Islam Beyond Allah: Apostasy or Necessity?
There are millions of atheists and agnostics of Muslim heritage. How should we define or classify these individuals-- as heretics? Ex-Muslims? "Nothing?"
I suggest we call them Humanistic Muslims. Picture this: a sect of Muslims who are proud of their great culture and civilization which dates back fifteen centuries and beyond, who read Muslim religious texts as great human literature, and who come together in inspiring, service-oriented communities called Mosques; but who openly affirm evolution, secularism, and universal human equality regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, or religious background.
Picture a proudly self-identifying Muslim affirming the notion that only human beings, not a deity, can determine what makes an ethical and moral life. To some, this may seem like a series of oxymorons, one stranger or more offensive than the next. But I’d suggest that if we can imagine it, we might discover a path towards peace and real dialogue among religions, cultures, and civilizations.
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