Muslim @ MindSay

The Bahai' Faith attempts to unify the worlds religions by attributing all the worlds prophets as messengers of the same God,each sent for various reasons and/or purposes within the cultural context of their era. I would like to suggest that there is no need to relegate the teachings of the various prophets to just their given disciples or particular role in history. All of Gods messengers, should they be called prophets or messiahs, serve the same purpose which is to enlighten those who are willing enough (provided the opportunity) to listen. As people we should try to benefit as much as possible from these ancient (and not so ancient) religions by approaching from a more eclectic and informed vantage point. We have as much to learn from Jesus as we do Buddha, Mahavira, Laotzi, Zoraoster, Bahaullah and all the others. More than anything else Jesus taught us how to live, how to serve our fellow man and put the lives of others before our own, up to and including dying, as Jesus did, for the greater good (in His case, so that others might live). God knows as our God knows, that any one life, (is) worth less than all the rest. Buddhism teaches us to be true to ourselves far better than most  religions are fundamentally able to. If you are not being true to yourself, you are not being true to God. It makes no sense to defend as true, what you can not prove and, worse, to do so merely because society expects you to. God either is or He isn't. Our beliefs do not determine what is or what isn't. Only the scientific method, coupled with an open enough mind to learn, listen and reason can do so. People who claim to know what they do not know, do themselves and everyone around them a great disservice that can not be attributed to something like the will of God.   

 

The question is neither whether or not there is a God or could be but whether or not there should be. And should He not exist, then how should we say that anything exists? If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it really make a sound? Is it correct to say that soundwaves exist without ever being heard, experienced or acknowledged by anyone? And if so, what significance do they have? Science teaches us that everything that exists, be it alive or dead, consists of the same subatomic particles that make up everything else. At first glance, Hinduism appears to be a polytheistic religion but is not. Hinduism speaks of many Gods that it calls manifestations of Brahmin. The three most prominent are Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the maintainer) and Shiva (the destroyer). There are countless others. Is it safe to consider that, we too, are like manifestations of Brahmin? Made of the same substance as God? We may die but so long as the universe exists, do we not, ourselves, continue to exist? Is it possible that even the essence of our individual lives (as written on the walls of the Universe) never truly ceases it's journey but remains a part of God or "It" or whatever name we see fit to give this thing (or dude) we call space and time? One of the laws of physics is that energy can not be created or destroyed. It is called "The Conservation of Energy". Somehow, someway, that energy became you and me (E=MC2). On a quantum level it is not just you or me but you and me. We don't die. We simply return to it. No longer a manifestation of something greater than we can imagine, but the thing itself. Knowing this, can we still consider death so bad? Is not the Ocean greater than the rain drop?

Apparently this woman's discipline from her 'loving' Muslim Husband was way before the law banning any marks to be left on wives or daughters bodies why receiving discipline.

The young Afghan girl featured on a controversial Time magazine cover in the US has been given a new prosthetic nose. Aisha told Time her nose and ears had been cut off – with the approval of a Taliban commander – by her abusive husband as punishment for running away.

The front cover generated debate over the headline “What Happens if We Leave Afghanistan” and over the use of the photo itself. Her surgery was done in California



The Grossman Burn Foundation, which carried out the work, campaigns on the issue of violence against women, as well as doing free plastic surgery work.

Foundation surgeon Peter Grossman carried out the reconstruction surgery. Aisha was widely photographed and filmed earlier this week receiving the Enduring Heart award at a benefit ceremony staged by the foundation. She was given the award by California first lady Maria Shriver, the wife of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.


A happier Aisha

I guess I will add my few cents on the proposed new Mosque and Cultural Center 2 BLOCKS FROM GROUND ZERO.I had posted a comment on another blog saying that I thought it was not wise of them ,but I have changed my mind. When I first heard about it, this Mosque/Community Center was reported to be AT Ground Zero and OF COARSE I WOULD BE SO OPPOSED TO THAT! But this is not even on the street or blocks on Ground Zero. Folks this is in New York, Manhattan to be exact and just how many businesses are in that area alone? I agree with the President, it is well in their right to build such a building. If it was facing Ground Zero then I would expect alot of protest about this, but it IS NOT. It is another building ,church, mosque, bar, strip joint, bakery among many other businesses in that area which have absolutely NOTHING to do with GROUND ZERO! Just because it is close, means nothing. I believe the Right just wants to draw attention and controversy to help them get elected this fall. If it were on Ground Zero then I would wounder what their 'ulterior' motives really were, but since it is not, I am all for it. Here is a map of the locations of this Mosque/Community Center and Ground Zero so you can see that it is NOT near enough to be significant.

View Larger Map

I am at work. At the library. I just got asked a question that is a first for me.

Man: Excuse me?
Me: How can I help you?
Man: I am a Muslim and it is almost time for me to pray. Is there a quiet space in the library I can use?
Me: There are plenty of areas you are welcome to use, but the third floor is reserved for quiet study so if you need quiet, I'd find space up there.
Man: I was hoping for something private, I don't want to offend anyone.
Me: We don't have private rooms available, so I can't offer that. But I don't see a problem with you using the public space of the library.
Man: Thank you, you've been very kind.

And then he nodded to me and stepped away, presumably to find a place to pray. There was something about this interaction that was curiously uplifting and yet sad at the same time. I don't like to hear him wanting to hide for fear of offending people. This is his religion, and therefore his right, and what on earth is wrong with that?

I say nothing, but I know not everyone is so accepting. Yet, the fact that he approached and so calmly stated his question, it is a sign that we are shifting toward a more universal acceptance. "America, it's not just for Christians anymore" maybe a slogan to consider?

Seriously, I don't mean to make light. I know the religious and political undertones in our society are serious. I don't take any of it lightly, but sometimes it seems that maybe if we ALL took ourselves a little less seriously we might not be in this predicament in the first place. Today, I just met a guy who was exceedingly polite and needed space for a private matter. Not a whole heck of difference from the woman last week who asked for a private place to pump her breast milk. I just wish that no one saw a difference there....

Turning now to the "I Guess I Really Didn't Know Everything After All" Department, it came to my attention in the midst of all the ink being spilled over the Fort Hood incident that, according to a law signed by President Clinton, the only personnel allowed to carry weapons on a military base are...MPs or other police officers.  I thought I had misheard that, but apparently not.  While on base, soldiers--people trained in the use, misuse, storage and cleaning of weapons of every sort--are prohibited from being armed.  I don't know what the law says about soldiers off base, but the shooting was on base anyhow.