Re: Muslim Versus Ex-Muslim: Both Sides Of The Spectrum? – Bashir Lucas Samson Lukman
Earlier today, someone sent me a call for participants to a YouTube show. This is the content:
“Religious beliefs and practices are deeply personal and can significantly influence a person’s identity and worldview.
This show aims to bring individuals from both sides of the spectrum — Muslims and ex-Muslims — to discuss their experiences, perspectives, and the societal biases they encounter.
By facilitating an open dialogue, we hope to foster understanding and empathy between people of different faith backgrounds.
Requirements:
1 Muslim in their 20s.
2 Muslims in their 40s.
2 ex-Muslims in their 40s.
1 ex-Muslim in their 20s.
Kindly apply using the link below;
***
Kindly call: *** for more information.”
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After going through the content, I informed the sender that the need for the discuss is not in conformity with the kind of participants they need. Perhaps, the organizers do not understand what both sides of the spectrum mean.
If truly the aim of the show is to bring individuals from both sides of the spectrum to discuss biases, experiences and even stereotypes, then it should be:
* Muslim V Christian
* Ex-Muslim VS Ex-Christian
After that, I contacted one Ayomide who is one of the organizers on WhatsApp and called his attention to my observation. “If you intend to foster understanding and empathy between PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT FAITH BACKGROUNDS, Muslim versus Ex-Muslim does not cut it”. I said. He refused to understand that Muslims and Ex Muslim are not necessarily on both sides of the spectrum.
I asked him to organize a Christian versus Ex-Christian show before the Muslim versus Ex-Muslim show so we get the reaction from the Christian community (hoping there will be critical thinkers amongst them).
While the organizers are hell-bent on going on with the call for participants, I advise all reasonable Muslims not to partake in it. The idea to foster understanding and empathy is good, but bringing Ex-Muslim versus Muslim is either intended to be provocative to generate traffic or an ulterior motive to use you as animals in a circus. Muslim versus Ex-Muslim or Christian Versus Ex-Christian is not what you call both sides of the spectrum.
Kindly rebroadcast so this gets the publicity it deserves.
Bashir Lucas Samson Lukman
English 