The Surprising Rebirth Of Belief In God S2 E22. Engaging Islam: Controversy, Confrontation & Conversion
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Sep 23, 2025 
In this thought-provoking discussion, former Muslim turned Christian, Ridvan Aydemir, shares his compelling journey from atheism to faith. Bold evangelist Hatun Tash recounts her harrowing experiences with violence while challenging Islamic claims in public. Jay Smith delves into how scriptural conflicts challenge Western values, while Saqib Sheikh offers a more nuanced perspective on Muslims in the West. The conversation also tackles the appeal of Islam to young men and the complexities of religious texts, making for a captivating exploration of faith and confrontation.
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Stabbing At Speaker's Corner
- Hatun Tash was stabbed at Speaker's Corner while wearing a Charlie Hebdo T-shirt and collapsed from multiple wounds.
- The attacker was not found and Hatun has faced repeated violent attacks and credible death threats for her evangelism.
Conversion Sparked By Historical Questions
- Hatun described leaving Islam after researching whether Jesus was crucified and finding Bart Ehrman's scholarship persuasive.
- Her moral objections to Muhammad's biography and Islamic teachings pushed her toward Christianity.
Most Western Muslim Growth Is Demographic
- Islam's growth in the West is driven mainly by immigration and higher birth rates rather than conversion.
- Reliable data on converts is scarce and conversion numbers are modest compared with demographic growth.
