The whole Muslim Islam thing confuses me, so I don't want to say anything uneducated or insult anyone. I am just wondering if there are atheists among the people of these countries or if they are are of one religion or another.

Not talking about Americans or Europeans that might live their either. Also, the Koran, do all muslims take it literally, are some non believers and just pretend for safety sake?

The Muslim Nations actually have stricter laws against Atheism. I did a little research and saw that the tolerance of a person who doesn't believe in a God can even be punishable.

They are called infidels and in some countries you go to jail. For the woman they get pissed on before thrown rocks and stones.

Don't believe me then please do a research on Atheism in the Middle East.

I even did a small research on other countries and was surprised that 7 of the 50 states in America have laws that doesn't allow a atheist to get a government job.

Although the laws are weak they are still in the books.

Discrimination against Atheists are still real my friend and I hope that our younger generations around the world will show more understanding to different belief systems or those who don't believe.

Sick sick sick... It seems there really are very few people in the world that actually think for themselves. That is truly scary.

I have visited Iran many times and have seen that if there are atheists they tend to keep it to themselves. It seems like the more religious someone is the more respect, and better job they get. There are of course free thinkers everywhere but the ones in these countries have to keep it more private and cannot discuss their ideas publicly with others without consequences.

I am of Middle Eastern descent and I'm an Atheist.

That's really sad. I think we forget just how NOT far we have come in the world socially.

It still amazes me that we are not more evolved in 2009 as you might think..... I don't remember back in the 70's and 80's things being this weird between religions, or I guess I was'nt paying much attention.

I don't know why anyone would care if someone is religious or gay or what they heck they are.. Does their God give them points for harrassing so called heathens I wonder? If not then why not just let people be who they are.

I wonder if Islam and Christianity will every grow up so to speak..

"and then man created god in his own image..."

I am half Turkish, half Persian, and I was born a Muslim in Iran. I decided early on that Islam was neither a religion of peace, nor a religion for me, and so I denounced my religion. However, I still hadn't severed all ties with God, and so I studied other religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and Judaism, and the more I studied religions and searched for the truth, the more I became convinced that god does not exist.

By then, my family and I had migrated to the United States and it was safe for me to announce that I had become a born-again atheist. I did not have to fear for my life, as it is forbidden in Islam to denounce your religion and it becomes the holy duty of every other muslim to hunt you down and kill you in the name of Allah.

Oh, what was the question again? Sorry, I tend to babble on about Babylon... Ok, so yeah, there ARE in fact Middle Eastern atheists...

I'm living proof.

you may wish to read: Aayan Hirsi Ali's books: "The caged virgin" and "Infidel". I would start with infidel.
Salmon Rushdie was raised in India and is an atheist critic of Islam. "The Satanic Verses" is a marvelous novel (not offensive in my estimation) and the fatwa that it earned him is now in its twentieth year. (he is still alive! so: praise be to alla, i suppose.) jk. niether of these great writers and thinkers can go anywhere without special detail gaurding them against those who seek to do them harm in the name of "faith"

There is a great poem (called, i think, the Rubaiyat) writen by an atheist in the moslem world about a thousand years ago. I love this poem and the authors name is Omar Khayyam, it should be easy to look up. here are three stanzas from his poem on atheism:
Allah, perchance, the secret word might spell;
If Allah be, He keeps His secret well;
 What He hath hidden, who shall hope to find?
Shall God His secret to a maggot tell?
...
The Koran! well, come put me to the test—
Lovely old book in hideous error drest—
 Believe me, I can quote the Koran too,
The unbeliever knows his Koran best.
 
And do you think that unto such as you,
A maggot-minded, starved, fanatic crew,
 God gave the secret, and denied it me?—
Well, well, what matters it! believe that too.

the full poem can be found in Christopher Hitchen's anthology of atheistic writings entitled: "The Portable Atheist" (and very reasonably priced.)

here is a link to recent article i read saying that atheists in the moslem world are seeking refuge online:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gDbe7jLj3MCsPjoNANluA8OpMubg

maybe we will meet some on here. ok i'm out for now.

Thanks! I'm quite familiar with Omar Khayyam's work, The Rubaiyat. He was a great Persian (Iranian) philosopher and poet!

No I think you have a point here, religion has not been as pervasive, at least in the US, as it is today. There has been a revival of religion really pushing itself into the public sphere. Polls show less people are religious, but those that are, are becoming more vocal, and working very hard to get power in government.

Its good to know you!

This reminds me now that I have some spare cash to get these books, many have been on my list far too long. Thanks!

There's a non-Muslim Islam? That'd be unusual...!

What are you, a wise guy?!!!

A Muslim is one whose religion is Islam.

While we're at it, Allah is NOT necessarily the Muslim God. Allah is simply the Arabic word for God. There are plenty of Christians in Arabic speaking countries such as Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon who refer to their Christian God as Allah...

Merely a sarcastic one.

Very cool... and a pleasure meeting you!

Same here!