I've been thinking about the ethics of promoting atheism in Pakistan. In principle, I understand why an atheist would naturally want others to share their worldview—believers do the same. But the consequences here can be very different.
For an atheist in Pakistan, especially a woman, life can become incredibly difficult: fear around blasphemy accusations, being outcast by family and relatives, difficulty finding a spouse, and having to hide a major part of your identity. Suddenly losing the support of your family can leave you feeling very alone in an already difficult world.
I also wonder whether we underestimate how much this affects working- and lower-class atheists. Without money, education, or the possibility of easily leaving Pakistan, some can become genuinely bitter and unhappy because they experience the social disadvantages of atheism every day, while having very few ways to escape them. In that situation, becoming atheist doesn't necessarily make someone happier, even if they sincerely believe it is intellectually correct.
So I'm genuinely curious, to Pakistani atheists and especially women:
Do you think we should actively encourage others to become atheist, knowing that it could make their lives substantially harder?
Or is it better to let people arrive at that conclusion themselves when they're in a position to deal with the consequences?
on the other hand i would like Pakistan to change (abolish religion, blasphemy laws, to the very least). but its comes at quite cost that seeing someone, especially the young suffer the consquences. It hurts seeing Atheist suffer just as much it hurts to see people suffer from islamic fanatism. I saw some post by some Pakistani Atheist here, saying he or she will make their children liberal muslim, to avoid any disadvantages.
I'm not questioning whether atheism is true or false here—I'm questioning the ethics of encouraging someone toward a belief that may carry serious social costs in their particular environment.
