Interview with an Arab Atheist

~ by Esra'a Bahrain (Mideast Youth)

I’m interviewing an Arab atheist from Kuwait: Sara Sultan.  I will first make it clear that I’m happily a Muslim, and am in no way promoting atheism by conducting these interviews. Young atheists in the Arab world are extremely frowned upon and thus hardly ever given a voice, and if we really want to represent all kinds of people then we should include the voices of those we disagree with as well.

Q: Firstly, why did you agree to do this interview? Aren’t you scared of voicing such controversial opinions?
A: I agreed to do this interview because I have the interest in sharing my thoughts and beliefs with you. Why should I be scared? I have a right to express my opinions and I have no fear from doing so. People try to bully us into believing things… into being part of a “larger mass.” They kick us into buying anything from political opinions to religious beliefs. I refuse to be a product of such attempts at misleading us. They can call me what they want, at the end of the day I’m just an independent woman with a firm opinion.

Q: When did you become an atheist?

A: After I took history and theology courses in university, I opened my eyes to the way that religion is a product of man, simply a form of control. To make a very long story short… few people came up with it, took advantage of the people they brainwashed, misled them into numerous wars for a reason that I consider very unworthy: God. In reality these were territorial and political disputes disguised as religious ones. And to put it simply I just don’t buy that there is some creator chilling in the skies above us claiming to have created the earth and the universe. I’m a big fan of science. No evidence, no argument.

Q: Was it because of the dominant religion in Kuwait (Islam) that made you move away from religion?
A: There is a common misconception with ex-Muslim Arabs. Those who dislike Islam are often agnostic, not atheist. Few convert to other religions such as Christianity, Judaism, Zoroastrianism and the Baha’i Faith. Arab atheists should not be lumped with other ex-Muslim Arabs who embrace other religions. We do not have anything in common, especially not contempt for Islam. I turned my back on religion because the lengthy study of religions and their respective histories is what made me realize that atheism is the only right path for me. It has nothing to do with Islam itself or me being a former Muslim Kuwaiti. I would have arrived to the same conclusion if I was a former member of any other faith.

Q: What about Muslims who disrespect your views? Do you think their reactions to you is representative of the faith?
A: No. I blame them as people, I don’t necessarily blame their religion. I try my best not to generalise when it comes to religious groups. All religions are diverse and have worldwide followers that interpret religious texts in very different ways. People are responsible for their own behavior. I know many Muslims who are extremely religious and yet they are very open minded and understanding as to why some of us reject religion in and of itself. Why should I disrespect these good people by ignoring they exist and complaining that only mullah extremists are the appropriate representatives of Islam? Where I live, many young Muslims are actively rising against religious extremism and are trying to represent what is good about their faith. I appreciate their struggles, I don’t ever discourage them by claiming that they’d only be right or successful if they reject Islam altogether and embrace a new philosophy. It’s not in my place to do that.

Q: Do you face threats for believing in what you do? If so, from whom?
A: I do face threats when I publicly express my views and contrary to what some people would like to believe, it’s not just from Muslims. Probably the most annoying experience was when I was being repeatedly harassed from a nun and her missionary cult who basically kept saying that I will burn in hell if I don’t accept Jesus as my Savior and that the Lord will punish me in life and in death… & a bunch of other bullshit. Religion has made us completely out of touch with reality, but the most dangerous aspect of it is how people put it above humanity, morals, human rights, tolerance, things like that. It gives certain authorities or social elites the power to justify all kinds of horrible abuses because some God said this is how we have to live and people blindly believe it.

Q: You think religious people are wrong, so do you try to “enlighten” them?
A: In my world they are completely misled and wrong but in their world they couldn’t be more right. I do not impose or preach my views to anybody. I do not try to teach it to others or to say that this is how you should be thinking. That would be a very hypocritical thing for me to do since I’m the way I am mostly because I am anti-collectivism and I hate people who bully others into believing certain things or forcing them to live life a certain way. Like I said earlier, people are responsible for their own behavior and how they choose to live their life is none of my business just like my personal beliefs is none of theirs. The only thing I would encourage others to do is to think for themselves, to be free thinkers no matter how strict their societies are, to have educated and well-thought out opinions. It’s okay if that means you have to stand out from the crowd. And if some people independently chose their faith and strongly believe in it, all power to them. It’s still admirable and respectful as long as they don’t shove their beliefs in our faces and make us suffer the unnecessary consequences when we refuse to buy into their myths.

Q: Some people think atheism is a form of “Westernization.” What do you think?
A: Some people are stupid.

Q: Do you think there are many Arab atheists?
A: I think there are many Arab agnostics or Muslims who are quite careless about religion. Many young people here are doubtful of the existence of God, but very few of them actually become active atheists. A lot of them aren’t even interested in religious debate and consider it too personal for public discussion. The atheists I know in the Arab world are pretty outspoken though not many are given the platform to speak in. We face a lot of censorship, atheism is a taboo topic.

Q: Thanks a lot for taking the time to do this interview. Do you have any final words?
A: Thank you for letting me share my views and the only thing I would encourage people to do is again… think for yourself, don’t let people think for you or bully you into believing things you have no evidence for. Be yourself.

(Note: This interview is posted by permission from Mideast Youth.)