Not a whole lot going on out of the ordinary.
I did just buy a new 42" flat screen TV from Sam's Club. The TV I had just didn't work well in my living room. We don't have an entertainment center and just had the TV sitting on a shelf next to our fireplace. Well it didn't work very well so we got a flat screen for over the fireplace.
A influx of bonus and tax return has replenished our home repair budget. So we'll be shopping around. I think we need a new couch, new patio door and a new garage door opener (old one broke). Plus a few other items... always something. Might want to get our masterbath shower fixed too. Been broke since we moved in.
I've been looking for a new job or a new position inside my company. Haven't found anything yet. I suppose I won't be realy happy until I win the lottery.
Kids are good. Wife is good. Cat is good. My folks are coming down for the weekend (good). I think I shall enjoy the slight lull.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Muslims & Islam
Part of an ongoing text conversation I've been having. The topic is "Why Americans have trouble understanding Islam." The most recent occurance being a NPR show with a Muslim interviewee.
***
Not sure how you got to that point. I only said you can't make comparisons to western culture to explain islamic culture. Personally, I think your NPR interviewee was wrong. I've never talked to a current muslim who explained their religion was undergoing a big change. In fact, most real muslims I've talked to claim that the unchanging nature of islam is its strength. The "rules" now are the same as when they were written.
As almost anything religious, the devil is in the details. When God said, "Thou shall not covet thy neighbor's wife", what exactly did he/she mean? Should I not look at her? Not sleep with her? Not be nice to her? Not talk to her? Pretend she isn't pretty? etc? How you choose to handle this rule is largely a matter of personal interpretation. We often see the most extreme examples of muslim culture portrayed. The Qu'ran only has one version, muslims are very proud of this. But it is still subject to personal interpretation. The rule for women is "Be chaste" and is followed by a *suggestion* to cover yourself. Many muslims interpret this literally and where the Ajab (sp?). But many do not--realizing that the important part was to remain chaste.
If I were to place my finger on the single biggest difference between muslim and christian faith, I would pick Heaven. For the muslim *everything* in this life is done only to improve your life in the hereafter. All of this world is a test you must pass to enjoy eternity in Heaven. While Christians believe you have to live a good life to get to Heaven, they don't often believe that all of this life must be spent earning your way in and improving your standing. This allows muslims to live in the greatests of hardships, for they firmly believe that they will be rewarded. Muslims practically have a point system for good deeds and they keep track. Christians tend to feel that if they've basically not been an ass their whole life and they have Jesus, then it's all good and a ubiquitous Heaven awaits.
Now I only know about a dozen or so muslims and all of them live in the US. So all I have is my personal experience. I tend to believe my personal experience over nearly everything I see in the media. NPR is a good source though. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that the more modern interpretations of muslim faith are changing its world culture somewhat. I have to admit, though, that I admire the faith of the muslims I've met. They are some of the most charitable and kind people I've known, even in a country that takes little consideration for them, they remain positive and upbeat about the US and fellow Americans. Freedom truly is great. I hope we manage to get through all this hardship without blaming Islam or all muslims.
***
That was my reply anyways... I wanted to say a little be more about Islam from what I've learned.
The Qu'ran is written entirely in Arabic officially. It is a great accomplishment to memorize the book from cover to cover in Arabic. Many muslim children do this by the age of 8--most of them do not speak Arabic. Because memorization of the Qu'ran is so important, the Arabic version is generally considered the only true version.
Muslims strive to provide gladness to hearts of all people.
Muslims see every day as another chance to improve their standing with God. In general they seek to do at least a few things everyday specifically to honor God and be a good person--if not *everything* in a day.
Muslims avoid alcohol and unlawful fornication as two of the greatest sins. The extreme measures they go to avoid it have more to do with human nature than religion. They know being in a bar with friends is a temptation, they prefer to avoid even the temptations for sin and will often decline. Most muslims recognize individual interpretations of how best to avoid sins inside Islam and respect other religious views about it.
Muslims appreciate freedom of choice as much as we do.
Muslims trust in God in all things. They also often give thanks to God.
Some Muslims allow their parents to choose a spouse for them. They trust and respect their parents and God to give them a good spouse. They do still allow divorce, but most do not not personaly choose it. They also believe in divorcing with honor.
In the Qu'ran, Allah first warns men to be chaste by guarding their eyes and then warns women. Most Muslims believe in the laws of Islam because they recognize the weaknesses of being human and they attempt to avoid all temptations.
***
Not sure how you got to that point. I only said you can't make comparisons to western culture to explain islamic culture. Personally, I think your NPR interviewee was wrong. I've never talked to a current muslim who explained their religion was undergoing a big change. In fact, most real muslims I've talked to claim that the unchanging nature of islam is its strength. The "rules" now are the same as when they were written.
As almost anything religious, the devil is in the details. When God said, "Thou shall not covet thy neighbor's wife", what exactly did he/she mean? Should I not look at her? Not sleep with her? Not be nice to her? Not talk to her? Pretend she isn't pretty? etc? How you choose to handle this rule is largely a matter of personal interpretation. We often see the most extreme examples of muslim culture portrayed. The Qu'ran only has one version, muslims are very proud of this. But it is still subject to personal interpretation. The rule for women is "Be chaste" and is followed by a *suggestion* to cover yourself. Many muslims interpret this literally and where the Ajab (sp?). But many do not--realizing that the important part was to remain chaste.
If I were to place my finger on the single biggest difference between muslim and christian faith, I would pick Heaven. For the muslim *everything* in this life is done only to improve your life in the hereafter. All of this world is a test you must pass to enjoy eternity in Heaven. While Christians believe you have to live a good life to get to Heaven, they don't often believe that all of this life must be spent earning your way in and improving your standing. This allows muslims to live in the greatests of hardships, for they firmly believe that they will be rewarded. Muslims practically have a point system for good deeds and they keep track. Christians tend to feel that if they've basically not been an ass their whole life and they have Jesus, then it's all good and a ubiquitous Heaven awaits.
Now I only know about a dozen or so muslims and all of them live in the US. So all I have is my personal experience. I tend to believe my personal experience over nearly everything I see in the media. NPR is a good source though. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that the more modern interpretations of muslim faith are changing its world culture somewhat. I have to admit, though, that I admire the faith of the muslims I've met. They are some of the most charitable and kind people I've known, even in a country that takes little consideration for them, they remain positive and upbeat about the US and fellow Americans. Freedom truly is great. I hope we manage to get through all this hardship without blaming Islam or all muslims.
***
That was my reply anyways... I wanted to say a little be more about Islam from what I've learned.
The Qu'ran is written entirely in Arabic officially. It is a great accomplishment to memorize the book from cover to cover in Arabic. Many muslim children do this by the age of 8--most of them do not speak Arabic. Because memorization of the Qu'ran is so important, the Arabic version is generally considered the only true version.
Muslims strive to provide gladness to hearts of all people.
Muslims see every day as another chance to improve their standing with God. In general they seek to do at least a few things everyday specifically to honor God and be a good person--if not *everything* in a day.
Muslims avoid alcohol and unlawful fornication as two of the greatest sins. The extreme measures they go to avoid it have more to do with human nature than religion. They know being in a bar with friends is a temptation, they prefer to avoid even the temptations for sin and will often decline. Most muslims recognize individual interpretations of how best to avoid sins inside Islam and respect other religious views about it.
Muslims appreciate freedom of choice as much as we do.
Muslims trust in God in all things. They also often give thanks to God.
Some Muslims allow their parents to choose a spouse for them. They trust and respect their parents and God to give them a good spouse. They do still allow divorce, but most do not not personaly choose it. They also believe in divorcing with honor.
In the Qu'ran, Allah first warns men to be chaste by guarding their eyes and then warns women. Most Muslims believe in the laws of Islam because they recognize the weaknesses of being human and they attempt to avoid all temptations.
Friday, March 3, 2006
Ramblings...
Things are going a bit better. I'm still swamped at work and I still have more going on at home that I'd like (mediation, kid stuff, keep up, etc), but I dunno, feels better. Maybe it's Spring. Of course my hayfever is kicking in horribly. But then I think I get a sort of Zen from constantly sneezing as you can't really think of anything else while you're sneezing. I can sneeze for a good solid 15 minutes non-stop. That's a work out unto itself.
Even so I look forward to Spring and Summer. Winter here is so meh. It's not really cold and it's not really nice. I'd rather have one or the other. But sort of constant gray and chill isn't all that special most days. It does have its moments.
A couple of weekends ago the wife and I got away for no reason other than to just be out driving and no place to go. We went to Abiliene and Salina. No reason... just a random small town to visit. But the drive was pretty. At some moments it wasn't hard to imagine Kansas as it used be a couple hundred years ago. There seemed to be a kind magic at work in someplaces that just kept those locations from aging.
In two weeks my wife goes in for gallbladder surgery. While considered minor nowadays, it's still worrisome. A week later I have a business trip to Cabo St. Lucas in Mexico.
I really had no idea where Cabo was when I signed up, really I didn't. As it turns out, Cabo is on the extreme southern tip of the Baha penisula. Which puts farther south than the tip of Texas by a couple hundred miles. It looks like a paradise from the hotel ads. But I've often discovered that vacation spots are an uncomfortable mix of excess and poverty rolled together. Still, it's someplace new and it's by the sea. I love watching the sea.
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