Things we’re uncomfortable admitting.

So let’s talk about religion for a moment, shall we? Let’s talk about the ‘religion of peace’ if you will. While one should not harbor ill will towards the adherents of any religion on the basis of faith alone, neither should they ignore the underlying tenants of a religion and it’s attitude towards the world and others of different faiths.

Look, we all just want to get along, right? We should. But, can we is the question? Can we get along with adherents of a faith that is so rigidly conservative that prosthelytizes repressive and violent opinions?

There is no reform movement within Islam as a whole, it simply does not exist. Unfortunately even though there are many peaceful adherents of the faith, the public face of the religion is not one that preaches tolerance.

Case in point, if you are a Muslim and walk away from the faith or convert to another faith, this is a crime punishable by death in some countries EVEN TODAY!

More than 20 Muslim nations have laws that declare apostasy by Muslims to be a crime. As of 2014, apostasy was a capital offense in Afghanistan, Brunei, Mauritania, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Executions for religious conversion have been infrequent in recent times, with four cases reported since 1985: one in Sudan in 1985; two in Iran, in 1989 and 1998; and one in Saudi Arabia in 1992. In Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Yemen apostasy laws have been used to charge persons for acts other than conversion. In addition, some Islamic countries without laws specifically addressing apostasy have prosecuted individuals or minorities for apostasy using broadly-defined blasphemy laws. In many nations, the Hisbah doctrine of Islam has traditionally allowed any Muslim to accuse another Muslim or ex-Muslim for beliefs that may harm Islamic society.

This principle has been used in countries such as Egypt, Pakistan and others to bring blasphemy charges against apostates.The violence or threats of violence against apostates in the Muslim world in recent years has derived primarily not from government authorities but from other individuals or groups operating unrestricted by the government. There has also been social persecution for Muslims converting to Christianity. For example, the Christian organization Barnabas Fund reports.