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| HOME : FORUM : COMMUNITY : Wedding Talk : Religion & Marriage : At the Mosque |
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At the Mosque
Post#1 @
03-18-03
, 09:56 AM
Our local mosque (in a city of about 50K) had an "open house" friday evening. My best friend is a Muslim (she's american)and asked me to attend. I didn't know there was going to be a program. I sat on excruciating metal chairs for 2 hours and heard: the Imam, 2 local Episcopalian priests who are peace activists, a local catholic priest--who my dear departed mom used to call "that damn camel jockey" (my mom was sorta like a female Archie Bunker),the local Unitarian minister--a cross between a black evangelist and a peace activist, the governor, and an FBI agent. Also, the BEST and most interesting speaker was a young Saudi doctor who spoke on the golden age of Islam and its relation to the Enlightenment, and what happened to turn Islam away from the heritage of rationalism to reliogionism. Then...the food portion of the evening. At this point i could barely walk i was in so much pain. They had tables set up with displays, representing each country from families in the mosque: Algeria, Indonesia, Bosnia, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Jordan, Turkey, etc each with artifacts and FOOD items from the countries. Well,,i just wish i'd had 3 stomachs--man was that some good food. I didn't wear hejab, since i was a guest. There were probably over 200 people there. I was really surprised at the crowd. Most of the speakers i found to be cliched. My friend did tell me that their Imam, who is from Syria, "hates" (and that is the word she used) Jews. I guess people sometimes can't overcome their geopolitical context. Though I would think a spiritual leader would strive to acknowlege and seek to overcome prejudices that they retain. I believe that those in positions of spiritual leadership should comport themselves, as far as possible as role models. But i was saddened to hear that the Imam has a bad problem with being prejudiced towards Jews, though it makes sense in context. So that was Friday at the mosque. mars Edited to say: all the folks at the mosque were very friendly. |
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Last edited by marsmannix : 03-18-03 at 10:01 AM.
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Re: At the Mosque
Post#2 @
03-18-03
, 10:21 AM
Quote:
Thanks for sharing the story mars. I don't think ALL people believe prejudices are a bad thing although most of us think 'hating' someone is. Unfortunately, they are raised with these beliefs and so that makes it 'normal'. Rarely do some people even question their beliefs; good or bad. Edited to say the key words you used were acknowledge and seek to overcome! |
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Last edited by ladyluck : 03-18-03 at 10:23 AM.
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Post#3 @
03-18-03
, 11:28 AM
The hatred of the Jews is nothing new and is quite widespread in the Arab world. Personally, I would like to see an end to Israeli settlements in occupied territories, the return of at least part of the West Bank and Gaza to the Palestinians and statehood. I think that would go a long way toward peace. I think the biggest stumbling block is Jerusalem which the Palestinians want as their capital and Israel won't give it up. I'd hate to see another Berlin, but I don't have the answer on that pernt. |
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Post#4 @
03-18-03
, 01:19 PM
That is very interesting, marsmannix. It is not a surprise to hear of a devout person of one religion hating members of another religion. It is a story as old as the world. Food for thought: My husband last night told me that he heard a political commentator say: "The opposite of Capitalism is not Communism, not Socialism, but Fundamentalism. It is impossible to have a Democracy with capitalism with a fundamentalist populace." More food: I would never want to live in any Middle Eastern country, but I love the food. Baba Ghanoush, hummus, pita bread, tabbouleh, tzadiki sauce, tahini---YUM! |
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Post#5 @
03-18-03
, 02:25 PM
Quote:
I disagree with the anonymous commentator. Capitalism was Marx's derogatory name for Freedom. And the opposite of Freedom is tyranny. Tyranny is the M.O. of communism. It is what socialism always devolves into. And it may have some appeal to some fundamentalists. But I don't think that it is beyond all fundamentalists, that a society whose highest value is freedom, also offers freedom to them to practice their own beliefs. If the concept of freedom were totally incompatible with religious fundamentalism, then logically, freedom of religion would never be available to religious fundamentalists. You can't be free if your choice is the only one available to you. Very hard to be clear on this line of thought. I hope someone can make sense of my attempt. |
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Post#6 @
03-18-03
, 02:34 PM
Hmmm....I just had some strong coffee so my brain fuzz is desolving. I think that the term 'Capitalism' was used in a non-derogatory manner, the term meaning a "free-market economy." Our system is a Republic with capitalism, and it's my belief that although flawed, it's the best yet. A country filled with rabid fundamentalists of any stripe, would be grossly intolerant of anyone with opposing viewpoints. His point is that it would be hard to have anything but a tyrannical system in such a country. |
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Post#7 @
03-18-03
, 02:59 PM
Well, my understanding is that the term capitalism stuck, and is not universally used as a derogatory term. However, Marx didn't mean it as a compliment. Free markets are a necessary feature of a free society. Freedom of religion, political freedom (speech & assembly), and economic freedom are all the same thing. In as much as, to the degree one is impeded they all can be impeded and in effect, are. Capitalism is a feature, a characteristic of free society. It's not the core, but we can't exist in freedom without it. As far as its flaws...as long as it is run by human beings.... And fundamentalism, well, I agree that if it so dominates a culture, it's hard to imagine freedom being allowed, and other freedoms tolerated. But I still contend that people can hold fundamentalist religious views and exist in a free society, without imposing their fundamentalist views by force. In turn, other religious views would not be imposed on them by force, theoretically. Freedom isn't ever an easy thing to maintain. We will have to keep fighting for it to retain it. But worth the price. Sorry about the fuzz. I can't have coffee right now as I'm in migraine mode! |
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Post#8 @
03-18-03
, 05:46 PM
Evil chairs aside, sounds like quite an interesting way to spend the evening. |
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Rodent - I spent a month in Israel, and I have to say that I agree with you. Israel is a beautiful nation blessed with many people, cultures and perspectives. I have hope for peace in the future and will return again when things are not so heated. I was truely appalled by conditions in the Gaza Strip. Edited to read Gaza Strip |
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Last edited by dberg : 03-18-03 at 09:37 PM.
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