The whole Muslim Islam thing confuses me, so I don't want to say anything uneducated or insult anyone. I am just wondering if there are atheists among the people of these countries or if they are are of one religion or another.

Not talking about Americans or Europeans that might live their either. Also, the Koran, do all muslims take it literally, are some non believers and just pretend for safety sake?

I have visited Iran many times and have seen that if there are atheists they tend to keep it to themselves. It seems like the more religious someone is the more respect, and better job they get. There are of course free thinkers everywhere but the ones in these countries have to keep it more private and cannot discuss their ideas publicly with others without consequences.

That's really sad. I think we forget just how NOT far we have come in the world socially.

It still amazes me that we are not more evolved in 2009 as you might think..... I don't remember back in the 70's and 80's things being this weird between religions, or I guess I was'nt paying much attention.

I don't know why anyone would care if someone is religious or gay or what they heck they are.. Does their God give them points for harrassing so called heathens I wonder? If not then why not just let people be who they are.

I wonder if Islam and Christianity will every grow up so to speak..

"and then man created god in his own image..."

I am half Turkish, half Persian, and I was born a Muslim in Iran. I decided early on that Islam was neither a religion of peace, nor a religion for me, and so I denounced my religion. However, I still hadn't severed all ties with God, and so I studied other religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and Judaism, and the more I studied religions and searched for the truth, the more I became convinced that god does not exist.

By then, my family and I had migrated to the United States and it was safe for me to announce that I had become a born-again atheist. I did not have to fear for my life, as it is forbidden in Islam to denounce your religion and it becomes the holy duty of every other muslim to hunt you down and kill you in the name of Allah.

Oh, what was the question again? Sorry, I tend to babble on about Babylon... Ok, so yeah, there ARE in fact Middle Eastern atheists...

I'm living proof.

you may wish to read: Aayan Hirsi Ali's books: "The caged virgin" and "Infidel". I would start with infidel.
Salmon Rushdie was raised in India and is an atheist critic of Islam. "The Satanic Verses" is a marvelous novel (not offensive in my estimation) and the fatwa that it earned him is now in its twentieth year. (he is still alive! so: praise be to alla, i suppose.) jk. niether of these great writers and thinkers can go anywhere without special detail gaurding them against those who seek to do them harm in the name of "faith"

There is a great poem (called, i think, the Rubaiyat) writen by an atheist in the moslem world about a thousand years ago. I love this poem and the authors name is Omar Khayyam, it should be easy to look up. here are three stanzas from his poem on atheism:
Allah, perchance, the secret word might spell;
If Allah be, He keeps His secret well;
 What He hath hidden, who shall hope to find?
Shall God His secret to a maggot tell?
...
The Koran! well, come put me to the test—
Lovely old book in hideous error drest—
 Believe me, I can quote the Koran too,
The unbeliever knows his Koran best.
 
And do you think that unto such as you,
A maggot-minded, starved, fanatic crew,
 God gave the secret, and denied it me?—
Well, well, what matters it! believe that too.

the full poem can be found in Christopher Hitchen's anthology of atheistic writings entitled: "The Portable Atheist" (and very reasonably priced.)

here is a link to recent article i read saying that atheists in the moslem world are seeking refuge online:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gDbe7jLj3MCsPjoNANluA8OpMubg

maybe we will meet some on here. ok i'm out for now.

The whole Muslim Islam thing confuses me.

There's a non-Muslim Islam? That'd be unusual...!

What are you, a wise guy?!!!

Merely a sarcastic one.

Very cool... and a pleasure meeting you!