Find Religion

Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field.

I’ll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about.
Ideas, language- even the phrase “each other” -do not make any sense.

This Rumi poem/prayer of truth is the way we are to approach sacred circle. Empty out so the space can be filled with Her grace. Divine femininity is characteristic by the chalice, the bowl; such as the womb. It is hidden, open & receiving of the abundance that is our birthright. She gathers her knowledge and wisdom not thru words but thru sacred imagery and symbol. This is why creativity is so essential to nurture the spirit. Our creative endeavors are Divinity Herself being made real for all to see. This is why beauty is so important not only to the senses but the sensibilities. We were created for ecstasy and pleasure. Art is the God/dess Herself manifest. I can’t imagine much more exciting than that right now. Go create! Let’s see what She wants to say thru You! This is a challenge. Read the Rumi Poem & begin. Be Inspired!

Email me pictures of your creations so I can show them in a future post. Thanks!

Dr. Nikhat Qureshi says that providing free health care is something that runs in her family.

Muslims usually get a bad rap for being unwelcoming to other religions, but many of that faith are working hard to overcome that stereotype. The Al-Shifa clinic, which you can read about here, is run by the physicians of the Muslim Community Center for Human Services, but it doesn’t ban patients from non-Abrahamic religions. Everyone is welcome.

After all, missionary and volunteer work is a part of Islam and most other religions.

It’s important for news stories like this to continue to be a part of our daily understanding of the world. Too often, only the bad stories are reported, leavings an ugly shade of light casted on our overall perception of religion. However, there is still a lot of great stuff happening in the world!

Jermain Jackson, who is a brother to Michael and Janet, has recently shown interest in supporting Muslim Aid, an organization that gives money to orphanages around the world. Jackson is also known by his Muslim name, Abdul Aziz, and has said that it was his religion that helped him win runner-up votes for staying calm during his participation in Celebrity Big Brother. Hamid Azad, the head of overseas aid, thanked Jackson for his upcoming support during a press conference.

Muslim Aid, Jermain Jackson, Jackson, Muslim, Islam, charity, Big Brother

Keith Ellison, the first Muslim to ever be elected to Congress, is being sworn in on the Quran, instead of the Bible.

Now, that alone is sparking enough controversy, but to even add to the heat, the Quran being used once was owned by Thomas Jefferson.

Oh my goodness, was Old TJ a Muslim?????

Nah. Thomas Jefferson simply was a person who can be a role model and inspiration to us all. He was religiously tolerant.

It’s difficult in America to practice tolerance towards other religions, especially with so many of our troops dying at the hands of self-proclaimed American enemies who happen to also be Muslim.

Sometimes, we just need to take a step back. We’re all human right? Thomas Jefferson, as well as many of our other founding fathers, realized this.

If you’re having a problem with religious tolerance and want to take steps towards love, try following these tips:

1. Start small. Don’t jump right to visiting the worship service of another religion. Instead, focus on becoming religiously tolerant of denominations within your own religion.

2. Learn. You don’t have to believe the Quran (or Torah, or Bible, or whatever) to read it. However, reading other religious texts and information will help you understand why another person acts the way he or she does.

3. Make friends. Meeting new and interesting people of different faiths can help you overcome religious hatred. Instead of focusing on religion right away, start the conversation with another topic. I bet that people of other faiths are more like you that you’re willing to admit.

4. Ask for help. A member of your clergy can help you overcome your hatred. Religious tolerance doesn’t make you weaker in your own faith. A priest, minister, rabbi, etc can help you move past whatever is bothering you.

Keith Ellison, congratulations on your appointment. Make God guide your Congressional decisions as you guide this country.

Keith Ellison, Congress, Quran, Bible, Thomas Jefferson, religion, tolerance