I recently received an email alerting me to this site, where I read this:
Ex-Muslims have a bad rep. In Muslim circles, those ad hominems fly thick and fast when even mere mention is made of their existence. For example, there are numerous “progressive” Muslim blogs that, while having achieved much respect across the blogosphere, happily take up this more regressive attitude when discussing former Muslims. Alas, many conspiratorial Muslims generally demonise their “fallen” brothers and sisters both in public and in private, as if they were secret agents constantly scheming and plotting away, with each and every one briefed and sent by the devil himself.
But ex-Muslims are people. And most of them are very good, caring people. Many of them have families and friends who remain Muslims, but, of course, still care just as much about them, if not more. And one big reason for ex-Muslims’ even deeper empathy with their Muslim families and friends is being worried about what manner of dark alleys the faith will lead them to. Many things can be said about ex-Muslims but at the end of the day, while they may have enduring disputes with central aspects of Islam itself, they are as pro-Muslim as one can get.
This blog will hold regular blog roundups of current thoughts from ex-Muslims, especially with regard to how they have come to view their former faith, and will be an enjoyable survey of the chatterings of the ex-Muslim blogosphere.
Thanks for letting me know, and long may you wave. Ex-Muslims are routinely vilified and dismissed by Muslims and non-Muslims alike. This is a mistake on many levels. It is often ex-Muslims who are willing to speak up most forthrightly about the elements of Islam that need reform. And their very existence, living under a death threat every day of their lives, is testimony to the need for that reform, particularly in regard to Muhammad’s command to kill those who leave Islam. Reform-minded Muslims should stand with them as an element of defending the freedom of conscience, instead of slinging ad hominem attacks and leaving it at that.