Secular Jihadists For A Muslim Enlightenment

Watch the video version of this conversation (for patrons): https://www.patreon.com/posts/2Fatheist-who-with-29049156  "I'm an atheist, which means I don't believe in God. I don't believe in him." These words should be harmless to anyone who advocates for free expression. But Mohamed Hisham said them on a national TV show in Muslim-majority Egypt. He was aggressively thrown off the show, was beaten at home, threatened constantly with death, and faced serious jail time. In time, with a campaign headed by Troy Garnaut and supported by prominent public voices like (our previous guest) Sam Harris and our own Armin Navabi, Mohamed was able to escape Egypt, and now lives as an openly gay Arab atheist in Germany. He did us the honor of telling us his incredible story—joining us from the refugee center he is currently staying at. Don’t miss this.

Watch the video version of this conversation (for patrons): https://www.patreon.com/posts/2Ftalking-to-self-28485254  Mohammed Ali Saadi is a self-described "lay Muslim" who wants to have conversations with ex-Muslims about some of our areas of disagreement. Should we give credit to Islam for the good deeds of Muslims? Are our skeptical analyses of Islamic history and scripture just historical revisionism? What do Muslims like Saadi think we have gotten wrong in our previous podcast episodes? We get into this and a lot more. Check it out.

Watch the video version of this conversation (for patrons): https://www.patreon.com/posts/2Flgbt-of-muslim-28529465  Every day, we're seeing more courageous ex-Muslim and Muslim LGBTs rise up and smash the closet. From the reactionary parent protests in Birmingham to ex-Muslims marching at Pride in New York and London, this battle is just beginning. And our guest, the British-Pakistani ex-Muslim LGBT activist Jimmy Bangash, is right on the frontline. He joins us in this episode in an eye-opening conversation that's not to be missed. Check it out.

Watch the video version of this conversation (for patrons): https://www.patreon.com/posts/2Fapostate-prophet-28122127  With over 150,000 subscribers and counting, The Apostate Prophet, an ex-Muslim, is known for his illuminating and well-thought-out videos, biting satire, and commitment to share his views about his former religion openly. He recently launched an excellent, in-depth video on scientific mistakes in the Quran. Check out our conversation.

Watch the video version of this conversation (for patrons): https://www.patreon.com/posts/2Fi-am-somali-and-28189539  Autumn Sherif brought the house down when she performed on "The Voice" at age 19. This year, the immensely talented and popular Somali-Dutch-British singer decided to speak publicly about her upbringing as a Muslim (she was wearing the hijab at "age 8", and why she does not identify as one anymore. Along with other prominent public figures like Zayn Malik and Jameela Jamil who came from Muslim backgrounds but no longer believe in Islam, Autumn's story is characteristic of countless young people in the world today who are embracing reason and independence over faith. AND SHE SANG FOR US. TWICE! Check it out.

Watch the video version of this conversation (for patrons): https://youtu.be/_guGGWR1c_8  The New York Times swears off political cartoons after being criticized for an allegedly anti-Semitic cartoon. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez receives both praise and criticism for referring to border detention centers where children are separated from their parents as concentration camps. With conservatives and liberals increasingly pointing fingers at each other for being anti-Semitic, is the term becoming a meaningless political tool? We’re joined by filmmaker Jay Shapiro to talk about all of this, his Jewish upbringing, and lots more. Don’t miss it.

Watch the video version of this conversation (for patrons): https://www.patreon.com/posts/2Ftranslating-to-27761645  Five years ago, Melissa Krawczyk wanted to be a missionary and Bible translator and despised Richard Dawkins. Today, she is the Director of his foundation's Translations Project, which (in collaboration with the Center for Inquiry) is committed to the mission of translating secular and atheist literature to Arabic and other languages across the Muslim world. She has also worked with the foundation's Secular Rescue project, which helps persecuted atheists in oppressive countries escape them. Melissa is an engineer and a polyglot who has studied Arabic for close to fifteen years. She joined us to talk about her amazing work, her personal story, and lots more. Check it out.

Watch the video version of this conversation (for patrons): https://www.patreon.com/posts/2Fteaching-muslim-27593690  Primary schools in Birmingham, England have been dealing with growing protests—almost entirely from the city’s Muslim community—for teaching children about LGBTQ+ relationships. Muslim homophobia is confusing to many liberal Westerners: on one hand, they don’t want to be seen as “Islamophobic.” On the other, they want to weed out homophobia everywhere. What to do when the homophobia is coming from the Muslim community? In this episode, we speak to Sophia Johnson, who taught at one of these schools, Anderton Park Primary, for five years. As we learn, Muslim children in the UK are facing countless challenges beyond this one as well, and many white liberals are afraid to bring them up for fear of being called “Islamophobic.” This silence harms children and impedes their education. And Sophia, a self-described left-liberal, has some fantastic insights into this, rooted in her real experience. She’

Watch the video version of this show: https://youtu.be/s7jHNNaVWzo  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently tweeted about an open meeting of "Arab countries sitting down together with Israel in order to advance the common interest of war with Iran." He later deleted the tweet, ending it instead with "combating Iran." Meanwhile, sources close to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman (MBS) are urging the US to attack Iran for an alleged drone strike that closed down a Saudi oil pipeline. The fact that Israel and Saudi Arabia have been working together behind the scenes has been known for some time, but today, neither state is making any real effort to hide it. Last year, MBS even said—unprecedented for a Saudi royal—that Israel has a right to its own land. In this episode, Armin and Ali try to unpack all of this. Is the US going to take on another war at the urging of two of its strongest allies? Check it out.

Watch the video version of this conversation (for patrons): https://www.patreon.com/posts/2Fleaving-islam-in-27245708  Nun Benson is a Somali ex-Muslim who has publicly shared her views on Islam's tolerance of slavery, the destructive influence of Islamic imperialism in Somalia, and the rampant anti-black racism within Muslim communities. She joined us to talk about the experience of leaving Islam in an increasingly radicalized Somali diaspora, her Sufi background, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the reform movement, Ilhan Omar, her upcoming podcast, WaaqNation, and more. Check it out.

Watch the video version of this conversation (for patrons): https://www.patreon.com/posts/2Fleaving-islam-26960714  Sohail Ahmad (@ReasonOnFaith) was raised in the minority Islamic sect of Ahmadiyyat, a community that is persecuted relentlessly by mainstream Muslims. Today, he has come out of the closet with an explosive, controversial video discussing at length why he has left Ahmadiyyat, why he has left Islam, and why, despite rejecting his faith, his compassion for the well-being and safety of his Ahmadi Muslim family and friends remains as intact as ever. If you are a Muslim, or an Ahmadi Muslim, with doubts and questions, this is a must-listen conversation.

Watch the video version of this conversation (for patrons): https://www.patreon.com/posts/2Fexploring-with-26598316  Tom Holland is a historian and author of the bestselling book, In the Shadow of the Sword, which charts the origins and early history of Islam based on recent scholarship. His documentary, Islam: The Untold Story, was both eye-opening and controversial, making Holland the target of numerous death threats. Another documentary, ISIS: The Origins of Violence, was acclaimed for exploring daring questions about the roots of ISIS's ideology of violence in Islamic scriptures. We talk about the latest on the historical records that give us clues to how Islam arose, in a riveting and eye-opening conversation. Check it out.

Watch the video version of this conversation (for patrons): https://www.patreon.com/posts/2Fis-america-with-26697962  Andrew Seidel is a constitutional and civil rights attorney with the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), the largest advocacy group for atheists in the United States. His explosive first book, “The Founding Myth: Why Christian Nationalism is Un-American” (Sterling) is out now. Don't miss this amazing interview!

Watch the video version of this show: https://youtu.be/KeKkZNLaJBw  This is the first of a 3-part series about the two largest Islamic sects, Sunnism and Shiism. In this episode, Armin and Ali go back to basics to discuss the alleged historical events that led to the development of these sects. We talk about what these terms mean, which Islamic figures they revere, the sources of their ideology, why have they been so ready to kill one another over for thirteen centuries, and more. We also answer your questions. Check it out.

Watch the video version of this conversation (for patrons): https://www.patreon.com/posts/2Ffaith-to-with-26412179  Aliyah Saleem is the co-founder of Faith to Faithless and co-editor of Leaving Faith Behind: The Journeys and Perspectives of People Who Have Chosen to Leave Islam. Aliyah comes from a Sunni background and spent about 6 years in formal Islamic boarding schools in Britain, Canada, and Pakistan, including Al-Huda Institute, where San Bernardino shooter Tashfeen Malik was also a student. At age 19, Aliyah decided to leave the faith completely. Aliyah is also a researcher at the House of Lords in Parliament. We did have some connection issues during this episode, but it is still as compelling as ever. Check it out.

Watch the video version of this conversation (for patrons): https://www.patreon.com/posts/2Fwhy-i-left-islam-26344555  She was an ultra-conservative Salafi Muslim, a member of the Tableeghi Jamaat, and wore a niqab at age 11. Two years ago, she gave it all up. Today, she is a free woman who wants to normalize leaving Islam so that others like her don’t have to be thrown out of their homes or risk honour violence just for thinking differently. We speak to Fay Rahman about all of this and more and answer your questions. Check it out.

Watch the video version of this conversation (for patrons): https://www.patreon.com/posts/2Fgoing-undercover-26273116  He went undercover with jihadists to foil a potentially devastating Toronto terrorism plot. He counsels returning ISIS fighters. He fights Islamic terrorism. And as a Sufi Sunni Muslim, he has no regrets. Mubin Shaikh is a former security intelligence and counterterrorism operative who is a widely sought expert on radicalization, deradicalization, and national security. He advised the United Nations Security Council, the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the National Counterterrorism Center, and Special Operations Command Central. He is an external expert with the Joint Staff SMA for CENTCOM Command Staff. And he joined us for a riveting conversation. Check it out.

Watch the video version of this show: https://youtu.be/7uNxnibMIPI  52 Muslims were killed in a horrific terrorist attack in New Zealand. Countless Muslims and their children are being targeted and killed in Yemen, China, Myanmar, Iraq, Syria, and more. We talk about how to look past the popular media narratives on these stories, and as always, take your questions.

Thomas Smith is host of the popular Serious Inquiries Only podcast, formerly the Atheistically Speaking podcast, and is known for his commentary on science, skepticism, atheism, and politics. He also previously hosted Thomas and the Bible, a witty podcast on the so-called "good" book. We talk to Thomas about current schisms in the atheist movement around culture wars, criticizing Islam after Christchurch, and more. This conversation is in two parts, and this is Part 1. Note: Armin joined us from Poland, where his internet connection was less than optimal. We've cleared up the audio as much as possible. Apologies for any sound issues. Part 2 will be clearer. Check it out.

Watch the video version of this conversation (for patrons): https://www.patreon.com/posts/2Fex-muslim-women-25566215  "My life is coloured with a constant sense of relief. Relief that I escaped an abusive relationship with Allah and Muhammad. Relief to be free of indefinite guardianship. Relief that I can embrace my true potential. Relief that I can exist without apology." So writes Egyptian-Australian Omayma Mohamed, an increasingly influential ex-Muslim woman and writer for Faithless Hijabi, the organization spearheaded by our past guest, Zara Kay. In this episode, Omayma shares her story and we discuss the vibrant, fast-growing ex-Muslim movement happening in Australia.