search for truth.

Diana Brown is the current editor of International Humanist News

1 Daniel C. Dennett, Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon, Penguin Group, 2006
2 Sam Harris, The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason, Norton, 2004, and Letter to a Christian Nation,
3 Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion, Bantam 2006
4 Christopher Hitchens, God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything, Twelve/Hachette Book Group, 2007
5 “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.” See http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html
6 Ayaan Hirsi Ali, The Caged Virgin: a Muslim Woman’s Cry for Reason, Simon & Schuster, 2007, and Infidel, Free Press, 2007.
7 Ibn Warraq, Leaving Islam: Apostates Speak Out, Prometheus, 2003