"sadaka" and "zakat" are not the same. Charitable work or deeds are perceived as noble by God, and if you have faith you are compelled by it to pay zakat, so it is not on your own morals I agree, the religion teaches good morals and encourages charitable work other than payment of Zakat. Zakat is basically "Islamic welfare". You pay into social security don't ya? Well Islam dictates that there can be no compulsion in religion, so while you are compelled to pay it if you have faith, no one is allowed to enforce the collection of it. The logic may seem complex but if you apply your mind to it, you will see the rationality is sound ;)
As for atheists, while Islam does not treat them as favourably as christians and jews, people in general don't care unless you're Dick Dawkins or something. They won't go to great lengths to proselytize to you, they may try a few times because it is perceived as a good deed to a fellow human being, but if they perceive you're offended by their attempts they will back off.
Apostasy is a completely different matter. I don't agree that it is the greatest sin as whitefeather said (the greatest sin is, quite logically, suicide), and I disagree with a lot of the capital punishment that has been doled out for it throughout history, as I have not seen any basis for it in the Qur'an itself. I would gladly consider any quotations offered on the matter, so those of you that know better do not hold out on a brudda :)
"sadaka" and "zakat" are not the same. Charitable work or deeds are perceived as noble by God, and if you have faith you are compelled by it to pay zakat, so it is not on your own morals I agree, the religion teaches good morals and encourages charitable work other than payment of Zakat. Zakat is basically "Islamic welfare". You pay into social security don't ya? Well Islam dictates that there can be no compulsion in religion, so while you are compelled to pay it if you have faith, no one is allowed to enforce the collection of it. The logic may seem complex but if you apply your mind to it, you will see the rationality is sound ;)
As for atheists, while Islam does not treat them as favourably as christians and jews, people in general don't care unless you're Dick Dawkins or something. They won't go to great lengths to proselytize to you, they may try a few times because it is perceived as a good deed to a fellow human being, but if they perceive you're offended by their attempts they will back off.
Apostasy is a completely different matter. I don't agree that it is the greatest sin as whitefeather said (the greatest sin is, quite logically, suicide), and I disagree with a lot of the capital punishment that has been doled out for it throughout history, as I have not seen any basis for it in the Qur'an itself. I would gladly consider any quotations offered on the matter, so those of you that know better do not hold out on a brudda :)