Former Muslim, committed atheist, exploring Christianity

By Michael Ashcraft –

As the self-touted Apostate Prophet or simply AP, Ridvan Aydemir is the scourge of Islam.

From being a devoted Turkish Muslim, AP turned into an atheist and withering critic of Islam. With a YouTube channel he started in 2017, he chastised Islam for its scriptures, practices and history, scorching top Islamic promoters (called dawahists) in online debates.

Some strange things have happened to AP. First, he began teaming up with a staunch Christian, David Wood, in exposing Islam. That seemed weird because as an atheist, why was he buddying up with a Christian?

Next, AP went to Israel (with David) and felt something strange, mystical or spiritual that he couldn’t rationally explain away. He publicly dialed back his atheism. He wasn’t certain anymore, he said, about the non-existence of God.

Then AP’s wife got saved. At the time, it was big news, and fiery debater Sam Shamoun predicted that AP would become a Christian.

Now, AP has started going to church with his wife.

“For the first time, I went to church with my wife a month ago,” he said. He didn’t go grudgingly or under compulsion. He went willingly and with an open mind.

It was a beautiful experience, he says. He went back.

“I felt a warm welcome, smiles from people, a nod from the priest,” AP says. “He saw me when I first visited, so he came to me and said, ‘Welcome back, I’m glad to see you here.’”

Since his wife is going to the Greek Orthodox church, AP joined her. There is a resurgence of both the Catholic Church and Orthodox Church. The current trend seems to be for an appreciation for the reverential liturgy that is usually absent in contemporary evangelical churches.

“I will continue on my path,” AP says. “I am less arrogant and more open to humility for most exploring. At this point I’m not entirely sure what will happen and where I will go and what I will do. But I would say the only reason that I don’t outright come out and say I am a Christian now is that I’m waiting for a final confirmation.”

Previously, AP denied the existence of God – with “arrogance,” he says. He was welcomed by the band of acid atheists who became known as the New Atheists: Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris and Daniel Dennet.

Now, he’s broken ranks. The thought of nothingness beyond himself – no eternity, no moral code – induced depression.

To learn more about a personal relationship with Jesus, click here.

Related content: Jay Smith questions the very foundations of Islam, Hatun Tash’s persecution in the UK as a convert to Christianity, Bob the Builder of Christianity.

About these writer: Michael Ashcraft reported from Los Angeles where he pastors a church in the San Fernando Valley.