First of all, after reading this book, it does occur to me that the stories contained therein could have been about any number of other religious situations; and the editor/author does not claim that all of these experiences are unique to Islam - although some are, such as a slaughter by Muslims against Muslims in Bangladesh.
But imagine being a young girl living in a polygamous Fundamentalist Mormon sect - the idea of having to marry a 60 year old man when you're 14 is as horrifying a thought whether the 60 year old is a Mormon or a Muslim. Or dying because your sect does not believe in the use of modern medicine; or being subject to some pagan ritual incorporated into the religion that involves mutilating sexual organs! Islam is not alone in some of these horrors. These stories can be replicated the world over in religion after religion.
Here is the primary difference: in much of the Post-Enlightnment World, we can discuss these things usually without fear for our lives. There are numerous books about escaping all kinds of fundamentalist religions - but there are precious few about leaving Islam and indeed many of those who tell their stories must change their names out fear for their lives. Humanistic values in the Post Enlightenment World serve to moderate the worst excesses of Christianity, thank goodness. Humanism serves to shame Christianity into a better mode of behavior - sometimes.
In this book I am struck how often persons who "learn the Koran" are doing nothing more than learning how to read the Koran phonetically - an don't have a clue as to the meaning because the Koran is in Arabic and the person is Pakistani or Indian or some other non-Arabic speaker. Their understanding of what Islam is comes from their Imam who tells them what to think. This is the source of their sincere claim so often heard that Islam is a "religion of peace." That's what they've been told. This learning of the Koran takes place when children are under 6 years old, at a time when they could be learning so many other things that have a practical use - it's not as if they're actually learning any moral or ethical ideals - they're just learning sounds.
Now this situation is extreme but it does not differ from other religions in that most believers really don't understand their own religion either; and that does not stop them from being passionate and chauvinistic in their ignorance.
This book is essential reading for all persons, but especially believers who are not afraid of true stories from former believers. Read the stories, read the cited material from the Koran and Hadith, and figure out what is true by using your own sense of integrity. If you disagree with the persons in this book, they will not threaten you.
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