I read the article, as long as it was. Riveting story.
I saw a few glimmers of reflection here and there from the author when contemplating his Islamic faith. He had the perspective of time to observe the Taliban aspect, the compulsive stridency, adherence past the point of being cruel and unfeeling toward others.
He saw the dysfunctionality of a faith that allows little boys to publically humiliate and command their mothers to behave in certain ways.
What I did not see in the article, was a concious and purposeful rejection of Sharia. I suppose every process must have it’s starting point, however minute.
I frankly get annoyed at fellow FReepers who just hop on the thread to say "Oh, Islam bad; Muhammad, him double-plus-bad" as if we didn't know that already. This article shows some of the inner life of a pathetic, suffering Pashtun boy who is now, in "free Britain," struggling to comprehend the forces that were spiritually and physically mangling him for so long.
I don't know whether a fully conscious, total and explicit repudiation of Islam itself ("and all its pomps, and all its works") is found in his book, or not. After all, this was but a review of his published memoir, a much longer work.
We need to think about this. Other than saying "Oh Islam, double-plus-ungood" and feebly threatening them with annihilation from our tiny keyboards, what ought we to be thinking (with the mind of Christ), desiring (with the heart of Christ) and doing (with the strength of Christ)?
Because this is truly a spiritual war: you can't fight something with nothing. And without Christ--- I care nothing for nukes --- without Christ, we have, really, nothing to offer ten million men like this, nothing that will save them or us, and noplace to go in this world, or in the world to come.