From Islam to FREEDOM: Brother Rashid's Journey
"Islam, from the source, it's evil." - Brother Rachid
"As the world looks more threatening, religion is sure to return. And in a way, 9/11 is the beginning of this, for in this attack technology was used not for humanistic ends but for radical, metaphysico-religious ends, which are not Christian. That is why it is such an amazing thing for me, because I'm used to considering religious forces and humanistic forces together, not as if one were true and the other false; and then suddenly archaic religion is coming back in an incredibly forceful way with Islam. Islam has many aspects of the Biblical religions minus the revelation of violence as bad, as not divine but human; it makes violence totally divine. This is why the opposition is more significant than with communism, which is a humanism. It is a bogus humanism, the last and most incredibly foolish form, which results in terror. But it is still humanism. And suddenly we're back in religion, in archaic religion - but with modern weapons." - René Girard
Religion has indeed returned. So many are focused on Judaism, Islam, and Christianity right now, since Hamas’ instigation of an (un)holy war on Israel. Of course, most of you reading this likely understand that we are in a civilizational battle, and Israel is the canary in the coal mine. But are we also in a spiritual battle?
I have always been innately spiritual, and had a natural curiosity about God and religion from a young age. So as I dive deeply back into religion now, it has reignited my early inquisitiveness about it.
I am Russian Orthodox. I was dunked in a big golden bucket of Holy Water when I was baptized as a baby, evidenced by a whole picture album dedicated to it somewhere in my parent’s house.
After that, my family didn’t really go to church. I am a Russian Orthodox by baptism and inheritance, but it wasn’t something my parents really got into the nitty gritty. I knew about God; a benevolent God who watched over me. It comforted me, but also left me with a lot of questions.
I found answers in my best friend’s mother, who was a practicing Russian Orthodox. I would ask her questions about the religion, and she would tell me stories.
So now, again, I find myself asking people stories about religion. On my podcast, I have had people talk about Zionism, Judaism, Islam, and now, Christianity. I have been reading René Girard, and writing articles about Girard’s theories, which are inextricably linked with religion.
Since so many of us are focused on religion these days, the following conversation I had with Brother Rachid, an Ex-Muslim turned Christian who studied Comparative Religions, is fitting for the times. Rachid and I talk about the big picture stuff; like what Islam is fundamentally about, which I think requires an understanding of Christianity, and pulling out the core differences between the two, in order to really grasp it.
This is a long discussion, so curl up with a comfy blanket and a hot beverage, or whatever your fancy, and dive deep with us into Rachid’s incredible life story.
From Islam to FREEDOM: Brother Rashid's Journey
What you’re about to hear is a conversation with Brother Rachid, who grew up in Morocco as the son of an Imam who believed it was his destiny to follow in his father’s footsteps.
Then one day, a seed was planted that drastically changed his life forever.
He was cast out of his family when they discovered he was secretly leaving the Islamic cult. He was eventually harassed and threatened by the Moroccan secret police, and had to flee his country.
Like so many other ex-muslims, Rachid lives in an undisclosed location in order to protect his life, since leaving Islam is punishable by death.
We discuss Islam, Christianity, the Enlightenment, and Rachid’s big picture perspective.
Rachid is an author, public figure, and TV host with a BA in Comparative Religions, and an MA in National Security.
⌚️Timestamps:
0:00 - intro
2:14 - The Beginning
5:49 - Son of an Imam
12:00 - Radio Waves
15:35 - Jesus & the Quran
20:38 - Differences between Islam & Christianity
24:00 - Scapegoating in Religion
30:00 - Deception, Power & Violence
36:40 - Christianity, Enlightenment, Islam
49:00 - Childhood Curiosity
56:00 - The Matrix
59:02 - Coming Out on the Other Side
1:05:44 - Dealing With his Family
1:09:10 - What Happened Next?
1:14:45 - Fleeing & Freedom
1:18:30 - Perspectives About Current Events
1:34:15 - Submission
1:36:29 - Anti-Christian
1:39:44 - Last thoughts
More stuff that touches on religion:
The Big Lie
In the last few weeks, I have been appalled by the overwhelming antisemitism rising, in wake of Hamas’ October 7th genocidal massacre. The scapegoating and persecution of the Jewish people has long been an ugly pattern of humanity, especially when societal tensions are elevated, like they have become over the last few years. But I naively thought that a …
Red Pilled Ex-Muslim Speaks Out
A few years ago, I read an incredible memoir that touched my soul. The book was considered so taboo that no one was willing to publish it, so the author decided to publish it herself. What you’re about to hear is a conversation with Yasmine Mohammed, author of
The Nature of Violence
“Why is there so much violence in our midst? No question is more debated today. And none produces more disappointing answers.” - René Girard, One by Whom Scandal Comes There is a secret hidden since the foundation of the world that describes the nature of violence. According to a wise man born in Avignon on Christmas Day, 1923, the root of humanity’s vio…
Interesting. Also for me, this was helpful in terms of understanding Islam better, still, I find in Islam also some mystical traditions, e.g. the sufis, which understand the nature of God as love, and do not at all believe in violence in the way Rashid describes. In general this is similar to what happens in Christianity, for even though e.g. Theresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross, are considered saints, it is very clear that their inner experience was hard to reconcile with the church, and especially John of the Cross twisted himself into a pretzel to stay clear of the inquisition.
In Chreistiantiy, it was clear to me very early that the religiion taught more or less the opposite of what Jesus taught, and Paul and Peter c.s. turned the teachings on their ear, even if in some of his brighter moments Paul does seem to get it, but still, the overall gist of his work is completely at odds with what Jesus taught. Jesus also is quoted as saying that there is much they will not understand till later.
Also take note of this Gnostic tradition from Basilides:
The late 2nd-century Christian writer Irenaeus wrote about the teachings of a Gnostic leader of his time named Basilides, who claimed:
“He did not himself suffer death, but Simon, a certain man of Cyrene, being compelled, bore the cross in his stead; so that this latter being transfigured by him, that he might be thought to be Jesus, was crucified, through ignorance and error, while Jesus himself received the form of Simon, and, standing by, laughed at them. For since he was an incorporeal power, and the Nous (mind) of the unborn father, he transfigured himself as he pleased, and thus ascended to him who had sent him, deriding them, inasmuch as he could not be laid hold of, and was invisible to all,” (Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book I, Chapter 24, Section 4). (https://carm.org/islam/the-quran-the-crucifixion-and-the-gnostics/)
And of course in a more modern tradition, A Course in Miracles, Jesus explains that he did not die on the cross, for that was after the resurreciton and he knew he was not his body. This conversation was frequent in early Christianity, with many groups arguing that the resurrection was at the Baptism in the River Jordan, so that the resurrection preceded the crucifixion. These traditions were later suppressed, when Christianity was forced into a mold ultimately under the Emperor Constantine with the Council of Nicea.
I Listened to this Conversation several days back and meant to comment, but am only finding the Time now.
This is Such an Important conversation for people who Really Want to Understand the Nature of the Rift between Western society and that of the East.
I've tried in my own writings to Illuminate where this Rift has come from, and what it looks like, and Most Specifically, how the Eastern Mystical ways of thinking about Humanity have Returned, not only from the teachings of the Islamic Faith, and as Always, to be Clear, I'm criticizing the Ideology, and the more specifically the Psychology contained within, but on the other side, the 'Enlightenment', and the Failings contained within.
But Well done Kate. Your content lately is head and Shoulders above the rest in my Humble opinion.