Armin Navabi: The Poison Pill of Islam (Part 1 of 2)

[@ranymnenneh4915]

This dude is literally a survivor of Islam. A survivor of trauma. Hats off to you, friend. Your resilience is inspiring. In solidarity, Fellow ex-Muslim

[@luqmaanmohamed7153]

No he is a survivor of shiasm. Remember shias worship Ali ra and fatima the goddess. A Muslim worship Allah alone and nothing else. You lack knowledge and understanding. Educate yourself

[@shashishekhar----]

@@luqmaanmohamed7153 well the Irony.

[@shashishekhar----]

@@luqmaanmohamed7153 You yourself are brainwashed about shia'as and telling lies here, now stop worshipping pedophile and get out of this cult.'Educate yourself'.

[@Roma-co3go]

he is not a survivor he is looser he lost hope in ALLAH ❤️

[@joebalser9515]

@@Roma-co3go and in doing so, he's saved from meeting Allah in hell. Allah is the god of hell and nothing more

[@MikeNewton]

Fear of hell, one of the strongest forces keeping people in religion. Add missing one prayer a reason enough to go there, you get radical islam.

[@nickgoldyscreams]

and any other religion, each one has it's own laughable infraction for eternal damnation

[@dogmahacker8278]

Even when I was a Christian I would do the same thing of putting a match to my skin just to try to imagine what it was like and to try to empathize as much as I could with the people who I thought were down there. My empathy for people I thought were in hell didn't come until around the years before my de-conversion. When I was younger I was indoctrinated enough to truly believe that unbelievers deserved every last bit of it, because they didn't believe. I knew a pastor who would put a lighter to an unbelievers skin without their consent and then when the unbeliever jump out of his seat because of the shock of pain the pastor would use that pain as a tool for conversion to try to scare the unbeliever into accepting Jesus. ""Imagine going to a place where you feel that all over your body for all eternity. Don't you want salvation?"" He said. He encouraged the church to go out and to the same to unbelievers they all knew. Being 16 at the time and a nonsense filled Christian, I thought it was just about the best idea ever. Or course I was too young to fully grasp how messed up that was. And what if one guy decides to take it further and really hurts someone, just to send a message? Like use your imagination, and tells the victim that hell is much worse so he should repent. I say this because I remember being a Christian and talking about how we need to get unbelievers to really be scared so they can come to Jesus. How fucked up is that? I remember this line from the Left Behind series with Kirk Cameron where a newly converted Christian during the Tribulation kills a guy and and says ""It doesn't matter, He's going to hell anyways."" As a child this kind of ideology shaped my mind for many years into this except or burn mentality. Even today when I look back at how indoctrinated I was, I am still amazed at how I ever got out, I was deep into it. Being on the inside, I truly know how religion messes up the mind and how it leads to very dangerous thinking.

[@ShawnNac]

5WISEVIRGINS cause the Bible told you so??

[@suffist]

*+5WISEVIRGINS *"you will find out if HELL exists when you drop dead" Prove it? Who's hell will we find out exists? The Christian? The Jewish? Or the Muslims? Or do we go to all three?

[@nickgoldyscreams]

oooooooooooooh i'm shivering in my boots. Tell your god to be EXTRA hard on me and keep the heat ALL the way up, bitch. fuck. your. god. and. everyone. else's. I'm a dignified human being who can accept the concept of death without having to make up a fairy tale "us vs them" situation so that i may know I'm good only because I'm juxtaposed against those I consider to be 'evil'. And I'm not mad or angry or hate-filled so you can fuck off with that rhetoric, this is my common tone and verbiage and i am in no way ashamed, or do I think it's 'wrong'.

[@Troubleshooter125]

That a KID would consider committing suicide to escape the possibility of eternal damnation should be indicator enough of the damaging and abusive quality of religious indoctrination. *NO ONE* should be subjected to that.

[@lahwf125]

People commit suicide for 1 million other reasons i think you are not thinking straight. Atleast with jesus if you go back to the moments before his physical death a criminal on his side simply believed in him and was taken with jesus to paradise. All you have to do is believe in jesus and try and fight your sins - you can never stop sinning.

[@RobBates]

I was raised Mormon. For them, the age of accountability is 8. I nearly killed myself when I was 7 for this same reason. I propped a long knife on the floor, and suspended myself above it on chairs, and was going to fall on it, but my sister saw me and intervened. Then I turned 8 and it was too late. I left Mormonism when I was 26, and have since talked to MANY other former Mormons with stories very similar to mine. It is a real danger.

[@omarkhamis523]

Rob Bates it's literally uneducation who causes all that. No one should be allowed to kill him self. Islam forbids it and you will go to hell for doing it. This dude is wrong and misunderstood the concept. Allah has sympathy and he will spare alot of non Muslims in the judgment day

[@RobBates]

So as a child, it's my responsibility to properly parse complex scripture? Sorry mate, but an all powerful god should write more clearly.

[@omarkhamis523]

Rob Bates no as a child you should only learn or be taught from some one who knows what he's doing and have fully grasp of Islam. You don't go to an uneducated highschool dropout and expect him to teach you quantum physics... My parents thankfully fully understand Islam and they taught me right way and answered all my questions about it. Also if you commit suicide in Islam you go straight to hell cause it's Haram no matter if your child or adult so his teachers were wrong anyways

[@mosyemessy]

As an iranian and an ex muslim atheist, I can identify with his story. although I didn't go through as extreme of an experience as he did. or maybe I blocked the memories and don't remember them anymore. but strangely enough, I do remember wanting to kill myself to get to heaven when I was younger. I mean it's logical by the rules that are set and you are given. it's a good getaway given the idealogy you are surrounded with. Now I didn't take any actions thankfully but there could have been people who did take the next step. and he is the proof.

[@siddubois4753]

So have I, I think it’s common for a lot of Muslim children growing up sadly

[@Christmas_spirt]

Shias are not muslim u don’t count u people are brainwashed by your idiotic government

[@thepunisher6306]

@@Christmas_spirt sunnis, its time u give up your satanic religion .

[@yeptoo1148]

Religion and especially islam is a plauge to human.

[@tablighjb1632]

Iranian is syiah...

[@Whimswirl]

I'm an ex Muslim too and I remember attempting suicide twice when I was 8 because I wanted to go to heaven and not reach the age of reason.

[@vampirorose1521]

I can call it as ur mistake and less of parents guideline to truth islam. Kids cant thk well n differentiate well, tats why ur parents need to alwaus communicate w u n let the confused go away. I dont face suicide problem in islam during my childhood time, my parents lead me well and explain good, and i close with them n always ask n ask, and they give good guideline.

[@christopherdesimone206]

@@vampirorose1521 You would have done better if you worshiped the Easter bunny, it doesn't have a hell to send you, plus you get Ester candy and Easter eggs, and a day off from school.

[@jawadasgharrizvi1050]

The moment you can figure out something this intense you have already reached the age of reason.

[@Tragic.Kingdom]

In dharmic religions. The concept of reincarnation is the best! Do good, be good in this life and ur afterlife reincarnated into another being will be good! Karma - "what comes around goes around"

[@authenticwarrior7877]

Oh my god....you are bold enough to reveal

[@noshadb.e3111]

in Iran most of us are athiest because we are under sharia law and we know what te hell it means

[@user-kf8rw7cn8v]

Hahaha sharia law in Iran hahahahaha

[@shakkazulu7733]

The fact of the matter is that Iran expresses Shia law, that is more extreme and most contorted understanding of Islam. Because of that many Iranians are finding it hard to live under that regime and hence become atheists in order to escape that bondage

[@Tragic.Kingdom]

What about zoroastrianism

[@alfaabdu618]

Hocus Pocus it ia not shreia low it is Shia low .

[@SI-dc2zz]

You are under Khomeni law not Shariah law

[@Ak-qc7qc]

Ex Muslim woman from India 🙏🏽 #thetruthwillsetyoufree

[@kotekzot]

Islamic Pascal's wager is fucking hardcore.

[@sergiootero5904]

He was a pretty logical little kid.

[@NewAccount-gq8ig]

He was most stupid as he even bothered to find the answer or to do a basic research. Scientifically he will find answer that as per modern science Girls achieves puberty much lesser age compared to boys. He never believed in god as islamic god is most gracious and most merciful.

[@christopherdesimone206]

Sergio O, .......yes, but rooted in fear. How can anyone love whom they fear?. It's called CONTROL without free will. Contradiction after contradiction. People have to let go of things baring contradictions, which are lies. Truth has no contradictions.

[@christopherdesimone206]

@@NewAccount-gq8ig .......You are a confused person, captured and held in a web of lies. Your mind is not your own. You are not a critical thinker, yet your a grown man.

[@christopherdesimone206]

@The Top Comment COMMENTER ..........Prove otherwise then. The burden of proof weighs on the believers, not on the unbelievers. Since you say god is real, then prove it. Not by saying you believe it, or you have faith that god is real. Bring clear proof of it. Clear factual evidence of the truth, clear by the eyes, and the ears, that all may know that god is real. If the proof of any god is less then positive, then it is negative. Now bring the proof.

[@Julien-bt7fd]

This little bugger had already several things on his mind, and he realised ther is no way to get dru the gate. Supricingly the old beduin had no assurance either! Now just think about that! how can eanyone trust this old guy to guide him to heaven?? Sorry but I'm not able to figure this out!

[@catherine_404]

He was a reasonable, logical child who took false premises as true and built upon it; he reasoned that the best action is to kill himself. And he would be right if it was true! He wasn't a bad, angry child, he was searching for the best solution. And in view of that there are people saying belief is nice even it's not proven to be true.

[@jinn_1891]

this is why religion is potentially harmful for some, as people may behave irrationally and even in some cases put their faith before their own children ...... sad really.

[@Christmas_spirt]

Shias from Iran are not muslim

[@apatheiaconvivium8002]

People who merely believe and don't think, forget that they continually expose themselves to their worst enemy: doubt; wherever belief reigns, doubt lurks in the background. But thinking people welcome doubt - it serves them as a valuable stepping stone to better knowledge. Jung

[@Andresfreeman420]

he was lying look to his body language when he speaks and every time he looks every time he say a lie bullshit he made up about things he did when he was young definitely he is lying

[@NewAccount-gq8ig]

Does not agree with you that his reasonable. Still he does not research or may be still does not know that as per Science and natrually girls achieves puberty at much less age compared to boys. Reasonable or logical child will never stop finding meaningful answer or at least studying his religious book. How he can be logical commenting on something which failed to study as a child and still does not understand.

[@ttmguitar]

Holy shit, that was a intense story.

[@99bits46]

I can't get around the fact that his dumass teacher started calculating the number of days his parents would suffer in hell.. and not recognizing the sign of depression when a kid asked him if he could commit suicide.

[@NewAccount-gq8ig]

That was a stupid story. Away from logic and todays modern science.

[@nuux1560]

@@NewAccount-gq8ig You're talking about the religious teachings. But his understanding of it and how he tried to act against it - it was clearly an intense story you dumb bastard.

[@markuslappalainen6847]

Lying to kids about santa claus is pretty mild compared to scaring them with hell.

[@Lou13Cyf3r]

SCIENCE flies you to the moon...... religion flies you into buildings

[@Nathan-sc7hs]

+RoAcH812 Hiroshima, the Great Leap Forward, Stalin's purges, the '08 banking crash of a corrupted capitalism, etc. Fanaticism comes in various forms, it isn't restricted to traditional religion. You could abolish all religion and it would have no affect on the crazy inner worlds of many people - they would just find other outlets to express their irrationality, psychoses and pathologies. Basically, it is human consciousness that needs transformation if we hope to get better long-term results.

Not, unless, you have a flying donkey like mohd, heck, you can even split ,the moon in 2 , using more then 10x ,the power , in the combined nuclear , explosion in japan and put it back with mohd, superglue type semen

[@goransvraka3171]

Bahahha

[@tsherman393]

Many great scientists were and are Christian. Your ignorance is apparent.

[@goransvraka3171]

@@tsherman393 Many great Arabs invented mathematics, currency, etc Islam or should I say religion came and the great inventions stopped. You lack of research is even greater!

[@bamboo59.52]

The sooner all religion is in the dustbin of time the better, Then humanity can move on.

[@samnikole1643]

James Kane Your humanity is over! NWO is comming and your freedom is done! Alexa is already recording everything and 5 G is making people brain sick cancer sick and dying. So your own gov is on a mission to kill you off So no you are not moving on!

[@bustarhymes6188]

It isn’t the religion it is the label. You can use democracy as well as hinduism or others things as a vehicle to murder someone.

[@ombaba_777]

@@bustarhymes6188 buddhism n hinduism are just terms used by those who belong to mono theistic faiths, there r no such words in our texts, only word that can be found is sanatana dharma which has no equivalent in western thought, one can be atheisict agnostic sceptic hedonistic and still follow dharma, . . . monotheistic abrahamic faiths find it hard to understand dharma as it is has no equivalent one word in engkish, u dont need to believe in any god to follow dharma . . . morality, cosmic law, humanity, essence of reality etc give an inkling of what is dharma, but it is more than that . . . ॐ

[@NewAccount-gq8ig]

Humanity can not move on without Islam which has given equal rights to all human being, gave rights to animals and to prisoners of wars, and for education that to get education go 1000s km if required, gave us science to cross check and to be a believer. I met 100s of Atheist from Europe, Middle east and India and never found any one logical or with any study on what they are commenting. Moreover Atheist like stupid and bad drivers who want to blame a car for driving accident without even reading manufacturer instructions. Really want to come across with a single Atheist who believe in modern science and humanity.

[@yabobayo5787]

New Account Yes they can move on without Islam, Come on now wake up. Spirituality and dogma is different. As a Muslim I like some discipline alcohol, dietary things and praying together. But when I think about hell. Allah sounds like an angry, bully and insecure god who things only me me me. Very human God, but with lots of power. Meaning was lost and changed and misinterpreted.

[@truvelocity]

Armin Navabi, you moved me to tears.

[@NewAccount-gq8ig]

Really me too.... How a person is so non-scientific in todays world to understand that girls achieve puberty much lesser compared to boys and it is as per science and naturally. I am too in tears to know somewhere in the world still a child exist so much poor in common sense, science and basic understanding.

[@tobiashagstrom4168]

I admire his consequential thinking, to realize that living with a chance of messing up and going to hell is essentially a gamble, and killing yourself is a loophole. Obviously messed up, but given the beliefs the adults had gotten into him, what he did was clearly the most rational from his point of view.

[@xkatnisstylinson]

I'm already crying from how fucked up this is and I'm only halfway through the video

[@Christmas_spirt]

xKatniss Stylinson he is an ex Shia that is not Islam period this clown is perfect example of the brainwashed Persians

[@johnhw6068]

leblover77; Thank you for verifying my disgust in religion generally, and for the first time, exchanging my tolerance for a hatred of Islam. You are a gift to atheists and Islamophobia..

[@Christmas_spirt]

john hw I am an atheist u idiot

[@razalasreficul6902]

@@Christmas_spirt you're absolutely right, the Persians were too weak to defeat the Muslims and ended up throwing a rich and proud culture, history and contribution to science away.

[@johnhw6068]

leblover77 Ok, you are instead an embarrassment to atheists and Islamophobia..Being an atheist does not rule out bigotry, as you demonstrate.

[@desmond2437]

As an Egyptian ex Muslim I also had a fear of Hell but I thought much more differently about hell my parents always told me that if I don't pray I will go to hell but they said only for awhile since I am a Muslim after a while in hell I would be put in heaven so I got scared and started praying but I really really hated praying it's just felt so boring and my dad didn't really teach me that much on how to pray properly like to know what Duaa's to say and other stuff to say so I thought well staying in hell is bad but it's only for awhile since I am a Muslim so I thought well fuck it I'll just enjoy life while I can then go to hell for awhile then after my punishment I'll finally go heaven. But I still had a fear of Hell at the back of my mind but now lucky I was able to leave Islam and never think about going to hell ever again.

[@Christmas_spirt]

Desmond Shias are not muslim

[@jnagra9089]

Why don’t muslims realise your allha is the devil...

[@Christmas_spirt]

J Nagra Allah means god devils come from America. Don’t get confused next time

[@stephenrochester6309]

leblover77 STFU and go to hell!

[@Christmas_spirt]

Stephen Rochester cry me a river u triggered brainwashed victim of society.

[@ruirodtube]

The day religions cease to exist humanity will reach another level of freedom and enlightenment.

[@elijahdavallos6955]

5WISEVIRGINS jeez, talk about extremism lol

[@HardKore5250]

ruirodtube Robots are taking over all jobs

[@save_theworld]

The confusion will be great. See the gay, lesbian and the liberal actions, that will give you a hint of what the world will be.

[@seikoshinobaka9139]

@@save_theworld No one cares that gays and lesbians exist, just religious zealots, I'm not sure why that would affect us. Liberal actions? Like the actions of those that fought for equality? What about the religions that kill people for leaving and torment them with ideas of hell?

[@NoOne-ul8ni]

@@save_theworld your religion was written by homophobic ignorant little men. God was the fantasy that they assumed to be true. God was their way of explaining why things happened but it was just a guess. Open your mind and stop being so ignorant.

[@catherine_404]

The world he was reared in hurt him so much! I hope there are people who support him now and he feels that support, that he's all right now, and his parents too.

[@jinn_1891]

what people don't realise is that even some atheists suffer from guilt which was part of the indoctrination ........ some things are harder to shake off I guess.

[@brianmagee6595]

I find Armin's story tragic and inspiring for it. Exposives how much fear is the basis and foundation. For why so many people continue to believe in the Abrahamic Faith despite how non logical and irrational it is. My own Mother has told me for me do not believe is the devil telling me he got me. That if I were to even leave Christianity. It would break her heart. I hope that many who endure fear as the foundation of their faith. Can escape it and find peace in a secular community like my friend Armin.

[@NymeriaLupin]

I'm so sorry you went through that horror and abuse. I remember fearing that I would go to Hell in middle school and (combined with the bullying I faced at the time) contemplating suicide on a near-daily basis for similar reasons (although my poison was Christianity). I'm so happy you survived for your and your family's sake. Your life is worth far more than any baseless superstition! Hugs!

[@kingovue]

Powerful interview. One many in hiding can relate to. Thanks for sharing.

[@ReLLaKaT316]

Hey no need to hide 👍🏻🙏

[@NewAccount-gq8ig]

What is powerful, lack of science that still does not know that scientifically and naturally girls achieve puberty much lesser age compared to boys. So dumb that even does not want to or not bother to find answer in his religious book or in modern science. It is classic example, he and his family are not practicing islam nor they read islam. He is commenting something which he never studied.

[@jason4366]

@@NewAccount-gq8ig this is all you muslims do. You do nothing to refute his claims or explain how what he said is inaccurate. You just say that he doesn't know what islam is. For the record islam is nothing more than a death cult.

[@muhammadyaseen2876]

I grew up in a more hardcore Islamic family than you , my parents were strictly practising Muslims, since childhood we heard all about heavens and hell. But that never disturbed me at all, because i was taught that God's mercy is more dominant than God's wrath, that all you have to do is repent and you will be forgiven. I heard that you would be forgiven if you transgress the rights of God, but not if you transgress the rights of other human beings. All i learned was that God is merciful , more merciful than the very mother who gave birth to us. And i still believe that, I cannot thank God enough for being born a Muslim. Who goes to hell or heaven is a matter of God's will, it is not about prayers or fasting. We heard the story of the prostitute and the thirsty dog over and over again, which is about the small acts that decides about us in the hereafter. Clearly you had been taught wrong, for example, jumping from the window and dying will not send you to heaven, its suicide. The teacher who told you that you will be going to the lower part of heaven if you commit suicide , was clearly a moron who did not know anything .

[@yabobayo5787]

muhammad yaseen I just think Allah should worry about the hungry kids around the world and Palestinians. He’s busy preparing that oven to cook us all. Shit I need to repent real Quick. Astagfurullah

[@CarlWong5]

Armin’s act of attempting suicide was completely logical given a belief in what he was taught. Some murder-suicides are the result of similar logic in the US among evangelical Christians. I seriously wonder why the number of children committing suicide in such places is not higher. Maybe they don’t truly believe what they were taught. Maybe they are not thinking logically about what they are being taught to believe?

[@trishayamada807]

Carl Wong I cant understand why theists tell me to kill myself since I don’t believe in god or heaven so what do I have to live for? I find that backwards. I have everything to LIVE for and nothing to DIE for. I get one life to live and I’m going to live it as best I can. You theists get disneygod land when you’re dead. You have MORE to DIE for. Why get medical help, why live healthily, why do anything to prolong youre existence here on earth? Makes no sense. But religion is senseless.

[@AZ-js4um]

"Similar logic in the US among evangelical Christians?" What do you mean by this

[@nukettunakeles6065]

ex-muslim my self, who walked same pat just mild ones

[@TheLacedaemonian300]

Holy shit what an incredible story! Seth, you need to get this guy on your podcast.

[@danteflame87]

you should listen to his episode on Islam then ;)

[@therationalguard7935]

Nice to hear your story Amin. I was raised a Christian, terror of Hell was part of my spiral into serious mental health problems.

[@FratFerno]

I'm glad that knowledge of different religions is so widely available. While it didn't make me full-on atheist, what I deduced about different religions summarized in my middle school (at around 13 years old) World History class was that religion was largely a subjective matter with a mutual conclusion that something is out there. Then I realized that it doesn't answer prayers. Then I realized that the "something" itself is a figment of ancient imagination.

[@amystojcevski7770]

I went to a very strict Christian school and I remember praying with my friends at lunch time crying, praying my parents would go to church on sundays so that they don’t go to hell. I know what it feels like as a child. Any religion to any extreme is dangerous. For me, there is a higher power, I just have my own beliefs. As long as our intentions are good and we try to be the best versions of ourselves, that is enough for me. I’m not atheist, I am agnostic.

[@hamzacavus2932]

I find it very strange that he never mentioned anything about forgiving in Islam? Repent and it's like you have never done the sin. He wasn't taught this basic thing? Or later in his own research he never came across it? Really strange, because that would completely turn his thinking when he was a child.

[@zeinababdallaoza]

Hamza Cavus very true may ALLAH bless you and he failed to mention the the mercy of ALLAH supersedes his anger/wrath and that he is more merciful than you are to your self..... and all this concludes that none goes to hell except the evil creation of God that failed to ask for forgiveness after they sin..... I feel sorry for this guy coz if he dies in this situation he is definitely gonna get what he has been afraid of..... I pray to ALLAH that he sees the right path and return to his relgion

[@bellycurious]

So... Hell doesn't exists.

[@salahuddinyusuff]

Exactly, he should've at least mentioned that he's used to followed Shi'ism instead of Islam this video...

[@flowerb2815]

He is right 100% right i myself always scared of the hell .My dad always told the scary stories of hell . i had so many unanswered questions but nobody answered because they said i will be infidel to islam if i doubt in Islam Finally at age 30 i was able to freef from this toxic religion long story but i am very happy.

[@peimanrazavi705]

Unfortunately every thing he says is really familiar to what I experienced in iran

[@InformationIsTheEdge]

Religion, the result of being taught what to think rather than how.

[@mbroughton038]

InformationIsTheEdge not true! Our Judeo-Christian teachings are the complete antithesis of this crazy stupid Islamic indoctrination’s. You need to read your Bible, then study it and hopefully you get the message of life, light and increase.

[@genghiskhan773]

InformationIsTheEdge nice

[@pilgrimpater]

looking forward to part#2

[@secularsekai8910]

You guys should do another interview of Armin today, as well as Susanna 👍

[@sachamm]

One of the most moving videos I've ever seen. Powerful and emotional.

[@yvesandrethevenot3489]

Great person. Met him briefly in London Conference for freedom of speech. Admiration for him.

[@anglaispourtous4079]

There is no Hell. (unless you count sitting through a Steven Anderson sermon)but seriously, there is no Hell. live your life, be happy. Love and accept others. Do good, care, and everything will be alright.

[@riparianlife97701]

About a month ago, I began dating a Muslim woman. The first Muslim woman I've ever gotten close to. She assumed, because I'm American, that I was Christian. She told me that we believe in the same god, so it was all right for us to be together. I told her I don't believe in any god. That doesn't work for her. In her mind, she's a good person, and I'm a bad one, so she's justified in ripping my heart out. Let's see her god carry her 18 year old, severely-disabled daughter up and down stairs like I've been doing for the past month.

[@wade2bosh]

invite her to a humanist thing?

[@riparianlife97701]

+wade2bosh I don't appear to have the opportunity to do so. She hasn't responded to me in over 2 days. This is right after she spent hours describing the rest of our lives together.

[@exzoro8193]

Docktor Jim Try giving her these links. It might free her from the suffocating grip of islam.

[@whale6833]

This is what we call "cuckoldry". It's where a woman who made a mistake with a past man looks for another male to take over that responsibility. Humanists are the perfect target for this. Half this community is cucked to the core. Resist letting yourself be used like this. If my assumptions are wrong I apologize.

[@maryammuslimah7660]

Docktor jim hahahaha you made good story.

[@SuperBooboohaha]

I have a similar story , I was born in to a Catholic family, strongly believed in miracles , I used stare a t the distant sky, asking God to send a sign, so that I can feel special ,and I remember praying for extreme intelligence so that I can prove to the whole world that God exists. Somehow I stumbled upon Dawkins on KZbin , it was hard journey from then , that moment when you that everything believed is nothing less than fable. Internet took me to unknown places and opened the treasure of knowledge. Internet woke me up from my dogmatic slumber.

[@CarlWong5]

Great video. An an evangelical Christian, I was very afraid of going to hell too, and my experience was similar to his. I had thought that since most people were going to end up in hell and burn forever, it made sense for people to not have any children (since odds are they are going to burn in hell forever). I once heard a Bible teacher explain that (paraphrasing here) the reason why the punishment in hell must last forever is because people go to hell for rejecting God, and that is so heinous of a sin that the punishment never “catches up” to the severity of the sin. A psychiatrist once told me that I had worried obsessively about it, and I tried to explain to him that since hell is ETERNAL TORTURE, it would be perfectly logical to obsessively think about it. He seemed unconvinced. Neil Carter wrote about Hell 2.0 (google it) where evangelicals imagine that hell is not really eternal torture (like the Bible says) but is some kind of milder punishment. They are realizing the illogic of eternal punishment for a finite number of sins.

[@niamhnidhalaigh5861]

Carl Wong why would you worry about hell as an evangelical Christian when Jesus dies for your sins, taking your punishment on the cross, saving you from hell ?

[@vishnuvardhan5096]

Society needs people like you to encourage other Muslims who are in that dilemma and fear

[@kuriosites]

Wonderful. I was so impressed with him when you had him on the podcast previously. I'm looking forward to part 2.

[@jackdaniels2905]

I hope Muslims or other religious members, that feel like leaving, have a safe opportunity to do so.

[@ThursdayMonkey475]

Fuck. That's some really heartbreaking shit. I remember my mom instilling tons of deep Christian ideals in me as a kid, while totally not following any of the shit she preached, and it fucked me up for a while. I also spent years as a child, deeply depressed and scared that I was going to hell. I even had this creepy phase around 11, where any time I did an act that might piss god off, I would immediately begin quietly, whisper praying. Like, wherever the fuck I was, it didn't matter. People probably thought I had autism. Still to this day, I'm excessively apologetic for small, insignificant shit and get anxiety for shit I might say or do, that might be deemed the behavior of a bad person. People seem to just flat out ignore the harmful effects of religion.

[@mrozhere]

I have a great deal of respect for Armin Navabi. Thank you

[@Sajadela]

You pretty much exactly described my process of leaving Christianity.

[@theragingcyclone]

Once you cross a certain level of intelligence its is very hard to keep believing in these nonsense cults.

[@rebwarakram1289]

And please don't take this as an example of Islam. He came from Iran, although good people but this doesn't represent Isalm. I hope you're looking for a religion and find the right path.

[@theragingcyclone]

@@rebwarakram1289 Islam is much more horrible than what this gentleman has explained in his experiences with that evil ideology of hatred and bigotry.

[@wotkosk]

What ? So probably you didnt have enough christian tuition. Because in christianity and hell it isnt like with islam. Christianity have all answers for questions like this so you couldnt have a doubt. (sry for my eng)

[@theragingcyclone]

@@wotkosk // Christianity have all answers for questions // How old is earth?

[@mesunekonyan]

While I was in university, I was taking Sociology of Religion. My professor said, "if you love someone do you fear that someone" we said no and she said "then why do we fear god if we love him?" her point then is that we shouldn't be afraid to god if he truly love us and we love him. But with these punishments that written on holy books it really make you fear god and if there is fear then there's no real love. Thus, your god doesn't love because it doesnt exists.

[@Naghmara]

This guy is so amazing. And it shows what happens when you apply religious indoctrination to a child that is a rational responsible problem solver. It's almost lucky that most people aren't at that age LOL.

[@luckylaki4290]

Islam is a peaceful religion ❤, it teaches us to care to others, give ones in need from whatever we are able to

[@barbarasherman4870]

Thank you Armin. I got the same teachings about hell as a young child at a fundamentalist Christian church. I remember having nightmares.

[@KiaraCameescu]

I did not know the background story of Armin! You are a champ man! I am greatful and hopeful that you exist and you inspire!

[@sre1236]

Powerful message for all religions

[@infinitetundra]

tse tse Go Cowboys!

[@samnikole1643]

tse tse And for athiests! You are no better than a muslim ! Repent!

[@gregjohnson298]

You prove your god and I will repent to him.

[@samnikole1643]

Greg Johnson Been proven! Research !

[@teddayer6523]

Bravo Armin. Behet eftekhar mikonam.

[@supersmasher246]

Wow, i could relate so much, except when i was a practising Muslim, i decided that if i went to paradise i would ask Allah to wipe my existence just because i didn't want any virgins, servants or wives and all the food/drinks. Apparently everyone from hell needs to be "cleansed" then they could go to paradise, even though some sins are unforgivable by Allah; your sins have an effect on the torture you receive and the length of time. I was even considering martyrdom not for the virgins, but just so i didnt go to hell; and then of course beg Allah to erase my existence. Fortunately, KZbin videos like these made realise how much BS Islam truly is by going into depth about my doubts.

[@supersmasher246]

Looking back i cringe, but i was only free from the craziness around almost two months ago. Your assumption was right though, few years back martyrdom was slowly starting to make sense because of course if you get the ultimate reward for killing a few people and then dieing; then who wouldn't do it. Only thing stopping me was fear of missing out on video games and movies; i could have easily been radicalised.

[@exzoro8193]

Elias 1999 The following links would free you completely from the madness of islam and religion in general.

[@exzoro8193]

Elias 1999 Short videos on earliest qur'anic arabic with English and Arabic texts for about 10 minutes. Origins of qur'an part 1 kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHSWdaiCo7qbbdk part 2 kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5DWp2iqhdGhpMk Interesting e-book on early islam and arab history www.amazon.com/dp/B00903HTIE/ref=cm_sw_r_wa_awdb_06TrzbNDSAW50

[@EvolBob1]

Ellias 1999 I would find the requirement to pray five times a day or you would go to hell, would be a clue as to what kind of god you are praying to. And then there are a lot of other Islamic beliefs that beggar believing god would want you to do, or you would go to hell. Doesn't it occur to many Muslims that Allah would be a terrible person, and a very nasty kind of God? I'd like to ask what reaction you get, when you make any comments about Islam?

[@supersmasher246]

Many Muslims are thoroughly brainwashed by their parents/Islamic teachers so they dont think for themselves; in Islam you aren't even allowed to question or criticise parts of the quran or the teachings of the prophet, you are supposed to follow everything without any resistance. Criticising and questioning can be punished by death in places like Saudia Arabia. The majority of muslims haven't even read all the quran since the majority of muslims don't speak Arabic; most of them blindly follow islam or are spoon fed the "disney" version of islam. I try to show other Muslims the truth about islam through debates on KZbin, But they can't criticise me because you can't criticise fact (science); so after referencing parts of the quran for my points; it always ends in two situations. They delete all their comments or they stop responding after i show evidence.

[@fairwitness7473]

Exchange Mormon for Muslim and that's my story. The childhood feelings, the depression, the fear... All of it. So glad I engaged critical thinking skills. I finally gave myself the religious inoculation and became an atheist. So glad I'm not alone.

[@davidlabelle361]

Man, escaping the fear of hell can be a real BIITCH of a time. Took me some years. LSD was a big help.

[@shushunk00]

My home tutor instigated the atheism on a miniscule level when I was in my grade 7 from there my journey towards atheism started.🙏

[@kulkulan223]

Sir listening to your story I just wanted to give you a hug, no child should have to live their existence under the threat of eternal torture for themselves and their loved ones. You were obviously smart enough to put the pieces together and realize that its time to flee this nonsense, unfortunately many are not and that is the only place such ancient ideologies can thrive. We will one day all move forward as humanity and so will our understanding of existence.

[@Kewonerdk]

Being an atheist is the best thing ever. Just believing in your self and your fellow human, gives you a control over your life, you wouldn’t have as a religious, you and you alone have a control over you life, and no one else!

[@CarlWong5]

Given a belief in what he was taught, it would also be logical to burst into a classroom full of children with a machine gun and kill as many as you can before someone kills you. It would be analogous to saving children from a burning building, given that most of them, though Muslims, are going to be tortured forever in hell. You are rescuing them from that and sending them to heaven instead. I wonder why we don’t see that happening all the time in communities where such beliefs are taught.

[@stephenrochester6309]

There was a guy on Tumblr a while ago called Iranianatheist. Absolutely great at answering questions Muslims had about Islam and atheism, would love to see you meet up with that guy and have a discussion.

[@jasonsmith6675]

I applaud your insight & strength 👍 So happy you've found your free mind ✌

[@tetamukadez5646]

This is unreal,this guy understands I had an almost alike experience growing up muslim

[@Leviathan123456]

if the concept of hell didn't exist in religion you would find a ton less religious people. its the safety net of Christianity and Islam. you can leave if you choose but if you do....you know the rest

[@vizx8574]

buddhism , hinduism , jaininsm , sikhism . No hell only Karma , and Karma is a more fucking bitch than hell .

[@ShawnNac]

karan verma Karma? lol... More fairy tales.

[@vizx8574]

Heaven? lol More fairy tales .Karma is a substitute of another fairy tale , whole world is shit people want fairy tales in their life . no one want to live in reality , world is full of stupids(theist) and stupidity cant be cure .

[@ShawnNac]

karan verma Where in my comment did you read heaven? It's all fairy tales.

[@apatheiaconvivium8002]

These nuggets are well done. Mostly appeals to non-muslims to actively oppose the creed, at every opportunity. Fear is an unforgiving master.

[@seanspawn7805]

Teaching children there's a hell is child abuse.

[@alexgibson5145]

It is not about religion or anything else, Its about us, The Humans, you and me. Our lives are all about our choices, priorities, time (how do we spend it), mood, going against, feeling insecure or secure, scared or not. We satisfy/dissatisfy ourselves by giving us reasons for the situation, we are in. We want more than we have now; want to cross our current limits. May be we are looking for unending perfection that depends on the opinion of others. What we have done, what are we doing, what will we do, what do we want?. What people think about me, what I think about myself, who am I in real? And what will I really do once I am done with this. Who knows?

[@SubvertTheState]

Wow, how have I not heard of this guy. This describes my childhood as a Christian ( minus the suicide attempt).

[@alanfleming4823]

Thank you for doing what you are doing. I personally have had the freedom to grow up in a society which did not terrorize me in this way but I have enough friends who went through exactly what you did. I believe your example will give them both courage and hope

[@wwestern99]

If this doesn't show us how abusive and ignorant religion is, what more proof can anyone offer. Bizarre and disgusting really. I eel bad for what he went through and glad he got away.

[@llgz4215]

no words for how special some lives are. whatever converges in them to make them extraordinary, Helpful to what is good.

[@bo3tb]

You’re not the only one who went through mental illness dealing with what this cult has brought to you. I still suffer from it and I’m almost 40. This is abuse and bullying at its finest. I hate what my parents done to me.

[@JS-bo9yi]

When did you leave?

[@jamesmukanya879]

that phrase Islam can be criticised through logic and reason it takes me back then during the period of enlightment wen individuals become to use reasoning as a way to avoid oppression and repression in the name of religion

[@JohnSmith-bx4gf]

Kid: "Why wouldn't I just kill myself to make sure I go to hell?" Teacher: "Because you have to pray for the sins of your parents until eternity or just pay our experts to avoid the hassle"

[@FORTHEBY_BY]

My catholic upbringing was similar. It was always fear of the Lord and the wrath of God. It’s different now. The problem is, Islam hasn’t changed. I believe in a supreme spiritual being, not any one religion.

[@DavidStJames11]

Powerful stuff! Good for you.

[@domwings4329]

Same thing goes on in Catholicism, Christianity, Judaism... I was told the same things as a Roman Catholic. His thinking was similar to mine as a child. I’m now an atheist

[@ThatGuyForLife]

I have missed ton of my prayers but i still pray whenever i get the time. I always ask Allah for forgivrness as he is the most merciful.

[@christopherdesimone206]

That guy, .......That makes no sense whatsoever. You would have to believe your on the same level in Allah's eyes as all the ones who make all five prayer's on time each and every day. Also, why would any Muslim make their five prayer's every day of their lives, if they can depend on Allah's merciful forgiveness, and skip their prayer's all together?. That's what I'd do if I were a Muslim, and believed in Allah's merciful forgiveness.

[@ThatGuyForLife]

@@christopherdesimone206 it is actually a good question i am glad you asked it. The thing is allah doesnt need you. You need allah. Thats why you have to offer your prayers no matter what. The thing you would miss your prayers intentionally and then repent later would work. Indeed allah will forgive you 100%. But here is the twist. What gaurentee do you have have that you will stay alive the next day to repent. Maybe today you might meet an accident. Maybe today is your last day. You will die before even repenting. Thats a ride straight to hell.

[@Rey_B]

fuck your allah now that i said this may he burn me in hell. fucking dimwits.

[@330MillionGods]

Even as a child, I never seriously believed in heaven and hell; But I somewhat believed in ghosts, hypnotism till I was 20-22 something.

[@MLeibs]

Thankfully, you are woke and now free of the mental, emotional, and spiritual cage you were born to. Me too, born into Catholicism. Freed! 💃🏻 I figure if there is a God source, it can only be pure love beyond anything we earthlings can comprehend. And that would mean no petty shit, no revenge, and definitely NO burning! 🔥😱

[@lovepeople951]

I left Islam recently, and embraced Jesus, the best decision I ever made.

[@NECDC42]

So Jesus didn't teach about hell and paradise ??

[@lovepeople951]

@@NECDC42 He did but it is not like that of Islam.

[@NECDC42]

@@lovepeople951 with very respect. Jesus a.s clearly told that I come with sword not with love . Plz check old testimony .. second thing show me single Muslim who disrespect Jesus or any other prophet .. but what about u guys ? Plz think ..

[@NECDC42]

@Troy Edward lol do some research ISIS has nothing to do with Islam. That orginization build by Americans and Israel to kill Muslims lol .. do u know about history. ? Who was Osama bin laden in sovt union war ? He was hero for Americans .. baby grow up .

[@theArun3435]

Even I was afraid of hell during my childhood

[@abeliever7301]

But you not that one of satrins (created from fire)

[@bub6871]

I remember my mom telling me if you lie you go to hell, and I lied one day and she made me swear on the bible. I came to her crying telling her I lied and that I didn't want to go to hell. Telling children these things is horrible.

[@donaldmurray4350]

This presentation is all to rare. Mr. Navavi, whose sincerity is as clear as it gets, gives a splendid intro to actual, dangerous ideologies, and how childhood can be manipulated to an extent that is genuinely huge. Mohammed remains a terrifying force even today, and it seems expansion runs deep in the islamic scriptures. How is it that I enjoyed the program?

[@Correctrix]

He is especially brave and intelligent. Even though his action seem insane to us, they make perfect sense given the doctrines he was taught. Any teen who doesn't kill themselves in such a situation (of being indoctrinated in this) is indeed either cowardly or too stupid to follow the logic to it's conclusion. The teachers who told him not to kill himself had no theological justification whatsoever: their remarks were merely their humanity leaking through their mask of Islam.

[@hachikuji_mayoi]

@Dianne Higo you know shallow messages like that aren't going to convince anyone...

[@vampirorose1521]

It is out of Allah’s absolute Justice that children are not held accountable for the deeds they do before the age of puberty. Not only this, but out of Allah’s infinite mercy and favor they will be rewarded for any good deed they do as well as those who guide and encourage them to do so. Ibn Rushd said, “The bad deeds of young children are not recorded but their good deeds will be recorded, according to the sound opinion.” The author of Mawahib al-Jalil said: “The scholars do not differ concerning the fact that children will be rewarded for whatever acts of obedience (to Allah) they do, and will be let off for any bad deeds that they do, and any bad deeds they do deliberately will be counted as mistakes.”

[@benjaminjoseph6553]

@@vampirorose1521 What more diatribe added into the mix. It's utter utter bollocks based on an imaginary invisible so called God with an imaginary heaven and hell simply used to drive the fear literally of God into them to comply with some patriarchal hierarchy. Which is put in place to manipulate and control the masses through fear of an invisible imagery individual. Its fucking sick genius.

[@MashalKhan-id9qt]

I pray for all of you guys even myself that may we see what is meant for us Inshaa Allah .

[@MGC-XIII]

Why would Muhammad be in the highest part of Heaven when we know what kind of man he was? My mom left her religion when she found out that her Grandmother would go to hell because she denounced God on her deathbed. My Great Grandmother had lived a life of helping people and being kind to everyone she came across. Yet she would burn for eternity in hell for saying that she didn't believe in God on her deathbed after getting several strokes leaving her paralysed in half her body and having severe dementia. That is the kind of God they believe in...

[@miyerekatia3173]

you dont know muhammad

[@hassan32215]

when i was a child i always think abt god i have many weird dreamed abt god existence cuz i think more abt god then i share all things in school my friends laugh they make fun of me i m so embraced of myself cuz i had really weird dreamed abt god existence then when i was at the age of 12 i started praying regularly 5times a day also read quran obey mohummad rules my father and mother are really religious i'd never had found anything abt god existence so now i m 21 i m not an ex muslim or atheist but inside my heart i m not beleiving in god..

[@Gymnure]

thank you for sharing this

[@AussieAussieOZoioioi]

Consider me to be one of those viewers of Atheist Republic. Extremely interesting

[@rossuk2779]

Hell is real but fortunately Jesus has paved the way to salvation.

[@jarrodthomas4745]

You’re views are EXACTLY like Mine to a TEE. The ONLY difference is that I was Christian and my family was Christian. Besides that we’ve had the same experience brother and I applaud you for being sincere and honest. You are my hero man.

[@celestialteapot3310]

We've allowed this sickness to fester and are now paying the price.

[@rabbychowdhury4742]

nobody can surely say that he or she will go to hell or haven. its totally depends on god. god is all merciful. hope he will forgive all our mistake.

[@Strugglebaddy616]

any God of any religion doesn't exist. There is a possibility there is a higher being (not God) that created us but it's not that likely. I don't believe we were "created". There are more rational, simple (maybe not to all us) explanations for the beginning of our existence.

[@minan2568]

@@Strugglebaddy616 Yeah and that explantion is God and that God sended messengers to us wich we are aware of. The Quran explains things that walk side by side with science. If we use our brain we will undrstand that there is ineed a God,a creator. You BELIVE that there is no God but you can nevee prove it,neather can i but atleast we have SOMETHING.

[@alexia2099]

this is so sad, when will religion fade...?

[@gabrielh2505]

Never completely. Just weakened hopefully. Religion is not one dumb mistake that everyone just happened to commit everywhere and in every period. The fact it is omnipresent would seem to indicate that it is an inescapable side-effect of human thought. Just like infectious disease is a biological imperative of living. We can reduce it, control it but never eradicate it completely. I am playing a less hopeful tune than others.

[@windyhillbomber]

Escaping the evil of Christianity is a grand achievement for these previously duped by its insidious claptrap. But to have the balls to walk away from the cult of Islam and to publicly confront that is bravery defined.

[@anonymousyoutuber490]

Like most of Iranian families , my parents were muslims only by name too.(Non-practicing) They never taught me anything about religion and my teachers at school never frightened me of anything.That's why i always had sort of amicable view on Islam. My story of how I became an Atheist is completely different . As I mentioned before, my up bringing was quite secular, so i never was disturbed by any of these religious bullshits. Believe it or not it atcually happened when i got into politics. And that happened in 2009 during the Green movement protests against the Islamic fundamentalist regime... I was watching how brutally the religious system is crushing the innocent unarmed peaceful protesters, but I didn't leave islam at that time. Cuz i was only 12. And i didn't have a clue what the regime is or what politics is about. i just knew these people shouldn't be killed . I just knew something wrong is happening in this country. Absolutely wrong.! Years past and i followed Iran politics in all these years, When i was 17, i was really tired of everything. The dark Super fundamentalist theocracy banned everything. We had 0 freedom.and lots of other problems no other country had... even islamic ones.Iran wasn't a normal country as it used to be before 1979. Many big things and small things were banned by the order of the regime. Such crazy things that were banned nowhere else. Absolutely nowhere . So i was kind of feeling how wrong the rulers are and i seriously felt too unlucky to be born under such regime. Later on, I experienced a big shift of concentration from politics to religion because I found out that nearly ALL the things i was considering a problem, is actually coming from religion and Sharia law and the fact that we've become an islamic state since 1979. It really had nothing to do with political conflict or economic conditions. It was all about rights and human dignity, the freedom & etc... It was just the starting point... A new begining for me to go and study more about islam and religions. Today, 6 years passed from the day i dared to ask myself a question i was never permited to ask.but i made my decision. i freed myself. Islamic Republic aimed to produce more and more muslims in 79 but they ended up with producing more and more #ATHEISTS Such a great service ! Thank you Islamic Republic , you burnt my entire life by your mismanagement and ignorance and your superstitious beliefs , but if it wasn't your pressures and limitations , i would probably be a muslim now !!!!!

[@surabhichakraborty481]

Brother we all should follow one religion and that is humanity

[@kristygemchua]

Yet not all see the way you do, even thou they can easily verify everything. Correct me if I'm wrong, fear for their God and the prophet is so ingrained that they won't even dare question their beliefs

[@sanka1]

Bro you have gained your sanity back. Live your life as you think fit. Do not do to others what you don’t want others do to you.

[@sanandreas2500]

Heaven has levels, so what do I use, the stairs or the lift?

[@sanandreas2500]

Sarcasm my friend Sarcasm