Atheists face death in 13 Muslim countries

[inf1nity]

Horrifying. Even though i was born into a Hindu family I consider myself a atheist. And even though i have received my fair share of flak for saying god doesn't exist, i have never felt afraid for my life.

But this... this is simply horrifying.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/world...es/article1-1161005.aspx#sthash.kjGP14Oo.dpuf

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/10/atheists-death-penalty-_n_4417994.html

 

[Scotteq]

*shrug*

It's just a logical extension of long existing policy.

 

[Doppel]

Predominantly Muslim countries have laws that the more advanced nations of the wordl consider barbaric. Many of these people are still living in the middle ages.

 

[PokerGuy]

If even a few people begin to question middle age theology (as practiced in those countries), it could set off a dangerous chain reaction where people no longer slavishly comply and do what the religious few tell them to do. Can't have that happening, so severe penalties are in place for apostasy or atheism.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Why do you find it horrifying? I'm not saying it ought not to be since we tend to become desensitized too easily, and 13 is 13 too many, but death due to non-conformance regarding religious policies has always been around. Is it the lives of 13 people or is it the lives of 13 you identify with?

 

[Retro Rob]

This is horrifying, but totally expected from Islamic nations.

I think poeple sometimes need to remember where they are. In some places, you simply cannot openly espouse your beliefs (or lack thereof).

Sad state of affairs though.

 

[FerrelGeek]

So, the deaths of 13 atheists horrifies you? All well and good. Do you realize that 100s of Christians have been killed as well? Does that horrify you? The 'Arab Spring' did wonders for the Coptic Christians in Egypt and Christians have been taking it pretty hard in Iraq and Syria as well.

 

[inf1nity]

Why do you find it horrifying? I'm not saying it ought not to be since we tend to become desensitized too easily, and 13 is 13 too many, but death due to non-conformance regarding religious policies has always been around. Is it the lives of 13 people or is it the lives of 13 you identify with?

Because I have never seen this happening.

I tell people all the time that God doesn't exist.

Hell, I have even tried to convert believers into atheists, in public.

Got a few stares but never felt scared for my life.

 

[JTsyo]

Why do you find it horrifying? I'm not saying it ought not to be since we tend to become desensitized too easily, and 13 is 13 too many, but death due to non-conformance regarding religious policies has always been around. Is it the lives of 13 people or is it the lives of 13 you identify with?

So, the deaths of 13 atheists horrifies you? All well and good. Do you realize that 100s of Christians have been killed as well? Does that horrify you? The 'Arab Spring' did wonders for the Coptic Christians in Egypt and Christians have been taking it pretty hard in Iraq and Syria as well.

FYI, it's not 13 individuals but all atheists within those 13 countries could be executed for their lack of belief.

 

[inf1nity]

So, the deaths of 13 atheists horrifies you? All well and good. Do you realize that 100s of Christians have been killed as well? Does that horrify you? The 'Arab Spring' did wonders for the Coptic Christians in Egypt and Christians have been taking it pretty hard in Iraq and Syria as well.

Well.. there goes a saying.. What you don't know... doesn't hurt(in this case, horrify) you.

BTW its not 13 atheists, its 13 countries.. the actual number of people killed is unknown.. could be hundreds.. could be thousands

 

[inf1nity]

death due to non-conformance regarding religious policies has always been around.

Not in this day and age.

 

[Londo_Jowo]

I have to question if this is true when it comes to Malaysia. It could be partially correct should a Muslim renounce Islam and convert to another religion or become an atheist. The Malaysian goverment/laws are tolerant of other religions.

 

[Matt1970]

Because I have never seen this happening.

I tell people all the time that God doesn't exist.

Hell, I have even tried to convert believers into atheists, in public.

Got a few stares but never felt scared for my life.

Why do you feel the need to do that? Forcing your beliefs on others is the same type of behavior, only they are taking it to the extremes of death here.

 

[inf1nity]

Why do you feel the need to do that? Forcing your beliefs on others is the same type of behavior, only they are taking it to the extremes of death here.

Never forced anything on anyone. Just tried to make them see reason and if they chose to remain believers, i respect it.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

FYI, it's not 13 individuals but all atheists within those 13 countries could be executed for their lack of belief.

Thank you for the correction.

 

[Retro Rob]

Never forced anything on anyone. Just tried to make them see reason and if they chose to remain believers, i respect it.

Let me ask you an honest question: If there is no evidence either way, how is your view "reason" and theirs, not?

If there is no evidence either way, then the only reasonable position is "I don't know".

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Never forced anything on anyone. Just tried to make them see reason and if they chose to remain believers, i respect it.

That's very reasonable. People have the right to express their beliefs in a civil manner and others are free, or ought to be free, to accept or reject.

Something to consider as you seem a reasonable fellow. In this world there is all manner of evil done. Tens of thousands of Christians in North Korea are in peril for their lives. Muslims are similarly threatened. If you think about it you and they have concerns in common, where life and liberty are at risk because of what you believe, in a positive or negative sense regarding religion and god.

Perhaps part of the true horror lies in not realizing that many who do not think as we are suffering just the same and it ought not to be, yet they are.

Just a thought.

 

[inf1nity]

Well let me tell you something, Hayabusa Rider.

I do not feel bad for these atheists because I am an atheist myself. I feel bad purely because they are human beings and IMO they deserve to have freedom of thought and freedom of expression.
If they were believers who believed in a different god and were being persecuted for it, i would have felt the same way.
However since i came across this article i posted it and expressed my feelings about it and it only.

What next, are you going to say that i am selfish, since i felt bad for these people only because they are like me(they're humans) and i wouldn't have felt bad were they Martians? :biggrin:

 

[Matt1970]

Never forced anything on anyone. Just tried to make them see reason and if they chose to remain believers, i respect it.

Actually you did. In your mind their belief is wrong. You actually feel the need to correct their beliefs. You respecting their choice to remain believers after your little persuasion is more a measure of how much effort you wish to expend.

 

[inf1nity]

Let me ask you an honest question: If there is no evidence either way, how is your view "reason" and theirs, not?

If there is no evidence either way, then the only reasonable position is "I don't know".

Well, you're correct, but then, truth/reason is what we believe in right?

I have lots of experiences that make me think that there is nothing like god in this world, and therefore for me that is the truth.

Lets take the example of conspiracy theorists. For them, the wildest theories are the truth, because they believe in them.

 

[inf1nity]

Actually you did. In your mind their belief is wrong. You actually feel the need to correct their beliefs. You respecting their choice to remain believers after your little persuasion is more a measure of how much effort you wish to expend.

If, according to you, "I respected their choice to remain believers after my little persuasion"; then it isn't forcing is it?

 

[Retro Rob]

Well let me tell you something, Hayabusa Rider.

I do not feel bad for these atheists because I am an atheist myself. I feel bad purely because they are human beings and IMO they deserve to have freedom of thought and freedom of expression.
If they were believers who believed in a different god and were being persecuted for it, i would have felt the same way.
However since i came across this article i posted it and expressed my feelings about it and it only.

I agree with this. I believe God exists, however humans are humans. True, they do deserve their freedoms, but every country doesn't see it that way, hence, why I said they need to remember where they are.

I have even read about Christian groups keeping their worship "under ground" so to speak, because of fierce communist persecution.

Didn't they all sign a UN agreement?

 

[Matt1970]

If, according to you, "I respected their choice to remain believers after my little persuasion"; then it isn't forcing is it?

You already know in your mind that you can't convert everyone and you have a set point where you give up either to feeling it is a lost cause or it's not worth your effort. Did you force them to convert to atheism? No, but you still forced your views onto them.

 

[inf1nity]

You already know in your mind that you can't convert everyone and you have a set point where you give up either to feeling it is a lost cause or it's not worth your effort.

Wrong, i "give up" only because i didn't want to hurt their feelings/faith.

No, but you still forced your views onto them.

So, you and your friends never get together and talk about religion, politics, whether god exists or not, and other such topics?

Or are you one of those people who never state their views in public because of the fear that others' feelings might get hurt?

 

[Matt1970]

Wrong, i "give up" only because i didn't want to hurt their feelings/faith.



So, you and your friends never get together and talk about religion, politics, whether god exists or not, and other such topics?

Or are you one of those people who never state their views in public because of the fear that others' feelings might get hurt?

There is a difference between talking about religion amongst your friends and going up to people in public and trying to get them to change their beliefs.