I apologize if this post is a bit too long. These are just some of the feelings i’ve been wanting to release for a long time.
I found this website on google and it seems to be the only place I can share this with. I have been raised a muslim my entire life and was brainwashed into believing that every non-muslim on Earth would inevitably end up in Hell and it couldn't be helped. It was only a year ago that I discovered the extent of contradiction between logic and faith. Fortunately, I was able to use the internet's resources at the right time before faith rooted itself too deeply in me.
Right now, I am scared. I just had a chat with one of cousins and it made me realize just how stuck I am in my country (Pakistan). She talked about how it was my responsibility to carry on the family name, marry me to some muslim girl and teach my future children about Allah. I absolutely despise this idea. Yet if I don't do something then it'll become inevitable. I don't want this life. I want to live in a place where I can safely announce my lack of faith without having the barbaric reaction of my family and their violence. I want to live in a place where if I ever end up having children, I could teach them that their life was their own and they could believe whatever they wanted. I want to live where I’m not in constant danger from my family finding out about my real self.
This place and the secrecy of my lack of belief is literally eating me away from the inside. I don’t want to live in this country anymore and leaving it is the one of my major life goals that has developed lately. I’m eighteen years old and currently studying and building my career. A teenager like me shoudn’t have to worry about his safe future like that (expecially with NO ONE to talk to about his problems) but I know that if I don’t start making plans now, someday it might be too late to do so. Please, if you can give any advice regarding this subject AT ALL, don’t hesitate.
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Welcome sputnik, from what I gather of the climate of our way of thinking in areas like yours I would strongly suggest you remain secretive for your own safety.
We are always here if you just need to vert a little, and it is far safer here for you to do so then in public.
I hope you manage to find a way to leave and enjoy life.
You said it in your last paragraph. Study and achieve my friend. You can always leave, but leaving without education and skill is not likely to lead to the best life. I say Information Tech or the medical field would be the way to go. Those skills are always in demand and they pay well. With your passion and goals, I believe in you kid.
Just one thing.. please be really careful who you vent to.
Stay safe friend.
Use that fear, and the resources available to you to acquire skills, (usually starts with college,) that will stay in high demand, but tends to have low supply due to the skills needed being more difficult or unpleasant to acquire.
For instance, their is a large demand for engineers, (mostly computer oriented ones these days,) in most of the 1st world nations that tend to be much more accepting of atheist/agnostics. But their is always a shortage of supply, (especially acute shortage in the US,)
Engineering is particularly good "sweet spot" because it only requires 4 years of college to get started and start making very decent living even when you have no work experience. But those 4 years can be brutal if you dislike math, (many US kids and young adults hate doing math.) Hence there is a large shortage of available engineers while there is an ever growing demand for them as the industry grows.
As SecularS said, IT and medical fields are also good jobs in High demand low supply areas. Although, I strongly recommend against going for CNA (certified nurse assistant,) the pay is not great, and the working conditions are often quite lousy. While their is a shortage of CNA's it is because of the lack of people to teach those classes, the classes themselves are fairly easy and more importantly can be completed in as little as 4 weeks. (Making it a "low skill" job where you can be easily replaced, keeping pay low.) The working conditions are also lousy keeping supply low as well.
I personally did engineering school, and then self taught myself several "less" popular coding languages in more boring areas like database management/plugin writing, as well as some old outdated stuff, and where I do legacy code updating and maintenance of code, (my bread and butter.) I still find enjoyment in writing this code, but it is not as exciting as writing code for video games, for google or other major tech companies, or making apps for smart phones, the stuff that draws 90+ percent of engineering/software students.
There is also such an extreme shortage of people that are competent in writing/implementing this kind of code, I basically get my pick which small, (1 person, 1-500 hour) job I want, my income is pretty much what ever I want it to be (low 6 digits a year if I just take the easy, high reward jobs, to 7 digits a year if I decided to work 80 hour weeks every week.) I also gotten 100's of job offers from larger companies, or companies I did contract work for, all offering at least 100k a year starting with very nice benefit packages, even though I never indicated that I was interested in finding a new/replacement job in my particular niche industry.
The point is, get a skill that others cannot acquire easily/quickly and better yet, a skill that does not draw much interest, a skill that is in a high demand, growing specialization. Just about every 1st world country with high religious/no religion freedom, (including a tRump lead US,) have such a shortage for skilled workers they have special work visas that bypasses wait lists, rules, etc Giving you a powerful, paid for ticket out Pakistan and into a country that is much more accepting of who you are which a guaranteed job waiting for you. Unfortunately the jobs gained from this system have a some large flaws, (mainly lower pay and way to many hours), but at least it gets you out of Pakistan and guarantees you a job as long as you can do the work. You can also negotiate the visa/job contract to get you on solid path to full citizenship of the country you go to, leading to the possibility of yet better prospects for yourself.
Migration is natural. Many mammals do it. Be safe!
I'm sorry that you're stuck in Pakistan. As far's that's concerned, I would consider saving up to buy a ticket to a secular nation like America or Canada. Also, apply for asylum once you move out of your parents' house. If you already live in your own place, I'd still save up for an exit outta Pakistan.
I share a lot of the same concerns as you. Despite living in a secular nation myself, I'm also expected to carry on my last name, marry, have kids, and teach my (former) religion.
https://www.cyberghostvpn.com/en_US/apps/windows-vpn/download/latest
Download and install this on your computer when visiting this site, after you have installed it, run it and use the option "surf anonymously".
This will hide your IP when visiting this site, so you cannot be tracked.
As Chimp3 said, migration is natural, keep yourself safe and save money, when you get the chance get the fuck outta there.
Stay safe, if you want to talk you can message me.
Welcome Sputnik. Checkout the website called Former Muslims United. Heres the link below.
http://formermuslimsunited.org
Your own plan for relieving yourself of the oppression is a good one but your age, like most 18 year olds, is not very comfortable with living the status quo. It's a naturally rebellious age regardless of the circumstances because that's when men of all stripes want to break out and take on life for themselves. So, you are fighting your natural rebelliousness as well as your cultural oppression. We call that a 2-front war and you are in the thick of it.
Calm down and refocus your energies to that which will transport you to the freedom you want. Education as the vehicle and tolerance as the means to see yourself through are a couple aspects for embracing and well worth your time right now. Remember to think before you speak, especially, to ensure your words are carefully chosen from your tolerant side. Practicing that will help develop your tolerance further. Finally, take on a positive sensibility and liberally wear it in your countenance. Negativity is a silent killer, meaning, it shows even when you're silent.
Good luck and as we say in certain circles here in the US, hang tough.
I will just say Canada is a long ass waiting list. However I am unsure if Germany will accept you. Sweden is a hellhole for Muslims as they won't accept you completely social wise (as you are male). I cannot say what Switzerland's position is.
You're better off perhaps finding a way to Canada or USA. Perhaps get a plane ticket somewhere else outside of Pakistan and fly to Canada with fake appearance. I actually heard some stories of people chosing fake Indian identities as a route to get a way out to USA.
Perhaps find out a way to get to India first and get info there.
It's a long journey, but maybe planes go there from somewhere else in Saudi or nearby?