Rise of atheism in Iraq … and yeah, it’s America’s fault

A new group of people is slowly but surely gaining numbers in conservative Iraq: the godless!

“Iraq is a land without God or any other kind of major protective superior form,” claims one atheist who declined to be named fearing reprisal.

“We have been forgotten and it is better to think only rationally than emotionally. I left behind my old beliefs because it is the only way to protect my children from any harm that God isn’t being able to do.”

Yasser (not his real name) is grouping up with others who have also renounced their faiths.

“When we first decided to organise ourselves, we were only eight people,” he told IOL.

“And after seven months, our number has reached to 34 but many other groups are being formed countrywide according to my contacts in northern and southern Iraq.

“We believe that today in Iraq, there are at least 220 atheists linked to the groups nationwide.”

Their numbers may be pitifully low at the moment, but frankly, just hearing about a steadily rising movement of atheism in such a hellish, religion-dominated country as Iraq is grand news. Of course, the vast majority of these atheists are closeted, for obvious reasons (you know, what with Islamists being so open to those of other faiths and all that, especially those without faith at all), but if they count 220 atheists at the moment who did dare to reveal their true beliefs (or lack thereof), then such must be indicative of the number of the rest of those who are also atheists, but who are too afraid of reprisals to actually declare their godlessness.

One more thing: in keeping with true Middle-Eastern tradition, guess who they’re blaming this rising tide of rejection of religion and gods on?

“No one is guiltier than the Americans who brought such ideas to Iraqis.”

He blamed this on the war and its repercussions.

“Violence, religious differences, deaths, hunger, displacement and many other issues made me ask myself where God is,” he said.

Yeah, sure, pin it on those pesky Americans. Hmph. (Though, if American presence in Iraq is indeed a contributor to rising atheism, then at least that part of them being there is good.

To finish, here’s an example of how the religious and the godless think differently:

“I realised that he isn’t looking after us and instead we are moving ourselves according to the human nature and not an abstract force.”

But Waleed, the teacher, insists this is no reason to abandon one’s religion.

“I lost two brothers during the war and didn’t stop believing but instead my faith became stronger,” she said.

"I turned to Islam for my personal spiritual comfort."

Well, there ya go. Here, the atheist realized, if only through pain, loss and hardship, that there is no divine will or protection governing us and that it is what humans do that sculpt the world and the lives of those living in it. Whereas, the religious teacher plainly admitted he turned to religion for its comforting, placating nature. It must be so nice, believing you’re living under divine protection, which would be odd considering how many thousands of your fellow citizens routinely lose their lives in horrific ways. But, hey, don’t poke the minds of the religious.

(via Friendly Atheist)
Technorati tags: Iraq · atheists · Islam · Islamists