Thread by @ConfessionsExMu

So last night I went to book club-the book we were discussing was mine-one of the members is Muslim (from Iran) and she initially was defensive over Islam, "this is your family/mother, not the religion" After a short conversation, she started to tell us about her mental scars
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from Islam (due to the religious education, laws and religious police in Iran).

Many Muslims have a cognitive dissonance when it comes to their religion. They defend it and love it-but they also know that it can cause harm and trauma.

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I wish they would explore how both can be true at the same time. Just because one person finds peace and comfort in a Church, does not mean that another person was not humiliated and ostracized by their Church Youth Group for being gay.

Religion has both sides of the coin.

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Your story does not negate mine, and my story does not negate yours. Many millions of people can relate to mine and many millions can relate to yours.

But at the end of the day, it is more crucial that stories like mine get told, because that is where the problems lie.

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That is where the work needs to be done.

We must talk about the problems in order to solve them. Talking about the positive side is fine and dandy, but it is not going to save any lives. In fact, it could end up providing cover.

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We MUST expose the dark, dirty, scary experiences of Muslims and ExMuslims. We MUST identify that the only common thread between these millions of ppl from hundreds of different countries is *Islam*. It must be said.

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I'm sorry if it hurts your feelings because your grandfather was devout and the kindest man you know. I truly do not intend to hurt you, but it will also not stop me. Im trying to save lives here. I'm perfectly fine with some hurt feelings as collateral damage.

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