Middle East Enlightenment

24 days ago
12.2K

Surveys show that the Islamic World -- long filled with war and religious dogma -- is starting to become more tolerant, and a little more secular.

Faisal Saeed Al Mutar says things are changing thanks to the internet — because people can watch western shows like Friends and Seinfeld.

It's also thanks to efforts by groups like his (Ideas Beyond Borders) that translate thousands of English Wikipedia articles about science and rationality into Arabic -- as well as books like Steven Pinker's Enlightenment Now.

Faisal's volunteers sometimes are attacked by religious authorities when they give out books. In one case, their tent was burned down. But they keep giving them out anyway.

Watch the full story in the video above.

Loading 45 comments...