The following article is based on an interview of Nora with the Atheist Alliance International (AAI) on 20 January 2022. Nora is part of the Executive Committee in Humanist Society (Singapore), where she serves as Secretary.
Nora has always been passionate in helping people and doing good. This can explain why she chose to become a registered nurse.
Since young, she was raised as a Muslim. She wore the tudong, attended religious and quranic citation classes and did whatever was required. However, her beliefs started shifting when she entered the nursing industry.
Act I: The beginning of doubt
Change begun during her first year as a pupil trainee nurse. While the workplace was filled with heartfelt and joyous times, it was also where she witnessed, first hand, the pain, abandonment and death that her patients had to undergo.
This made Nora think deeper. She started questioning life and everything around her.
As she was taking religious classes then, she took the opportunity to ask her teacher many questions. All Nora wanted were clarity and answers.
“What I got in return was the obsession with the Kafir, and the obsession with hell (…) I just don’t understand why.”
She later saw an image of a Christian lady in white whom she did not identify as Mother Theresa then. The image was of Mother Theresa giving water to the sick (below). Unsurprisingly, the uplifting image of a caregiver helping people in need resonated with Nora.
Nora began researching more about this lady and found out all the good that she did. She saw her as a role model of compassion and selflessness – a beacon of hope and a living saint. In many ways, Nora felt inspired to excel at her job.
One day, she brought the image to her religious teacher and asked if her teacher thought that this Christian lady will go to hell despite doing so much good. Her teacher said yes. Nora was confused.
“I asked, ‘No matter how good you are, or how much good you’ve done to humanity, because you’re not a Muslim you go to hell?’ And she said yes (again).”
The response that she received solidified her reservations about having a religion. This marked a personal turning point for Nora as she started having doubts. In her head, she wondered why only an exclusive group of people is deserving of heaven. Regardless of how much someone has contributed to the world, regardless of how much they have sacrificed for the welfare of others, and regardless of how many lives they have improved, they may still be sent to hell.
Nora was unable to accept that.
Act II: All religions have good, intelligent people
When going to work, Nora would pass by the Sri Mariamman Temple, the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore. Built in 1827, the beautiful temple was dedicated to Goddess Mariamman known for her power in curing epidemic illnesses and diseases.
One day, Nora stood by to watch the worshippers. She recalled that she was taught that worshippers of idols are ‘stupid’ and ‘ignorant’ by her religious teacher. Despite the harsh criticisms, as she stood by and watched the worshippers, she knew that they are not at all stupid. The place had intelligent and educated professionals who believed in and saw something that she did not.
Nora then made it her personal goal to go on a spiritual discovery to find out more about herself. She wanted to find her genuine belief. The more she learned about other religions, the more she found herself identifying as an atheist on a spiritual level.
Today, Nora is unafraid when others want to talk about God. She has undergone marathons of discussions on the topic, and is happy to do so.
Act III: Not all can renounce their religion openly
Apostasy in Islam is a great offence punishable by death in some countries. Thankfully, it is not the case in Singapore and citizens have the right to choose whether or not they want to subscribe to a religion.
However, while some ex-Muslims like Nora were able to renounce their religion legally, many still struggle to come out to their treasured loved ones. They needed to stay closeted and maintain utmost privacy.
Life may not be easy for those who have legally renounced their religion too. They need to seek help and advice from support groups on many subsequent concerns such as what to do about the inheritance law, how to look for non-religious palliative care, and how to connect with religious family members, just to list a few.
In fact, Nora has received messages from people who threatened to hunt her down. Some of her members who are ex-Muslims even had to go to court to get a restraining order against their family members.
Act IV: The future
Nora is not just a Secretary at Humanist Society (Singapore). She is also part of the Council of Ex Muslims Singapore which has almost 200 members, Atheist Alliance, and the Atheist Support Network.
She will continue working hard to create a safe space for the non-religious. However, Nora is cautiously a little worried about having more members in the groups that she serve. She is concerned that the public may perceive a large following as a threat or a force to be reckoned with.
At the end of the day, Nora believes that anyone can be good. “You don’t need religion to be a good person.”
