I’m actually really glad for the fact that — around here at least — the community as a whole largely ignores us atheists. In my experience, random strangers tend to react with mostly disappointment or apathy when they discover that I am not religious. As someone who was never even truly a member of any organized church, I haven’t even had to deal with familial issues upon leaving Religion X, which I understand happens nearly 100% of the time. It’s hard enough to make yourself known as an atheist given the threat of losing the respect of friends and family, or even being disowned entirely. I can’t imagine having to cope with threats of violence and death as well.

Husibi, who has an unlisted telephone number, said he received about 30 calls Saturday from people who were cursing him, calling him a traitor and threatening him. Most were foreign-born, Tulsa-area Muslims whom he knows, he said. He also received angry calls from friends and relatives in Syria.

One caller, whom Husibi would not identify, said that if he spoke at the meeting and said anything against Shariah (Islamic law), he would be killed. Another caller offered Husibi’s young Muslim wife $10,000 to leave him and return to her native Syria, he said.

“Someone from Tulsa called my 76-year-old mother in Syria and said, ‘You’re not going to see your son anymore,’ ” he said.

Sabri Husibi was studying to be an imam in Damascus, but learning more about the Quran did not strengthen his faith. Instead, as often happens, he found many glaring problems with his religious text. Continue reading →