This next coming week is Islam Awareness Week at MTSU. A friend of mine who I met on my volunteering trip to Chicago is the president of Muslim Student Association. I am very excited to attend some of the events that she and her organization are putting on. I get really get upset when people want to protest Muslims in general? People base their judgments off radical Muslim in the Middle East. They portray all Muslim hating all Americans and Jews. People will tell stories of different Muslims doing horrible things. I can tell you the same amount of things that Christians do that aren’t right. I read a story about 10 Christians who attacked a Jewish couple because they wished them a Happy Hanukah. Luckily, a Muslim teenager stepped in a saved the Jewish couple from being beaten to death. See, I can play the same game as everyone does and tell you stories from the other side. You can’t base your judgments off of news stories. Of course, the news is going to portray the worst of the worst. What I have learn about Christianity is that God is the only one who can judge, so why is everyone judging these other religions. You are not God, or anywhere close to him! There are many Muslims out there; some that you don’t even know are Muslims. Let’s break down these stereotypes between these religions. I have been best friends with Muslims for years now; it has opened me up to a whole new interesting culture. I challenge each one of you, go out and learn something new.
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You are right! Even in Christianity, it is taught, "For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" (Matthew 7:2). The truth is, we're all biased
We all have to work past this, as you said, by listening and learning something new. Cultural differences should be appreciated, and religious differences should be debated. :-)
Islam is actually one of the most peaceful religions. There are radical fundamentalists in every single widespread religious sect.
"The fake church (Jerry Falwell) called the prophet Mohammad a terrorist forgetting God is not religion but a spiritual bond and Jesus is the most quoted prophet in the Koran." -Immortal Technique
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/jloigman
that is true that is a peaceful religion, but many people who i have talked to call it the a religion by the sword or something like that. I blog for a newspaper in the tennessean, and of course we are in the bible belt, and people e-mail me saying that Muslims are going to kill me. They don't understand the religion. My best friends are muslims and they are great people. I just hate people who stereotype a religion based on a few people
http://digits2006.blogspot.com/
it has seems to be a religion of irony--mohammed had many peaceful revelations (many speak of generosity and mercy), but then, his revelations turn vengeful, commanding a holy war--killing people, taking captives, etc., (Sura 8:7, 12; 9:5). Most followers take this command to be symbolic rather than literal. idk... I'll have to take more time to "learn something new" and understand this popular worldview.
its like that is every religion. God killed people and had crusades. I mean you shouldn't judge a religion based on some radicals in the middle east
http://digits2006.blogspot.com/
true. :-(
may be it's really the followers' faults and not the religion.
Muslims are what Christians were 700 years ago, a herd which is dwelling in fear of reprisal.
What always amazes me most is the amount of hypocrisy that is very much alive within the herd of Muslims.
Other than that they are exactly the same as Christians, which makes me wonder even more.
can you explain more on that? Why do you call Muslims a herd, they are not animals.
http://digits2006.blogspot.com/
But they have a herd mentality. Christians used to have a herd mentality where they didn't question only obeyed, a lot of muslims are like that.
As for Christians, I believe that was because it was the Middle Ages and the vast majority of people were uneducated. (Only nobility and church leaders, and later only males, received an education.) As for Muslims now... they're definitely educated, so I guess what you describe as a herd mentality is simply devotion and faith. (I'm not Muslim, so that's just a guess...)
Overt devotion and faith without questioning, zealots. Christians in the Middle Ages were zealots whether they were educated or not. Muslims whether educated or not have the exact same mentality as early Christians. Implying that the reason for the first is lack of education doesn't help the cause at all. It shows that whether educated or not, when people don't question, they become zealots.
well, or sometimes apathetic... Either way, it seems that the "unquestioning" will follow tradition and popular thought (which sways with the wind and changes with time). That's why I think it's really the followers and not an issue of religion... people in general seem to share a "herd mentality" under any common purpose. (Granted, there are individuals who are exceptions...)
Peace out!
Well, I have learned a new word today, Zealots, kind of cool word too, lol, Thank you Son,
I never refer to people as being animals, quite surprised you took it that way too.
Son of Disaster brought up well and right reply and I would like to add some.
This link might clear up the “why herd” question.
http://www.progressiveu.org/083622-chickens-within-herd
Whether Muslims are educated or not doesn’t change a lot to their wellbeing. I’m not talking about welt or economical growth, but the way they handle and address misfortunes in daily life situations.
More and more they are driven by a form of frustration which leads them and other non Muslim straight into chaotic situations engulfed in trauma. The sad part is, these situations are self-inflicted while they are playing victim of what they have brought to themselves.
To take it all in a bigger perspective it boils down to this, a simple choice!
If Muslims had the choice and means to erase all non Muslims of the face of this planet, they wouldn’t flicker an eye and resort in doing so!
The difference in this same choice is, that the majority of non Muslims would not even consider in making a choice like that. Because most value own and other life above devotion. To understand an emotion like that one needs at least once to have had the taste of REAL freedom.
The prove for this is simple, non Muslims have the means in doing so! To erase ALL, Yet, Muslims are still alive and kicking…. Why?
Value!
The fact that my words are reason enough for some individuals to cut off my head is clearly a sing there is something wrong with the overall so called education which they might enjoy, although all of this has nothing much to do with education.
Not having had any education doesn’t necessarily push one to behave like a retard!
Please understand that my opinion upon this includes all other religions that involves worship.
Religion is a cancer which reproduces an even bigger cancer because it is a charade build and projected by fear which is promoted throughout the stirring of hate in order to achieve success!
Dude, religion is nothing more than a worldview, a perspective, perhaps with a little bit of deity in there, integrated into a way of life. It's how we interpret reality. We all have worldviews and perspectives and lifestyle choices even outside of organized worship.
Take the political party, for example. It is a "herd" of people with similar views who usually support their leaders. Even in non-"religious" factions, there are violent radicals (take '68 for example)...they have extreme values, but does that mean perspectives, worldviews, religions, and factions are all cancers of which society needs chemotherapy? To me, this would mean we would all think the same "right" way. We'd all be a herd of one dominating view... so I think having religions are okey-dokey. If they are really a charades, they won't last... in the long run, we have nothing to fear cuz only reality endures.
Worshippers don’t carry any sense of reality, the little reality they grasp is manipulate and created for them in order to keep them in that “BOX”.
Radicals regardless if they linger in politics or religion are nothing more than frustrated retards which spoil the life of others.
A person which is aware and in control of his own identity caries no need to follow or become part of whatever herd.
For quite some centuries there seems to be something really wrong with the way religions integrate themselves into a way of life, disgustingly is the way in which all religions that practice worship can’t wait for a newborn to pop out in order to start their mental while in some cases physical abuse upon them.
Religion is a power tool which keeps and pushes people away from reality, therefore it is a charade containing cancer which is not to be cured with chemotherapy.
YOUR personal reality might involve lifestyle and choices, but this is not necessarily the reality of other individuals regardless whether they linger in or outside religious boundaries.
Your personal reality is worth noodle when lingering in the presence of worshippers which hate the fact YOU enjoy freedom, it makes them to become confused and frustrated, therefore a liability.
Okey-dokey is a personally lived illusion… reality is something else, it is to be found outside of that dream world filled with ignorance of what the meaning fear can represent when it enters your reality bubble.
I don’t live in the long run, only in the moment, to grasp the meaning of this, is to be omnipresent.
The only thing in life which endures is love,
Getting really philosophical here...What do u think is reality, sir? And what's love? Cuz that might be where we're not really trackin on the same path... also, do you dislike institutionalized religion or spirituality in general?
Cuz (to me) reality isn't relative... what's relative is the interpretation of reality.
And (to me) love is giving something of urself away to someone else... so, at least for me, I need to have others around me, and I need to love even if I AM secure in my own person and identity. Not many people grasp their identities enough that they can have a satisfying life all by their lonesomes. That's like having everyone achieving nirvana... ;) But alas, we are human and rather limited, I'd say. We sure make messes for ourselves.
I don't think radicals always spoil people's lives...rather than forcing everyone into a box, they bring very real and relevant issues to attention (that we can all chat about on Progressive! yay!) If we didn't have radicals, that'd leave us with wishy-washy moderates. Ew... apathy. Then who would have the ambition to make changes in the very needy world?
Thx, mate!
On must understand the law of duality in order to understand and grasp reality.
This presentation is way funny and contains all one needs to know to create an understanding.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwgXlLNhjj4
I will explain about love later on, it is important to go through the duality part first.
Do know that we are far from being limited, we are all top notch creatures carrying the most amazing and sophisticated (computer) brain ever.
The sad part (for now) is that the majority of people don’t know how to use its software, some feel it’s there, but (for now) fail to find the mouse I order to start working with this software we all carry inside.
The number one reason for this to be a reality is simple:
Organized religion!
But now we have Internet, lol, they can still keep you dumb, like they used to burn (people) books not so long ago, but they can’t burn the internet or make it disappear, lol.
Internet is Pandora’s Box in duality because it offers a platform which is amazingly powerful to create an understanding and awareness of what is cooking behind the dirty curtain governments and religions try to keep closed in order to keep you enslaved.
They will not succeed because the EGG is bursting big time!
Internet is offering both sides of the coin on a silver plate, this is why so many people get confused nowadays, many can’t deal with the realities they come across on the net.
It makes their personal reality balloon to pop!
Many others are happy to find answers on the net they had been looking for…
People more than ever before are looking for love!
I have some questions,
What do you see when you look in the mirror?
Who are you?
What are you?
Please explain in detail, if you don’t know, that’s fine too…
Anyway, I will get back to love later on…
One example of real reality,
To know what a person is going to say, before this person speaks out.
But then again, that’s not possible, is it?
Thx for sharing. interesting clip... guess ya don't have a problem with spirituality, b/c, dude, it was so NAM! (New Age Movement... only that's an organized religion...but don't they have a new name for it now? any-hoo...) so huh. duality. it seems like its kinda based on platonic forms... do u think the law of duality is self existent? that the universe just kinda decided to be balanced and ordered? or rather did it need to be?
Where did ya get the idea the brain is so supremo? Cuz that’s NAM too! Well, as long as duality exists, I guess I disagree with you on us being unlimited. Cuz, well, r u saying if we master our brains, by using the internet, haha!
, we can be perfect? I'll admit there are lots of opportunities and such we have not yet explored, but reality is bigger than our brains.
May be we differ on “what is perfection?”… cuz as an owner of a brain, I know mine’s not gonna be all that. (and may be this answers ur mirror/what/who r ya questions…) but anyways, there is duality—good… and evil… love… and hate… joy… and discontentment—in me. That is my humanity. Animal and spiritual. Yah, the brain’s intricate, but these traits will forever fight each other in me, keeping me from the unlimited perfection utopia doohickey. And that is why I sympathize with religion (or at least spirituality and supremo deity)—I believe to every problem, there is one answer. huh... so explain where love comes in? these are probably not be the answers ur looking for… :-}
Anyways, off to write an oh-so-fabulous essay… lol. So catch ya later. Can't wait to here your elaborations!
yay!
Spirituality is the only thing left around which will make a difference into whether yes or no, we stay alive upon this planet,
I don’t like the expression NAM, I always associate it with individuals which like any other religion give false hope to people.
Duality is a universal law, like many other universal laws it contains everything one needs to free it’s mind.
Universal laws are absolute truth.
I did not get an idea of anything, experiences, like deep amazing experiences make one to see the light were others only see darkness…lol
The reason why our brain is top notch is simple, but only understood when efforts are put in place to use it. Meaning, that when you question your so called believes enough, everything which you now take for grantee will change, your brain will eventually open up and bring you the universal knowledge.
A knowledge, religions are desperately trying to keep away from you!
No need to say this knowledge surpasses everything and that the experiences which come along with this knowledge are extremely energizing in more than one way. One can see it as being reborn.
It is normal you disagree, if you didn’t we wouldn’t have this discussion in the first place. Lol And if you would know half of what I know, you might consider worshipping me, lol, which is clearly not the plan or the intend which I carry, My intent is to bring you an understanding that you can free your mind if you are willing to do so!
Realty, just like yourself, is nothing more than thought!
This is the reason why I asked you these questions, which you didn’t answer, the reason why you didn’t answer them, is because you don’t have a clue of who and what you are, second, you don’t which to expose yourself out of fear of what others might think of YOU when writing down your inner thoughts upon this subject.
Which is actually very typical and normal behavior of most sharing this platform.
Some are on the sideline enjoying our conversation, are you aware of this? Lol
There is no such thing as perfection which you could grasp, a better expression would be oneness.
Our brain is the key to access universal truth, to work yourself into an understanding there is no keyhole will open up this truth in order for it to express itself inside of you.
Duality is not about good and evil, duality is about negative and positive balance together with the way you interact with this balance.
The reason why you now assume you are limited is simply because you believe it to be. Over the years you have been molded in order to feel and think the way you do in regard to religion.
You now believe religion is the answer, like a shelter in which you can find refuge of whatever might cross your mind and fearful thoughts. While the only thing it brings you, is for you to look in the wrong direction, to keep a lit upon your abilities, and to take away that small amount of identity which you carry inside, while protecting it with your ego.
Reason for this to happen the way it does, is because you are obedient and don’t question it!
YOU actually don’t know any better! That’s why you like many other remain boxed up, in a prison of your own mind and thoughts, fearing everything which you refer to as being spiritual and philosophical while it is none of those things. And surely not something you need to fear either.
The less you fear it the older you will become inside and outside of your physical body.
You don’t sympathize with religion either, you only pretend in doing so, although in a careful way you open up to other views you fear to wonder around asking deeper questions. Therefore you are (for now) still part of the herd you blindly follow in obedience which brings you nothing, like zip, zero, nada, rien, nichts, null!
That sad of a control you allow to control your great identity, while fearing what’s behind the mirror of your own thought, leaving no choice to allow identity to surface from within
You dare not to peak! Although you carry a desire in doing so!
http://www.progressiveu.org/083622-chickens-within-herd
Again, our brain is amazing!
I’m not looking for answer here, I’m asking you a simple question in order for you to see for yourself what is behind that eyeball of yours while peaking in a mirror.
Have a peak and come tell me what you see or believe to be behind the eye.
Elaborations, lol, I waiting for yours before we venture inside love…
One more question,
Imagine, you find yourself in a room with a 100 other individuals, they all say or pretend it is raining hard outside, while YOU clearly don’t see any rain but a nice sunshine.
What does this mean?
Good luck with your essay.
Why muchos thanks—my essay is almost done! (HALLELUIA!) but that is so not what I’m writing about…wow, I think we've gone on like the world's biggest bunny trail, but you know what, that's okay, it's fun!
Man, so sorry if it looked like I was trying to parade around with an ego…so, like, what answers are you looking for? Not quite sure what to elaborate on… may be it’ll help if you’ll clarify what/who you think you are so I can clarify my humanity in contrast to your definitions, but here’s a try on what you said:
I agree with you on some ultimate truths and fundamental knowledge. (Like gravity! Haha! No really, weightier stuff than that…)
I like how it’s called Tao in the Abolition of Man (like the world’s easiest philosophy book to read… actually no, Little Prince totally beats it, but still…) but I still think that religions are merely interpretations of the Truth, the Tao, the ultimate knowledge. It seems that your “religiouslessness” is itself a religion? How you deal with the laws? I don’t wanna “categorize” you… can you explain the differences between the NAM (sorry, ur right… that is a bad name… who came up with that one?) and your doctrines of oneness and the superman brain?
And on reality being thought… here’s why (I think) there are dif. religions and world views: people all around the world since the beginning of time have spent plenty of time thinking hard as you recommended… them philosophers… and the trouble is, they’ve all come to different conclusions…
So yeah, I think religion, or at least what I consider spirituality, to be the answer… the interpretation, the thinking through and discovery, of reality.
Hmm… think that covered everything. It’s been grand. Have a liberating day and peace!
oops, completely forgot to click reply on that. anyways, reread ur comments again, Mr./Ms. Wombels, and I reflected... you are right, I am not fully disclosing what I believe, but that is not of fear as you have suggested, but because i have been thinking about the issue of religion in general and not my particular worldview--I consider myself liberated and free as you do--but I don't think religions are a danger...does that help with the elaborations?
muchos gracias!
I know our discussion is fun, and one of the reason we hang around on this platform, because it brings understanding were on other platforms people throw hurt at one another while remaining ignorant due to their actions.
It is important to understand I’m not trying to convert you or anybody else, lol, I’m fully aware of the fact that some of my arguments and questions which I ask might sound weird and crazy, but then again they are not all that weird.
What you don’t grasp or understand now, will most likely make sense later.
How much later will depend on how curious you are to find out about what is really real in the life you are living. Unlike cat’s curiosity you will live to see the day, regardless how much you question everything which is clouding your vision.
So relax and enjoy what’s coming your way, lol
In order to put yourself in a situation which can open up or trigger awareness, you can try some personal experiment...lol
Please know, there is no Mr. Right in the sky, which will hit you with sledgehammer on the head, be cool, stay cool...
The only thing you need to do in order for it to present itself is to keep your mouth shut!
So,
Next time you hang out with friends, try to put yourself in the observer mode.
Meaning, that when your friends are opening up a new exiting discussion, try to focus upon what is being said and listen. Don’t get involved in the discussion, only listen and witness how this discussion is affecting everyone which are involved in it.
The hardest part will be to keep your own mouth shut and to focus!
I you succeed into remaining an observer during this exchange of words and emotions, something might present itself. Depending on how you will perceive things, you might find yourself to tap into the moment of events that are taking place.
This may sound as complete crap for now, but try it!
The important part is not to get involved and only witness what is taking place.
It is not easy, because we are not used or willing to listen to others without pushing forward our own opinions, we are used to immediately form our own opinions around the words and thoughts of others.
Therefore we miss out! BIG TIME...
The same is to be found in religion, you can learn all there is to know about your God, the bestselling book and how to live accordingly to all the rules that have been put in place, still, it will bring you nothing!
Reason for this nothing to come to surface is because you can and will never be sure! The reason why YOU who caries all of the godly knowledge available are not sure and therefore in doubt is simple.
Because you miss out on the experience!
All your effort into believing, regardless how hard you try is in vain if you can’t live the experience or truth which you carry in thought.
It’s like waiting for a train which you already missed in the first place, it will never show up to bring you were you want or need to go.
To bring up an existing example...SEX, lol
If you were to be a virgin, there is that big question which sticks like a nail in your head!
How does it really feel to have sex?
You can go read all available books that explain every single detail upon how to proceed in the act.
You can receive education in school about safety and consequences which might arise 9 months later.
You can easily wonder on the internet to see the construct of a male or female body.
You can even find out where the G-spot is located and have a display in full graphic detail and close ups which leave nothing much to wonder, lol
You can find and gather all you want about sex, still you have no clue!
There is no way on earth for you to find out, how it really feels if YOU don’t find a kick ass top notch creature which can drive you insane on your quest to find an answer! Lol
There is no other way than the real thing to put YOU into living the experience, nothing, no book, internet, education or whatsoever information will bring an answer which will provide you with the truth of real experience!
When walking for 3 days with a curious smile upon your face, is prove you had gone throughout the experience, haha
Reason for the smile is because the experience lived affected you so deeply it changed your perception and attached emotion to it, period and forever!
Organized religion affects who we truly are, depending on where you are born you automatically become part of this or that nest, how funny is that?
The sad part with it, is that it brings confusion and trouble to arise wherever, there is an unbalance, like a power struggle between authorities in place.
Therefore you have like a zillion different religions which are all kicking ass, with the sole reason to have control over your thought.
For now I can’t really answer your questions, because from my answers other questions will arise which will make this conversation to get stuck!
The reason why I brought up oneness is because it is the only truth available which can bring one to self-realization, it is the key to reach out and get a hold to your identity.
When achieving this, one can experience a knowledge which exceeds everything you know or assume to be the real thing. It brings forward a dimension of awareness in which there is no place for fear to come bother your thoughts.
Meaning that you will be free in a boundless sense which will allow you to do whatever you wish to do, because becoming one, is nothing more than to (wire) use your brain at its full potential.
There is no need in thinking hard in order to make this a reality, one only needs to let go into acceptance, it is in fact possible. This can only be achieved when having a desire and strong curiosity which will push you to question and ask yourself the bigger question of life.
Answers to those questions are not to be found in books, answers are within you!
We are nothing but thought, yes, we linger in a physical body, but, we are thought linked to a source. A source we all share as ONE!
Don’t you find it strange or weird you are not amongst when sleeping?
You have dreams so real, they sometimes even make you wonder when awake!
You can fly, have sex, run fast, jump distances which are amazing and many other stuff like sail upon a pirate ship or eat mango’s on a Brazilian beach...lol
It’s because during sleep, you are lingering somewhere else while not bound to laws you believe to exist and limit you when awake!
Everyone you know caries and walks through life with these same assumptions that we are limited, while the truth is we are NOT!
The fact that for now you don’t realize you have been around before, doesn’t mean you haven’t. This is some sort of luxury we enjoy each time we come back in this world.
Our hard drive is erased or better say, downloaded to the source before it is erased when you enter a physical body upon this planet.
You are also not aware that you have willingly chosen to be here at this specific moment in time, while perfectly knowing what is taking place upon this planet!
But you don’t recall!
Once you will achieve in accessing the (ancestral) blue print of your past visit’s, a new understanding will arise and surface.
A reality is not to be discovered, it is to be experienced!
Don’t think you are, be!
Of course it’s better to take it one step at the time...lol
So try to focus to what is taking place and don’t mingle in discussion, become an observer and find out for yourself!
Come share your experiences with us, and we might take it one step further.
Have a fully experienced day, focus...
Any new discoveries?
http://www.loveearth.com/uk/film/
:-(
It is said,
Serpents Egg – The Host of Seraphim