[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$f0TX4TqI3bWmXVmaVqIKggUwVQIaz54Dlnp8E0jf2Q9k":3,"$fb7mRh8Yhn9LN_IQujMPerEvmdJ1IMckRKz0u-UN4o9g":12},{"author":4,"tags":11},{"author_id":5,"author_name":6,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"bio":9,"short_bio":9,"slug":10,"image_url":9},35876,"Zak Ebrahim","Z",5,null,"zak-ebrahim",[],{"quotes":13,"pagination":98},[14,33,49,65,81],{"id":15,"quote_text":16,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":19,"source":20,"quote_tag":21,"commentary":32},731474,"I put people before gods. I respect believers of all kinds and work to promote interfaith dialogue, but my whole life I've seen religion used as a weapon, and I'm putting all weapons down.",2,false,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[22,27],{"id":23,"tag":24},3543019,{"id":25,"tag_name":26},102,"religion",{"id":28,"tag":29},3543021,{"id":30,"tag_name":31},35482,"religious-extremism","**The Backstory**\nZak Ebrahim, the son of El Sayyid Nosair, a convicted terrorist, wrote this quote in his memoir \"Radical: My Journey from Islamist Extremism to a Life of Activism.\" At the time, Ebrahim was reflecting on his journey from being radicalized to becoming an advocate for interfaith dialogue and community building. This quote captures a pivotal moment in his transformation, where he began to prioritize human connection over ideological affiliations.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\nWhat lies beneath this quote is a profound critique of the way we often conflate identity with ideology. Ebrahim is not rejecting spirituality or faith; rather, he's highlighting the danger of reducing complex human experiences to dogmatic beliefs. By \"putting people before gods,\" he's advocating for a more nuanced understanding of human nature, one that acknowledges our shared vulnerabilities and aspirations.\n\n**How to Use This**\nTo apply this mindset, recognize that even the most seemingly entrenched ideologies are often rooted in human emotions and experiences. As you navigate complex social or professional situations, strive to connect with individuals on a personal level, rather than solely on the basis of their affiliations or beliefs. By doing so, you can build bridges across divides and foster a more inclusive, empathetic community.",{"id":34,"quote_text":35,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":36,"source":37,"quote_tag":38,"commentary":9},610458,"There's a reason that murderous hatred has to be taught- and not just taught, but forcibly implanted. It's not a naturally-occurring phenomenon. It is a lie. It is a lie told over and over again- often to people who have no resources and who are denied alternative views of the world. It's a lie my father believed, and one he hoped to pass on to me.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[39,44],{"id":40,"tag":41},3196939,{"id":42,"tag_name":43},4393,"hatred",{"id":45,"tag":46},3196940,{"id":47,"tag_name":48},4698,"terrorism",{"id":50,"quote_text":51,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":52,"source":53,"quote_tag":54,"commentary":9},590135,"No one's ever sat me down and taught me what empathy is or why it matters more than power or patriotism or religious faith. But I learn it right there in the hallway: I cannot do what's been done to me.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[55,60],{"id":56,"tag":57},3126633,{"id":58,"tag_name":59},3730,"empathy",{"id":61,"tag":62},3126631,{"id":63,"tag_name":64},5665,"abuse",{"id":66,"quote_text":67,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":68,"source":69,"quote_tag":70,"commentary":9},529901,"...shame spreads through his body like a drop of red dye in water.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[71,76],{"id":72,"tag":73},2909090,{"id":74,"tag_name":75},2592,"simile",{"id":77,"tag":78},2909089,{"id":79,"tag_name":80},4038,"shame",{"id":82,"quote_text":83,"author_id":5,"source_id":17,"has_image":18,"author":84,"source":85,"quote_tag":86,"commentary":9},183308,"There's a reason that murderous hatred has to be taught--and not just taught, but forcibly implanted. It's not a naturally occurring phenomenon. It is a lie. It is a lie told over and over again--often to people who have no resources and who are denied alternative views of the world.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[87,92,95],{"id":88,"tag":89},1172602,{"id":90,"tag_name":91},219,"terror",{"id":93,"tag":94},1172601,{"id":42,"tag_name":43},{"id":96,"tag":97},1172603,{"id":47,"tag_name":48},{"currentPage":99,"totalPages":99,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":100},1,10]