Apostate Aladdin: Inside Islam | Mindshift Podcast #1

[@ApostateAladdin]

Thank you so much for having me, Brandon. I look forward to the many videos we'll work on together in the future 😄

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Couldn’t have asked for a better first guest. Loved our conversation!

[@dawnalawrence6584]

What's your opinion of Bobby Risto from Bobby's Perspective? He used to be an Eastern Orthodox christian and then he reverted to Islam and his You Tube channel is now 100% Islamic material?

[@Jon45678]

Thanks for doing this podcast. You and Brandon are both equally intelligent and articulate subject matter experts for these topics. I learned more today than from decades of evangelical church attendance and Bible study.

[@TonyLambregts]

I enjoyed hearing your thoughts. Thank you for sharing them.

[@SunflowerLife1]

Thank you for being so polite. I have a hard time with most interviewers because they don’t want to let their guests talk and they interrupt them so often. On the rare occasion that you do interrupt, it’s for a good reason and you always acknowledge it and apologize for it. It shows that you truly have respect for other people. So many interviewers make it all about themselves. You don’t do that! I love it! ❤❤ I understand that this is a discussion and not necessarily an interview, but you know what I mean. 🙂🙂 I wanted to add to my comment that it is also true of Aladdin. I realized my post made it look like it was only true of Brandon. Sorry about that. It was a great and well informed discussion by both of you!!

[@CB66941]

Glad to see Aladdin here. As ex-Christians, we should be supporting ex-Muslims as much as we can. Many ex Muslim channels often become a place for Christians to proselytize, which was why I was glad to see Aladdin's video covering both Christian and Muslim apologetics in the title.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Agreed!

[@toonyandfriends1915]

often annoys me when some christians do such a thing. "hmm nice argument, unfortunately god doesn't like that, now repent", wonder if they think it actually works

[@marianatheschizoid5912]

Yeah. For some reason there are so many Christian proselytisers in the comments of his videos. Which is crazy because nothing about his channel indicates that his views line up with evangelicals.

[@theol64]

They are hardly the same aporoach.

[@underoakss]

Yes! Agreed 100%. It's exhausting constantly seeing comments like "I used to be muslim, so glad I became a christian, Jesus is lord" or something under ex-muslim videos. It's just hypocritical. From one abusive cult to another.

[@jashinsdisciple8512]

Ex-muslim here, nice to hear something about Islam here

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thanks so much!

[@peterhughes8699]

@jash - saying anything anti-muslim is likely to get you murdered

[@VAYLINN3309]

You didn't leave Islam Islam leave you 😂

[@studiosandi]

Good luck❤ stay safe.

[@Naafidy]

11:40 This is why my partner had to go no contact with his family. He even has ex-muslim family members he won't talk to just because he doesn't want where he's living or what he's doing get back to his dad or other family members. He said every time he would talk to someone they'd start with the Islam jargon and he said it was so stressful to deal with. I, on the other hand, have an evangelical family. Although they disapprove of me deconverting they still love and accept me. My mom is giga Christian, and we may have a closer relationship now because she has taken time to sit down, ask me questions, and just have really hard conversations without belittling my experiences; I am extremely lucky.

[@mainecoonmami]

@@Naafidy I wish my Christian parents would be like that, but they are more afraid of what I’ll say, and think it will negatively “influence” them.

[@tacthom]

It's frightening to think that early on in my deconstruction of Christianity, (I've been deconstructing since 2001)I was vulnerable to the messaging of Muslim apologetics that presented Islam as a wholesome egalitarian alternative to Christianity. Later on (much later on I found) Islamic deconstruction and scholars who dove into the text without apologetics. I just keep thinking how vulnerable I was. Back then channels like this didn't exist 😮. Thank you both for your work.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thanks for sharing! Yes. Those in such fragile states of being in between are so often preyed upon.

[@33-vertebrae]

Yes, I went through this, too. As a woman I delved into Islam out of curiosity (when I was going through RCIA no less) and there was so much information on Islamic apologist videos and websites convincing you that Islam was actually superior than Christianity when it came to women's rights, that women can divorce, that women get a portion of inheritance and can work and keep their money, etc. That all sounds good in theory, maybe, but in real life, in the majority of the Muslim world, it is a horror show for women. That can't be denied regardless of how much Muslims try to say "the criticism against us is western propaganda".

[@johnmonk3381]

I would invariably come across this kind of comments on christian deconstruction channels, typically the muslims would go, why don't you give islam a try and i have thought and replied to these people that islam is an even worse, vile and more violent cult than perhaps all the other religions combined to which they would go on the defensive and start going on a tirade of quranic quotes. Horrendous religion

[@TheInquisitorTV]

To go from islam to Christianity is out of the frying pan into the fire, both are bollox...

[@Efesus67]

Religous language is so baked into Arabic that when they conquered southern Spain, they influenced the Spanish language. And so when we want to say hopefully in Spanish, we say: Ojalá . But most Spanish speakers don't even know that this word comes from the Arabic phrase for Allah willing. So yeah.

[@kaloarepo288]

I could cite many similar things in English -the English phrase "hocus pocus" meaning nonsense or deception comes from the Latin words of the Catholic Mass -"hoc est corpus meum" when the bread is supposed to be converted into the body of Christ by the priest.

[@benleonheart]

Correcto, en Latinoamérica también usamos bastante el "primero Dios" o "si Dios lo permite" 💀 o más casualmente "¡ay, Dios quiera que sí!" Realmente hay mucha influencia religiosa en el idioma Español

[@User_Az_0]

Almohada (pillow) is another example

[@Efesus67]

@@kaloarepo288 I don't think I've ever heard anyone IRL say that. In contrast, by the time I die, I will likely have heard "ojalá" tens of thousands of times.

[@kaloarepo288]

@@Efesus67 Obviously it's because both Spain and Portugal were under the Islamic yoke for about 400 years whereas other places like England, Germany etc were never ruled by Arabs. But even in English and Italian there are many words derived from Arabic like admiral, nadir, alkali,chemistry, -that's because the Arabs were very prominent in those fields BACK IN THE DAY.

[@Naafidy]

I am only in the introduction. I love Apostate Aladdin and I'm so excited for this interview!!

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thanks! So glad you are here.

[@curiousnerdkitteh]

Same!

[@swampityswamp]

man i love it when ex-theists collaborate, it just shows that were not alone in suffering from religion

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@rochelebierhalspereira7106]

just realized his description of Islam fits mine with fundamentalist evangelical church: always saying "thank god" and if you didn't say "god willing" before expressing a plan or intention you'd get corrected. also speaking in biblical terms, kinda like the Handmaid's tale: a women of loose morals is a Jezabel, using words like strife, and so on. Every single event and aspect of life was frame through biblical stories and vocabulary.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Yes, it is less common in Christianity but I also grew up with what you describe. Great examples. I might make a video on that topic actually

[@imjustsayingthough2261]

Under his eye. Yes my family is still like this now "god willing"stuff

[@rochelebierhalspereira7106]

@@imjustsayingthough2261 no horror movie has scared me more than the Handmaid's tale because of this and how similar it was to my experience of 35 years, complete with the clothing styles and the hairdo

[@CatDaddyGuitar]

@@rochelebierhalspereira7106 🥺 that's horrible. I hate hearing about that kind of abuse. It's real. It happens. Thank you for sharing.

[@CatDaddyGuitar]

I'm so glad that you had him on! I have watched his time with Drew, too. I was able to talk to a Muslim in Pakistan about his atheism. He couldn't talk to anyone around him, he was on Twitter (secretly) and I really felt bad for him because he felt trapped. He'd lose his wife, kids, jobs.. everything. One day he just stopped responding and then I left Twitter. I think if him often.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

It really is a tragedy. I wonder how many out there are simply trapped by false religions.

[@CatDaddyGuitar]

​@@MindShift-BrandonI would imagine many. 😢 Nobody would take him seriously when he asked questions, but I noticed they weren't "troll" type, so I engaged with him. I helped him with getting video links, answered what I could. He was very appreciative. It's upsetting to get to know someone and know they are struggling only to feel so helpless and then lose contact.

[@nochoice3132]

As an ex muslim, I'm happy to see Aladin on this channel. I am a fan of both channels. Thank you guys for the work you do.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Appreciate that!

[@EarnestApostate]

I love how Apostate Alladin referred to a point that I had thought of, that God could have made the Quaran "perfect" in multiple languages. This would have been a far more impressive miracle: translingual poetry.

[@theresemalmberg955]

"The lack of trust in self. If you've grown up your entire life being told what you're observing is not actually what you are observing" OMG! That is so like what my mother used to tell me as a child over and over, "the way you see life is not the way it really is." In my case it had nothing to do with religion. It had to do with how I perceived the world around me which was somehow in some undefined way, wrong. Needless to say this caused me no end of trouble in my adult life as I repeatedly allowed myself to get into or stay in situations which my gut instinct told me were not good. Apparently it never occurred to her, to my teachers, to my doctors, to my counselors, that there were manipulative people out there and that by telling me this they were playing right into those people's hands. That they were actually GROOMING me for abuse. I think later on my mother did start to realize the damage that had been done because she suggested that I take assertiveness training. I did not have anything to say in response. All I could do is stare at her. Like, are you sure this is something you REALLY want me to do while I am still living under your roof? No, Mother, that is the very LAST thing you want me to do, and you know it and I know it as well. Because being assertive was what got me into trouble in the first place. I wasn't submissive enough as a child; I didn't know my place. But I learned, didn't I? And now you aren't happy with what you got. Now you think maybe things went too far. Now you see how you've left me vulnerable. Well, what the hell were all those doctors and pills and special education classes and even isolation booths were all about? The whole idea was to produce a docile, submissive child, well you got one. So, no, I'm not falling for that "you ought to take assertiveness training" crap. Not as long as I live under this roof. So yeah, I can relate. It's not just Islam, Apostate Aladdin, it's any system that seeks to control others by making them doubt themselves.

[@yakubu-fatimajenifa6539]

As an ex-Muslim, listening to both an ex-Muslim and an ex-Christian discuss these issues makes me excited. Apostate Aladdin has helped me in my deconstruction journey, and I am grateful that I came across his videos in my vulnerable state. That verse of the wife-beating broke the camel's back for me when struggling to make sense of Islam. I met Muslim apologetics who tried to defend that verse.

[@studiosandi]

Best of luck ❤ stay safe.

[@raysofsun8625]

I didn't expect Aladdin here. This is a "Whole New World", Aladdin. Tully magical Duet. You guys knocked me off my carpet. Hope to see more of you guys!

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Lol. Amazing comment.

[@TheHeavyshadow]

Thank you, Brandon, for introducing me to Aladdin. I've been looking for a channel similiar to yours but for Islam for a while now. It's suprisingly hard because most non-muslim channels looking at islam are christian nationalists or a similiar flavour of "hate-based" instead of a calm, rational, and at times humorous deconstruction of the Quran, it's stories, and some common believes.

[@mainecoonmami]

I love Apostate Alladin too! Helped me deconstruct Christianity and learn more about similarities in Islam.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Love to hear it!

[@MrCanis4]

As someone who lives in Northern Europe. I am so happy with this program. Not only because of the 'religious' content, I have been an Atheist all my life, but even more because of Aladdin's contributions. Thanks for coming out.

[@MrCanis4]

After 1:50 hour. This was BRILJANT.

[@Dabordi]

I've been hanging out on Aladdin's discord for just about the last month exactly because I find it so fascinating to learn about different people's experiences, as a lifelong atheist raised by lifelong atheists. I love his supportive attitude, emphasizing understanding where people are coming from. I find it very easy to "understand" Islam from the outside, much like Mormonism. Just an egomaniac throwing out self-aggrandizing excuses based on his half-understood perception of previous religions to justify people giving him more money and women. And specifically in Islam's case, also being a warlord wanting to codify a system of government that'd do everything he wants it to. But understanding *Muslims* is fascinating - how they make sense of all the things around them, try to do right by their family and community. It's an experience billions have gone through and I'm not at all privy to, and I find it very interesting, if occasionally depressing, to see all the pitfalls humans can fall into - and it's definitely uplifting to see how people overcome that. I hope I can properly offer them sympathy and a safe place to explore their understanding of the world.

[@juliee593]

I have the exact same fascination as you. I'm not a muslim, never have been religious under any form. I see how devastating the religious teachings of islam are, and how much the mainstream apologists will confirm that yes, you can beat your wife, yes, non believers are horrible and worthy of death, yes, gay people should be outlawed. Yet every day there are muslims around me who defy those teachings to be kind to those around them. Fascinating and uplifting. I always say that they are good people *despite* their religion, not because of it.

[@kassadinop068]

Still listening but this is such a banger of a debut episode. Keep up the great work.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

hey thanks so much! that is really encouraging to hear

[@bytemark6508]

I had to post midway this convo.. it's amazing, I love it. Please (both of you) continue on this line.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thanks so much!

[@aosidh]

Such a cool conversation! Especially fascinated by all of the shared "blind spots" about the beliefs/actions of outsiders

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thanks so much. I really enjoyed it!

[@curiousnerdkitteh]

So cool to see your podcast up and to see you team up with Apostate Aladdin!

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thank you! Very excited about this endeavor

[@Sel12t]

Thank you so much for this video, as an ex muslim I love watching Apostate Aladdin and he helped me deconstruct which was so hard because there’s not that many ex muslim creators❤

[@MindShift-Brandon]

It was my pleasure. So glad to hear he was so helpful

[@MrCanis4]

Thank you for your response. We need this in Northern Europe.

[@rebekahcarrell4291]

I learned a few new things today. Awesome first episode! I'm looking forward to more!

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@christopherwhittaker2620]

This is easily one of the best two way conversations I’ve seen on KZbin. Absolutely fascinating. And with such mutual respect and good intent . Outstanding.

[@erinelizabethmsw5137]

Great choice for your first guest Brandon. I’m excited for the podcast!

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Appreciate that! Thanks for being here

[@marcomoreno6748]

Despite having deconverted from Pentecostal Christianity, I identified heavily with your esteemed guest on the topic of overthinking and mental harm I sustained from my faith. Thank you for sharing.

[@suicune2001]

Excellent talk! If there is some kind of deity out there, it clearly doesn't care what we think or do or else it would show up. We wouldn't have invented 18,000 deities with wildly different ethics. There's just zero evidence any man-made deity has any merit and it's just heartbreaking how much harm is being caused because people take their fanfiction WAAAY too seriously. It's like if literal wars were created over Star Wars lore hundreds of years in the future because we forgot it started out as harmless fiction.

[@Jon45678]

Maybe there is something out there that wants to find out who is smart enough to break out of mythological indoctrination.

[@suicune2001]

@@Jon45678 That would be a horrible system when you could be born into a society that executes you if you break out. If a deity cares then it should show it does. Otherwise, I'm going to assume there's either nothing out there or it doesn't care.

[@suicune2001]

@@Jon45678 That would just be the same issue we have with religious people. Putting people in a lifestyle and biology they have no control over and then judge them for it.

[@discontinuedmodel232]

@@Jon45678 I would posit that IF something is out there - and has seen how human evolution is playing out - that this something realizes that tens - maybe even hundreds - of thousands of years of superstitious/unscientific thinking is a biiiiiiiig ship to turn around. It will take many generations to rid humanity completely of mythological indoctrination and the desire for anything religious/supernatural. Homo Sapiens may very well go extinct with never having significantly changed their thinking concerning religion.

[@kca_randy]

AA is the most patient person I’ve maybe ever heard in these types of discussion .

[@MindShift-Brandon]

He is indeed wonderful

[@kca_randy]

Really appreciate all your content Brandon.Listened to this whole discussion-Will definitely add the new podcast to my regular rotation.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

@@kca_randy thats amazing, thanks for the early support

[@tahllaz]

2 of my favorite channels here 🙏🏿thank you guys for working together this is amazing 👊🏿👊🏿👊🏿

[@MindShift-Brandon]

So glad to hear it. Thank you!

[@riseofdarkleela]

Love your content, and super psyched for discussion content to be added as in this podcast. Great conversation! (PS, still working on that song based on “if you made me, why can’t I be me” - it’s brought up a lot of old feelings about my childhood indoctrination but still pushing through).

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Excited to hear it! And thank you much

[@htpkey]

So many excellent questions and answers! This was a joy to listen to.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@htpkey]

I'm not finished with the episode, but everything I heard has been great! 😄

[@yacaattwood2421]

I was very impressed by Apostate Aladdin; I wasn’t familiar with him at all - a great guest, Brandon! I enjoyed the format of your podcast, also

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thank you so much! And yes so happy to introduce him to you.

[@maggienewton8518]

this is great, Brandon and Aladdin. It really helps bring out what's common in religious issues and underlying drives despite different practices. Big help in examining why we believe what we believe. Thank you, both!

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thanks so much, Maggie!

[@andrewpascal6096]

Love to see how well you can transition over to this kind of format, Brandon. Haven’t heard of Aladdin until now, but wowza he’s very sharp.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thanks for being here for it!

[@Rhewin]

I love Apostate Aladdin! His channel made me realize Islam uses all of the same apologetics. I used to think Christianity was somehow more epistemically valid.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

It is amazing just how false and similar all these religions are.

[@Djax111]

What a pleasant surpise to see this drop! Hyped to see the podcast idea already bearing fruit. And a great start as well!

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thanks so much!

[@Djax111]

@MindShift-Brandon no problem! I'm excited to hopefully see him back sometime!

[@thenun1846]

Awesome discussion! It's always a treat hearing brave ex muslims speak

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thanks!

[@Gijakhali]

Good to see AA on your channel. I like his work and I relate to his background growing up Muslim. It’s a lil different cause I’m a girl and girls are reared differently in Islam. It’s v patriarchal. I’m enjoying this convo and learning new info. Thanks.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

So glad to have you here for it. Thanks!

[@CatDaddyGuitar]

Couple the concept of God always knowing our thoughts with the reality that we have no control over what we think. That's crazy makin'!

[@MindShift-Brandon]

100%!

[@brianat4456]

Started watching Apostate Aladdin years ago very excited about this Collab!

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Appreciate you watching!

[@rosrocks3]

Congradulations! on your first podcast Brandon looking forward to more great guest! excellent show! ♥️

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thanks so very much!

[@abbyzerfass367]

I’m so excited for this podcast! Can’t wait to see where you take it and so happy to see information on Islam.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thank you very much!

[@HassanRadwan133]

Two of my favourite KZbinrs in one place

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thanks so much!

[@9ja9ite]

Oh heck yeah!! This Sunday is gonna be good. First Mindshift podcast?!? No need for scrolling today. Let me get my good shoes on it’s time for church 😜😂🤣

[@geniusz1313]

I've just recently discovered Your channel, and I am amazed by how many well made content there is. It is a shame that You have so little subscribers, You deserve more.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thats very kind. Thanks so much! Glad to have you here now.

[@JaunPark2222]

I’m looking forward to following you on your new adventure with the podcast discussions! I know they will all be great because that’s how you do it!

[@MindShift-Brandon]

So very kind. Thank you dearly!

[@r3ggi3000]

That was a great interview. I will go and subscribe to AA's channel. It would be great to be featured on both channels one day.

[@AnnoyingNewsletters]

Wonderful first episode, great guest, and amazing candor in relating your experiences. I look forward to hearing more from you both.❤

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Appreciate that so much!

[@DarqueSyde66]

This was absolutely GREAT!!! I truly enjoyed this conversation!!! @ApostateAladddin, you now have a new follower on your channel! Outstanding job, @MindShift-Brandon. You're kicking all kinds of hind quarters with this new podcast. I hope you have tremendous success and that you continue to give people something to really think about as they deconstruct or as they continue in faith from a place of reality and truth.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thank you so very much!

[@sally5097]

I learned so much from this discussion. So much insight from these two wise souls. Loved it.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thats so kind. Thanks for watching!

[@dewilew2137]

This wan an engaging and necessary conversation. Thank you. 🤗

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Appreciate that!

[@alemore1146]

Hi Brandon, I am glad I discovered your channel. It's excellent!

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thanks so much! Welcome to the fam

[@michaelhenry1763]

Amazing first episode. Very thought provoking. Thank you for your probing questions are respecting your guests journey.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thank you!

[@I-am-bruno]

Wonderful show. Thanks to both of you! ❤

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thanks for watching!

[@abigailwren1741]

What a great first guest, I really enjoyed the whole discussion. Thank you both!

[@sauron69447]

This Podcast is great Brandon! Here's hoping for more!

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thanks so much. Episode 2 is already filmed!

[@sauron69447]

@@MindShift-Brandon Excellent! Perhaps sometimes in the future you could bring The prophet of Zod on the podcast? He's an Atheist youtuber who was once a Christian

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thank you so much to my guest Apostate Aladdin. I enjoyed our conversation so much. Please be sure to check out his channel and my new podcast!

[@bozomori2287]

Islam started being deconstructed since the day Muhammed went public in Mecca. And the Quran documented the arguments of different unbelievers and the divine response to them. Study them. It indicates how well humans reasoned back then and how it wasn't nearly enough to stop religion, because they didnt bring a solution to problems religion tried to solve.

[@TonyLambregts]

I haven't finished watching the video, but I am thoroughly enjoying it. Your guest is very articulate and logical. This is a wonderful start for your podcast. Thank you to both of you.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

@@TonyLambregtsthanks, Tony! Yes AA really helped set the bar for what i hope this podcast will be

[@keksi6844]

Everything you complain about Christianity is explained in Islam.

[@TonyLambregts]

@@keksi6844 so you have actual verifiable empirical evidence that Allah exists? Thats my biggest problem I have with any religion.

[@deb6252]

Wonderful give and take and lots of information. Love the longer podcast format. Great work and I appreciate both of your mind's and hearts.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thanks so much, Deb!

[@7ennifer]

Incredible Interview. I just found Apostate Aladdin and subbed right away because we don't often hear the Muslim perspective. So fascinating to hear two super intelligent and informed people talk without prejudice about these two religious experiences. Hoping to see more of you two together again!

[@Djax111]

Thats exactly what I was thinking too. Gave him.a sub to see more on this topic myself

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thanks so much!

[@DannyS177]

This was a really good conversation!

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thanks, Danny!

[@jeremiahbok9028]

Very exciting, I hope this eventually grows and leads to you rubbing shoulders with people with increasingly big platforms. Meanwhile, I'd never heard of Apostate Aladdin, and he's lovely so this was a pleasure. You have an exceptionally thoughtful, gracious approach that I've often thought would lend itself to collabs, so I'm very glad you've entered this particular public square. Someday, as the podcast gains attention, I'd love to see Rachel Oates, Alex O'Connor, Drew from Genetically Modified Skeptic, Julia Galef, The Antibot, and Hannah Witton (Hannah isn't known for her atheism but she has said publically she is an atheist and if you're not aware of her work as a sex-educator it's excellent). Thank you for what you do!

[@michaelsbeverly]

Love the new venture! Next step is live stuff, no? Fun watching you grow.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

My man! What’s up, Michael. I will do a live q@a when i get to 50k i think. Thanks for the support!

[@geraldmeehan8942]

Really excited about this new endeavor. I really enjoy these deconversation stories. Are you considering having scholars the way MythVision and Gnostic Informant used to and History Valley still does?

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Yes anyone and everyone that can speak to a shift in mind in one fashion or another. And thank you so much!

[@marcomoreno6748]

​​@@MindShift-Brandon I think Dr. Kipp would be great! I can't speak for him but I believe he began deconstructing adjacent to his work on the dead sea scrolls (I'm probably wrong on the specifics of that)

[@ogg5949]

Fantastic show! So wonderful to see intelligent, respectful creators come together. I follow and have a great deal of respect for both of you. Thanks to both of you for your dedication and kindness.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Appreciate this!

[@ogg5949]

@@MindShift-Brandon I love your Bible studies also! I've learned so much and I was a Christian for my first 50yrs! A skeptical Christian but the more I learn, the more I stand by my decision to have not finished raising my children in the church.

[@tofuxtim]

Almost halfway through! Thanks for this one! 👏

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thanks so much for listening

[@EHed-kv2wb]

Great guest and great first episode. I highly recommend others like Nuriyah Khan/Holy Humanist and Abdullah Sameer/Friendly exmuslim if you want more voices from the islam side. ❤

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thanks so much and appreciate the recs!

[@Venaloid]

This was a fantastic discussion. The comparison and contrasting between your two experiences was very interesting to hear.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thanks so much, man!

[@SeekingTruth2023]

Congratulations on your first podcast episide! 🎉 Very nice! I have watched Aladdin before and I loved listening to both of you. You are both very calm and articulate. May I say something off topic? First... I love that you have a sofa in your studio (did you do a studio tour already? You said you planned to, some time ago) It was very nice, that Aladdin was looking directly into the camera. This was really nice. Maybe in your next episodes, you want to look into the camera too? I very much enjoy the feeling as if you speak directly to us viewers, too! 🤗 This is in no way a critique, I just enjoy watching you (and your guest of course) in addition to listening. I am looking forward to many more episodes! Thanks to you and your guest! Best wishes from Germany 🇩🇪 👏

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Appreciate this and all the feedback. Thanks!

[@Noise-Conductor]

The Muslim world needs more ex-Muslims like him.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Lol the Muslim world needs more ex-muslims, period. Ha. but agreed!

[@danielmullings3600]

This collab is very informative

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Glad to hear it! Thanks

[@crizolaczarrazcalozirc6052]

That was so excellent. I can’t even believe it. Great job. Can’t wait for more.

[@exoplanet11]

58:20 Perhaps the best quote. "Oh no. Everyone's just kind of winging it..."

[@MansaDusa]

Both approaches are appropriate and appreciated, the hostile presentations create enough disorder, and out of that comes order. that's how I found you guys. comfort was disrupted by other creators and then guys pieced it together.

[@26beegee]

I think birth rate has more to do with Muslim growth than people generally believe. I lived in Dearborn, MI in the late 70s, even then it was the largest Muslim group outside the Middle East. As a volunteer in my daughter’s school I couldn’t help notice Christian and non-religious families had 2-3 children but Muslim families had 6-8 children. Those children are now in their 50s with children snd grandchildren of their own. That is exponentially greater growth than non-Muslim families. Plus, it is much easier to leave Christianity than the Muslim religion. I am not in danger for leaving Christianity - as a woman I could be killed if I left Islam!

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thats really interesting to hear. Whats going on in Michigan right now is still crazy

[@WitchOracle]

Even today, with both birthrates declining, I would say there is still that difference. My husband's Muslim family (some of whom live in Dearborn but are pretty scattered across the US) have an average of 3 children while my extended family has an average of 2 kids per nuclear family

[@MrCanis4]

An investigation by the federal government 15 years ago. Indigenous couples had 1.8 children per family. Muslim couples 4.2 children per family. Hugely supported with a far too generous child benefit system. From Belgium.

[@26beegee]

@@MrCanis4 be interesting to know the stats from 1977-1980 when I lived in Dearborn. As a room mother and volunteer in my daughter’s school I saw very large Muslim families. I saw the same in Paris when I was a flight attendant from the late 1990s-2020.

[@MrCanis4]

@@26beegee People with an immigration background have doubled in the last 20 years. From 2 million to 4 million. This in a population of 12 million. So 33%. The majority of this group of people are Muslim. This was kept quiet in the media.

[@Melody-o1j7g]

What a fascinating conversation! 👏 You both are so eloquent but at the same time humble and respectful, and as an ex-Christian I could relate to everything you both said. I really enjoyed it. Look forward to your upcoming interviews 😊

[@discontinuedmodel232]

At about 16:15 AA's story about prayer time being the #1 priority reminds me of something: back in the day a guy at my church was a US Army flight instructor (helicopters) and would occasionally train pilots from allied/friendly Islamic countries. One time one of his student pilots started freaking out WHILE BEHIND THE STICK 😱because it was almost prayer time, but he was trying to (safely) land the helicopter. It was a very hurried & rough landing, and my instructor buddy was none-too-happy to say the least! 😡 The second they were safely down the student immediately faced toward Mecca and went into the "prayer position". Think about this - to this student pilot a potentially fatal "hard landing" - with another person onboard no less - was LESS IMPORTANT than being on time for mandatory prayers. I was an instructor (but not aviation) myself. Our classroom breaktimes and some other things too had to be structured around the daily Islamic prayer times when we had Muslim students.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thanks for sharing! Whenever i hear stuff like this is am equally horrified but also impressed by the dedication. Can you imagine if people had the same dedication to truth or helping the needy or preventing suffering etc

[@FoursWithin]

This is almost like turning a mental habit into a physical handicap.

[@Mr.PeabodyTheSkeptic]

I learn something new anytime either of you speak. Thank you. BTW, AA's bravery is admirable.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Glad to hear that!

[@Kirasfox]

Ohhh, I like podcasts and opening to new avenues, hope your day is well!

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thank you! I am very excited about this addition

[@BluStarGalaxy]

The euphoric joy that religions get when they convert an individual from a different religion is quite weird. It feels like a game where they brag, “We got one of your guys!” I knew a missionary family where the dad was involved in a ministry that aimed to bring Christianity to the people of Iran. We would get newsletters with maps showing what percentage of each country in the world is still unreached. There is this idea in the church that until every people group has heard of Jesus, the second coming of Jesus cannot come. I wonder how much of the outreach is less about bringing people to Jesus than checking the boxes. What is happening currently is Risk: World Religions Edition.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Lol! Thats a great way to put it

[@brianat4456]

Started watching Apostate Aladdin years ago very excited about this Collab! Also, yes!! I used to donate monthly to Apostate Prophets patreon, but once he started making videos with David Wood, I canceled it. So disappointing.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

I am not familiar with apostate prophet. But thanks so much for being here.

[@Nemo12417]

Given his friendliness with conservatives, he seems shocked lately that Candace Owens might be antisemitic. As if the number one conservative voice, Tucker Carlson, hasn't spent years mainstreaming the antisemitic Great Replacement theory.

[@Black-White-BW1]

Why?

[@Black-White-BW1]

@@MindShift-BrandonWill you contact apostate prophet one day? Also nice channel and interesting videos btw 😎

[@SadekAber]

great dialogue! can't wait for more future conversations between the two of you. Btw, congratulations on your first episode! I fortunatly came across your content recently and find your voice to be unique and refreshing. I really admire you ability to challenge entrenched paradigms and put into question our deeply held beliefs, and doing so through reason and logic, resisting the temptation of ridiculing the Christian faith (unlike RationalityRules, Matt Dillahunty,..etc). I would love to know your view on the transcendental arguement and whether it is valid argument for the existence of the Christian God (as argued by youtubers like Jay dyer, Andrew Wilson,..)

[@israelmasson4083]

This was a really fun video to watch thx for speaking for us :)

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Glad to hear it. Thanks!

[@NYKim_NY]

I enjoyed this discussion so much and I hope you have more guests on. Great topics, thought provoking and well done!

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Lovely to hear. Thank you!

[@mralien-yp1zq]

i have lots of love for aladdin! im watching as i type and i love this so far! youve gained a new sub ❤

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Hey thanks so much! Welcome and hope you enjoy the conversation

[@jamiegallier2106]

Amazing nuanced discussion, thank you both!❤❤❤

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thanks, Jamie!

[@EricWAtchesVideos]

I have enjoyed Mindshift since I discovered it almost a year ago. I am excited to see what other podcast videos you will post. I liked this video, but your guest is a little serious. I'm sure that it's related to the very real danger he would be in if his identity we discovered, but the tension made this a little tougher to watch in its entirety.

[@BeccaYoley]

Good questions, and choice of guest!! I look forward to watching more of these for sure.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thanks, Becca. This was so much fun for me. Love getting tondo these discussions

[@BeccaYoley]

@@MindShift-Brandon That's awesome!

[@JimmyTuxTv]

Filled my ears with 2hrs of Brandon and guest, ding 🛎️ full of the spirit of truth.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Ha! Thanks for listening!

[@djm1256]

This was excellent! Great episode for the first podcast.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thanks so much!

[@AV-of6yj]

Loving this, Brandon!! I love how you always keep an open mind 🙌🏼

[@MindShift-Brandon]

So glad to hear that. Thank you!

[@Edgarbopp]

Super enjoyed this.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Glad to hear it. Thanks!

[@ManzuraDosnazarova]

As an ex Muslim i loved it

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Glad to hear! Thanks for watching

[@Drby_]

Brandon this was excellent! Keep em comin

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Many thanks and will do!

[@RiannaNicole]

Gonna chew through this today. Great to see Aladdin, and while visiting my grandma, we were talking about Muslims

[@MindShift-Brandon]

Thanks for being here for it!

[@OldNewsIsGoodNews]

Listening in little bits and pieces here and there (hopefully I'll have more of a chance to listen properly later in the week), but the tidbits I've heard so far are great!

[@ericlima2832]

Thank you

[@jshud3]

I have found, post deconstruction, I tend to hold on to "belief's" much more loosely... with an open hand and ask myself, what is it that I do think about... (insert topic). Now I'm fond of saying to myself, no one person or book holds the entirety of all there is.

[@MindShift-Brandon]

100%!

[@FoursWithin]

Or one belief system

[@deb6252]

Wow. Just finished watching and cannot wait for next 2 hours. So refreshing to discuss our experiences in a thoroughly civil, respectful and honest manner. You are both outstanding! men and I am grateful for the gift of being able to learn so much. Thank you!