Today’s Thursday Thought quote is an important, yet basic, message from three of the world’s great religious leaders.
Tag Archive for Muslim
Be Aware
Christians sing “Here I Am, Lord.” Jews call to mind the example set by the Levites who were called to serve God. Muslims know that the word “Islam” means “submission,” serving the will of Allah. All people, even atheists, have that feeling deep within them that, whether a higher power is involved or not, we have an obligation as part of the human race to watch out for each other. Of course, Believers know that God isn’t going to text us with instructions. But how often do we look around to see if, just maybe, opportunities are presenting themselves around us?
There’s that out-of-work man you keep running into, and an opening where you work. There’s the ill neighbor, and you do go to the grocery store weekly anyway. There’s the lonely stranger in the room you pass on your way to visit your dad at the nursing home, and you really do have an extra fifteen minutes. The City Council is about to pass a harmful resolution, and you have the ability to speak convincingly.
Just look around. Be aware of chances to serve–if not God then your fellow travelers on this Earth.
Put a Song in Your Heart
How do we make our WORLD great again? Together!
This is a wonderful, inspiring video that should brighten your day and start your week off on a positive note.
(Wait for video to load, then right-click to unmute.)
https://www.facebook.com/102230317063118/videos/154468718505944/
Ramadan–Why Care?
We’re two days into the holy month of Ramadan (May 17 – June 15), when Muslims fast (even from water), study the Quran, and atone for wrong-doings. Many non-Muslims are mystified by the practices, which do vary somewhat throughout the world. This article, When Is Ramadan 2018? Everything You Need to Know (But Were Afraid to Ask), gives a good overview of this Muslim observance and answers some common questions.
Why bother reading about it? Why care? Well, there are 1.84 billion Muslims living on this Earth with us–that’s 24.38% of the world’s population. Understanding them and their peace-centered religion (not the radicals who bastardize Islam, of course) can only make our neighborhoods–locally and world-wide–more peaceful and just.
A blessed Ramadan to my Muslim friends, relatives, and neighbors!
Seeds of Peace
Because of the significance of the season--notably Good Friday today, beginning of Passover tonight, Easter Sunday in two days–I’d like us all to think about peace.
PEACE is God’s loving gift to us. All He asks is that we accept it together. All of us, from all faiths. One way is through “The Peace Seeds.” These 12 prayers were prayed in Assisi on the 1986 Day of Prayer for World Peace. They are Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Muslim, Sikh, Bahai’, Shinto, Native African, Native American, Zoroastrian, Jewish, and Christian. They may refer to the Life Force in different ways, but all call on it to help us attain the peace our Father wishes for us.
Let each prayer touch you deeply, where your longing for peace lives. Feel the unity of the world is in its craving for peace. Then call upon God using each prayer. You may want to change the references you aren’t comfortable with: “Vedic Law” in the Hindu to “Holy Law” or “Buddhahood” to “Your Will.” Remember: God wants not mere words from us but a unified desire to accept His gift.
You’ll find the Peace Seed Prayers at http://chaplaincyinstitute.org/library/blessings-and-prayers/interfaith-prayers-for-peace.
A Different Look at “Merry Christmas”
Christmas is a time of peace, yet it’s the time when people get upset, insulted, outraged, and argumentative about two words. Yes, we’re into the debate of “Merry Christmas” vs. “Happy Holidays.” The priest in this video takes an approach (which I heartily agree with) that the Reason for the Season Himself would probably take. It’s something to consider before we start issuing the greeting in question to everyone we meet.
A Saintly Idea
MOTHER TERESA, the newest Catholic saint, was blessed with the wisdom to understand life in its most simple elements. In today’s Thursday Thought quote she describes a philosophy she lived by and that would do us good to remember in this world in which atrocities are done in the name of God (no matter what name He/She is called by):
“There is only one God and He is God to all; therefore it is important that everyone is seen as equal before God. I’ve always said we should help a Hindu become a better Hindu, a Muslim become a better Muslim, a Buddhist become a better Buddhist and a Christian become a better Christian.”
Life Without Muslims
Let’s collect all the Muslims and ship them out of our country. They don’t add much to our culture, anyway. That’s what some people would have us think. Actually, what would our daily lives be like if Muslims didn’t exist? Before you bathe, have your wake-up cup of coffee, go on a trip, take a video of your grandchild, or a number of other things, watch this video to find out.
https://www.facebook.com/onlookeruk/videos/1734553773446522/
Do You Face Discrimination at Work?
So, you think you’re being discriminated against at work because of your religion–or lack of religion. Guess what. You may be right. Doesn’t matter if you’re Muslim, Christian, atheist, or whatever. This is according to a 2013 national survey released by the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding, which says that a third of American workers either feel religious discrimination or observe it at work.
In America, a nation built on religious freedom!
Read about this trend at “Study: Workplace Religious Discrimination on the Rise.”
Then, go to work and do something about it.
Listen Up, Trump!
I’m angry! Donald Trump continues to portray Muslims as evil people bent on killing Americans because Allah wants them to. This is SUCH a perversion of true Islam, which is a peace-loving religion. He refuses to acknowledge that ISIS and their kind are being disowned by most Muslims. In fact, they want them to go away so they can live out two of their religion’s teachings–peace and harmony.
Yesterday in an interview Trump said it again: “Islam hates America.”
Get it through your thick skull, Trump–you are WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!