Holy books - Quran, Bible, Torah, Vedas, Tipitaka, Kalapa Sutras, Granth Saheb, Kitab Al Aqdas, Gathas and others

Published at: http://foundationforpluralism.blogspot.com/ and www.TheGhouseDiary.com

What are the holy books for?

Of course, Quran, Bible, Torah, Vedas, Gita, Tipitaka, Kalapa Sutras, Granth Saheb, Kitab Al Aqdas, Gathas (random order) or other holy books and oral traditions are designed to build peaceful societies, where people can get along and not live in fear of each other. 99+% of people in any group get that right and a few don’t. Those who don’t get it right keep finding faults with others.

Religion is really for those who have stinky attitudes towards other’s be it in the form or race, religion, culture, tradition or ethnicity.  By the way if you can function with others cohesively and peacefully, religion is not needed. Religion is merely a vehicle to make you a good human to live and let live.

Indeed, these books and their message was to restore trust in the society, create safety for every member be it invincible or vulnerable, so everyone can go on about their pursuit of their life, liberty and happiness. 

Years ago, I did a radio talk show where we read the entire Bible, Bhagwad Gita, Quran, and Parts of other books in a period of two years, one hour a day for a lay person on the street to understand each religion and remove his or her bias towards others.

Now, on a random basis, I will be writing and speaking about the essence of every religion  and I would invite everyone from every faith to propose an aspect from their tradition (Wicca, Pagans, Native or other) or a chapter from their holy book.

First lesson:

Sura Kafirun - "Un-believers"
QURANIC GUIDANCE ON HOW TO CONDUCT CIVIL DIALOGUE 

The following understanding of Sura Kafirun was written on July 5, 2008, almost five years ago and now, on this day February 09, 2013, it is being dedicated to Pastor Bob Roberts for his bold take on respecting the otherness of others,  URL- The link http://quraan-today.blogspot.com/2008/07/sura-kafirun-un-believers.html 


The following Chapter (Sura) from Qur’an addresses the believers (of other faiths) in the most dignified way, putting every one on par without denigrating any. It is an exceptional example of civil conduct for one to follow. No where in this chapter a claim is made that the faith of Muslims is superior to others, or others' faith to be inferior.

Kafirun is an exemplary Surah teaching civil dialogue, throughout the Sura, the other is treated respectfully and as an equal, “I do not worship what you worship, and you do not worship what I worship” – it does not say your worship is inferior to mine. The element of arrogance was not given a room in this chapter. Because you hold a different belief, your belief is not belittled.

This chapter is about consciously nurturing civility in societies. It is not about overlooking the differences and focusing on commonalities, it is simply about accepting the otherness of other. You are who you are and I am who I am and let's figure out how we can co-exist with the least tensions. This is the basis of pluralism - i.e., respecting the otherness of others.

I believe all religions are beautiful and none is graded to be superior or inferior. I am a Muslim by choice, and pleased to be one, I may not believe what others believe, as others may not believe what I believe. I will accept them for who they are, as they would accept me for who I am. I will not disrespect any faith, as it amounts to arrogance, and God simply does not like any one who is arrogant, indeed, arrogance is the root cause of all conflicts.


Arrogance kills the very spirit of Islam – Justice, peace and equality. Islam is about live and let live. Learning to accept and respect others' right to exist and figure out the best way to co-exist. A majority of Muslims get this right, and few don't, indeed that is the case with every religion.

As the saying goes "beauty is in the eyes of the beholder", I would add " faith is in the heart of the believer". As a Muslim, your and my role is to to mitigate the conflicts and nurture goodwill among peoples and nations. That brings peace, and that is the other word for Islam.

In another chapter, God essentially says, I have created ya'll from a single couple, and made you into many tribes, communities and nations. Each one of you is different and unique with your own thumb print, DNA, taste bud and behavior bud. He also said, had I willed, I would have punched you all out from a factory template to exact specifications, all males to be precisely same height, weight, color and same with the females. But I chose to make you unique and gave you complete free will to create harmony and cohesiveness within and with what surrounds you. Then he concludes, the best one among is you is the one who learns about each other. Knowledge leads to understanding and understanding to acceptance and appreciation of the other resulting in harmony and peace (Islam).

What does submitting to God's will mean? Just as we love the food we cook, enjoy the results of the work we do, God loves his creation and likes every one to get along. God's will is that we care for the life and environment and lead a just life that leads to a state of peace and harmony for his creation. That's is the bottom line; that is what Jesus meant when he said " follow me" or Krishna said " "surrender to me".

The following chapter in Qur'aan does not say, that others' belief is inferior, in fact it says, as your belief is dear to you, as my belief is dear to me. So much respect is given to the other faith.

God willing, I have embarked on compiling the translations of Qur'aan as people of other faiths can relate with it, in a language that would be familiar to them. At this time, one of the best Qur'an translations available is by Mohammad Asad and I recommend you to use it as a reference, rather than some of the mistranslations on the market. Even this translation has a few flaws in dealing with women, but the translations is better than most other translations.

I would recommend you to check out a few columns to understand the wrong doing and deliberate mistranslations of the Qur'aan, both by the early European Kings to paint Islam in the bad light for their own gains and by the Muslims after the fall of Ottoman empire to egg on Muslims to support their cause, you also see a piece on origins of Islamophobia.

There was a movie made by Geert Wilders and he continues to dupe the Neocons (Literalist or sticklers in every faith) by quoting 14 verses from Qur'an as hateful, indeed they are, but they are not in Qur'aan. This blog is dedicated to clarify false statements recycled every day about Qur'aan. Finding the truth is your own responsibility -when you remove the ill-will from your heart, it brings freedom, salvation, nirvana, mukti, moksha, nijaat and true liberation.

Now here are the 6 beautiful verses of Quran... Indeed, I am blessed to use this language in dealing with differences.

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109:1 SAY: "O you who deny the truth!
Topics discussed in this Verse: [Unbelievers]Qul ya ayyuha alkafiroona
قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ (109:1)
Baset - Hussari - Minshawi 
My understanding: Addressing those individuals who denied the truth spoken by the Prophet.

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109:2 "I do not worship that which you worship,
Topics discussed in this Verse: [Unbelievers]
La aAAbudu ma taAAbudoonaلَا أَعْبُدُ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ
109:2 Baset - Hussari - Minshawi 

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109:3 and neither do you worship that which I worship!
[1]وَلَا أَنتُمْ عَابِدُونَ مَا أَعْبُدُ (
109:3)
Baset - Hussari - Minshawi 

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109:4 "And I will not worship ~hat which you have [ever] worshipped,
Topics discussed in this Verse: [Unbelievers]
Wala ana AAabidun ma AAabadtum
وَلَا أَنَا عَابِدٌ مَّا عَبَدتُّمْ (109:4)
Baset - Hussari - Minshawi 

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109:5 and neither will you [ever] worship that which I worship. [2]Topics discussed in this Verse:
[Unbelievers]Wala antum AAabidoona ma aAAbuduوَلَا أَنتُمْ عَابِدُونَ مَا أَعْبُدُ (109:5)
Baset - Hussari - Minshawi 

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109:6 Unto you, your moral law, and unto me, mine !"
[3]Topics discussed in this Verse:
[Islam] [Muhammad:faith of] [Unbelievers]
Lakum deenukum waliya deeniلَكُمْ دِينُكُمْ وَلِيَ دِينِ (109:6) Baset - Hussari - Minshawi 

Islam is about free will and accountability to keep the harmony of creation intact. If someone compels you to believe, pray, eat or wear, then it is not Islam. Quran is clear many many times - no one bears the burden of others. For societal equilibrium we all agree to do certain things and give up certain things as a part of living and culture.

Please note, this good material for teaching pluralism and civil dialogue.

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Mike Ghouse is a Muslim committed to understand, explore and share the idea of Rabbul Aalameen, the creator, nourisher and sustainer of the Universe, taught to us by the Mercy to mankind who was respectful of others, and whom people trusted for his integrity, honesty, civility and truthfulness. He believes if you follow God's guidance and Prophet's examples, you ought to be Mukhlooqul Aalameen - human being for the goodness of mankind.  More about Mike at www.MikeGhouse.net and www.TheGhouseDiary.com.   

Texas Faith: In love and marriage, do different faiths really matter in America?

DO INTERFAITH MARRIAGES MATTER?
URL - http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2014/06/texas-faith-in-love-and-marriage-do.html

http://interfaithmarriages.blogspot.com/

When a couple is deeply committed to marry, they go ahead and get married anyway without the ceremony due to religious restrictions, but they sorely miss out on the integral part of their tradition they grew up with; a religious cultural wedding. There is good news for such couples now; an interfaith wedding.

As a Pluralist, I am blessed to have performed numerous weddings for couples in their own religious traditions like the Hindu-Christian, Muslim-Jain, Jewish-Christian, Muslim-Hindu and other combinations. We can highlight the beautiful wisdom of each faith as a part of the sermon to bring a sense of completeness to their wedding.

Texas Faith: In love and marriage, do different faiths really matter in America?

By Rudolph Bush
rbush@dallasnews.com
10:47 am on June 10, 2014 | Permalink

Recently, I attended the beautiful wedding of two friends, one from a Jewish family and one from a Christian family. The ceremony largely followed the Jewish tradition with occasional mention of the bride’s Christian upbringing.

I began to wonder, witnessing this blending of two people into one couple bound under God, what place separate faiths really serve in our society. If we are honest, there is no justifying the fundamental difference in belief between Christians and Jews or the other major faiths. But in cases like these, it is our cultural homogeneity that is more important than the tenets of our faith.

Given that, what does faith really mean in circumstances like these? Is faith or religion simply ceremonial? Or are we overcoming divisions in the name of something greater – that is – love?

Read our panelists’ responses below.

MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism and speaker on interfaith matters, Dallas


Religions don’t marry, but people do, and what brings them together in the first place is a shared interest, evolved out of living their daily life at work, school, gym, bars, conferences and even the place of worship, indeed, that is what connects them.

These couples must be admired by one and all. In an increasingly egocentric world, when people have difficulty in getting along, they are setting a new standard of respecting the otherness of others (defined as Pluralism).

It is disappointing to many couples, that their clergy or the parents insist on the other person to convert to their faith tradition, some do, and some fake it and some are not even comfortable with the idea.

When a couple is deeply committed to marry, they go ahead and get married anyway without the ceremony due to religious restrictions, but they sorely miss out on the integral part of their tradition they grew up with; a religious cultural wedding. There is good news for such couples now; an interfaith wedding.

As a Pluralist, I am blessed to have performed numerous weddings for couples in their own religious traditions like the Hindu-Christian, Muslim-Jain, Jewish-Christian, Muslim-Hindu and other combinations. We can highlight the beautiful wisdom of each faith as a part of the sermon to bring a sense of completeness to their wedding.

There is a cautionary side of the interfaith marriage, as Naomi Schaefer Riley reports in her book, How Interfaith Marriage is Transforming America, “The growing number of interfaith couples don’t know what they’re getting into. Interfaith couples tend to marry without thinking through the practical implications of their religious differences. They assume that because they are decent and tolerant people … they will not encounter difficulties being married to someone of another faith.” She insists, “But faith is a tricky thing and it sneaks up on people,” especially at significant moments when the pull of old loyalties supposedly outgrown reasserts itself. “The death of a loved one, the birth of a child, the loss of a job, a move to a new city — all of these things can give people a sense of religious longing, a desire to return to the faith of their childhood.”

One must be fully secure in himself or herself to learn to accept each other’s uniqueness, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge.

To read the other panelists, go to Dallas Morning news at
http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/2014/06/texas-faith-in-love-and-marriage-do-different-faiths-really-matter-in-america.html/#more-40530...............................................................................................................................
Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. He believes in Standing up for others and a book with the same title is coming up. Mike has a strong presence on national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News; fortnightly at Huffington post; and several other periodicals across the world. His personal site www.MikeGhouse.net indexes all his work through many links.

There is no one like you

The Texan of the Year with the most negative impact would be Senator Ted Cruz. Of course, a survey is warranted to see if his popularity is hyped by tea party propagandists or if he is really popular in Texas. We cannot ignore this guy. Let me list the long and short term impact of his acts on our society. - Mike Ghouse

TEXAS FAITH: Who would be your Texan of the Year?

By Bill McKenzie / Editorial Columnist
wmckenzie@dallasnews.com
8:08 pm on November 5, 2013 | Permalink

A horseman alongside Dallas' Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge
(Jason O'Rear)

We are headed into the end of the year, where there will be a lot of look backs at 2013. This newspaper participates in the annual ritual, too.

Each December our editorial board presents its Texan of the Year. Over the last decade, we have selected political figures like George W. Bush, groups of people like the heroes who endured the Fort Hood killings and unknown people like Roy Velez of Lubbock, whose two military sons died in Middle East wars. The strongest response we received about any choice was when we named Illegal Immigrants as Texans of the Year.

The criterion we use is simple: Uncommon impact by someone identifiable as a Texan. (That impact can be negative as well as positive.)

The person could be in public service, the arts, law, education, research, sports — you name it.

The nominee doesn’t have to be a big shot or household name. It could be an obscure genius who’s having quiet but important impact that’s being felt this year.

The person (or group) could be making a difference outside of Texas, as was the case with Admiral Bill McRaven. He was our 2011 Texan of the Year for heading up the bin Laden raid.

Here, then, is my question:

Who would you nominate as Texan of the Year for their uncommon impact?

Read on for the panel’s answers:

MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism, and speaker on interfaith affairs, Dallas

The Texan of the Year with the most negative impact would be Senator Ted Cruz. Of course, a survey is warranted to see if his popularity is hyped by tea party propagandists or if he is really popular in Texas.

We cannot ignore this guy. Let me list the long and short term impact of his acts on our society.

First, he has not denounced his father’s statement unequivocally calling on Obama to go back to Kenya. What a shame! I am an Indian, and no one will bother me if I remain a small guy. But if I were to run against him in 2018, would his bigotry come alive again? Since I would be challenging him for the Senate, would he tell me to go back to India or Mexicans to go back to Mexico? I can imagine Ted Cruz smiling at his father for that support.

A corporation would rather have productive employees than the ones who get sick frequently and lower its productivity. It behooves us to invest in health care. Healthy Americans make a healthy nation. A good health care system is an investment in human capital, not a charity or a subsidy. Ted Cruz is bent on destroying America and its systems.

It is illegal to rob a bank at gun point, and it is illegal for me to block Ted Cruz from entering his office and doing his job. If I were to interrupt, I would be arrested. Yet he violated the rules and shut down the government with no consequence.

The Affordable Care Act was passed by Congress, signed by the president and ratified by the Supreme Court. It is a shame for Republicans to claim that no Republican voted for it. That is a gross disrespect to our system.

We honor all legislation passed by elected representatives. Ted Cruz’s act was a dishonorable act and possibly illegal. Shouldn’t there be consequences for breaking the law? Isn’t he supposed to uphold the laws of the land? He did not respect the due process and acted like a Third World politician.

Ted Cruz sounds like a classroom bully who frightens kids and gets away with it. He is excess baggage for the Republican Party.

To read the response of all the Panelists, please visit Dallas Morning News at - http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/2013/11/texas-faith-who-would-be-your-texan-of-the-year.html/#more-31282

Thank you
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Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. He believes in Standing up for others and has done that throughout his life as an activist. Mike has a presence on national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News; fortnightly at Huffington post; and several other periodicals across the world. His personal site www.MikeGhouse.net indexes all his work through many links.
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It’s painful to bear what happens to innocent Lauren, and fearful to know that one among us is doing this. Our safety hinges on figuring ways to prevent these through vigilance, enforcement and education. God has given us guidance and free will and it’s up to us to figure out a societal balance for our own good. - Mike Ghouse

TEXAS FAITH: Where was God in the ordeal that young Lauren Kavanaugh faced? By Bill McKenzie / Editorial Columnist wmckenzie@dallasnews.com 4:03 pm on October 29, 2013 | Permalink

Over the last week, the Dallas Morning News has run a series on the story of 20-year old Lauren Kavanaugh. In “The Girl in the Closet”, you will read a devastating, demoralizing account of depravity. (To access these stories, go to the chapters portion on the toolbar.)

The report tells the story of how young Lauren was locked in a closet, deprived of food and sexually abused by her mother and stepfather over several years. It will tell you how she rose above that horror to later be sexually abused again in her teen-age years. Throughout the story, you will learn of the rise and fall and rise of this young girl. You also will hear many an expert say this was as bad a case of victimization as they have seen.

Here, then, is my question: Where was God in the ordeal young Lauren faced?
Of course, this is an age-old question, but I would like to hear your views.

MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism and speaker, interfaith affairs, Dallas


Lauren Atkinson’s story brought tears to my eyes. The helplessness she faced was difficult to bear, her whole being was violated. When there is so much pain, does one lose hope? What becomes of living? Where was God in the ordeal young Lauren faced?

The word “helplessness” conjures up images of men, women and children during the Holocaust and Genocides. The looks on their faces showed the betrayal they felt when their friends and the people around them turned their faces away. With no choices available to them, they endured that humility with dignity and most of them gave up on life.

Where was God for them? Did God betray them too?

Trust is the most critical value for humans to survive amidst the perceived barbarism and law of jungle. Trust gives us comfort to get out of the house and drive knowing that others will follow the traffic rules as well. And trust allows us to drop off our children at school and pick them up later.

Rules are made for the safety of all. Survival mode kicks in when they are not followed, which is how we can live without apprehension and fear.

Of course, we can lose faith in the system. At that point, we either we violate the trust of others or become a recluse. It is in those critical moments we doubt the existence of God, the just and merciful God. Where the hell was he when he was needed most?

It took me years to understand the idea of God, a G_d that is not a thing or a being, a G-d that is formless and simply an indefinable, imaginary but real energy that caused life and sustains it, as we witness it.

Whatever or whoever created the matter, tuned it to be in balance. The planets and stars are programmed precisely to do exactly what they do. However, humans were not designed to be in self-balance. Instead, they were equipped with a device called “mind,” which works on creating the balance needed for its own survival.

For convenience, call it a spiritual or a God-balance that societies seek to preserve through laws. However, like traffic violations, we also violate the rules and pay a price for it.

It’s painful to bear what happens to innocent Lauren, and fearful to know that one among us is doing this. Our safety hinges on figuring ways to prevent these through vigilance, enforcement and education. God has given us guidance and free will and it’s up to us to figure out a societal balance for our own good.

To see the other panelists take, please visit Dallas Morning News at: http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/2013/10/texas-faith-where-was-god-in-the-ordeal-that-young-lauren-kavanaugh-faced.html/#more-30919

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Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. He believes in Standing up for others and has done that throughout his life as an activist. Mike has a presence on national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News; fortnightly at Huffington post; and several other periodicals across the world. His personal site www.MikeGhouse.net indexes all his work through many links.
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As a torch bearer of the Democratic Party, the president has a lot to appreciate in Ted Cruz, who with his singular jihadist act assured a gain for the Democrats to have a stronger say in the next Congress. That will preserve and protect his legacy: The Affordable Care Act, job growth in his second term and the continuance of a Democrat in the White House. Mike Ghouse

TEXAS FAITH: What can Obama and Cruz learn from each other?

By Bill McKenzie / Editorial Columnist
wmckenzie@dallasnews.com
5:37 pm on October 22, 2013 | Permalink

You’ve read the coverage in the paper or online, followed the play-by-play on television news and probably even heard chatter around the water cooler about the government shutdown. So, I don’t need to replay the details for you about the last few weeks in Washington.

But, for this week’s discussion, I would like you to draw upon your training and/or beliefs to offer some advice to the two most identifiable people in the latest budget drama: President Obama and Texas’ own senator, Ted Cruz.

For them, and the country, to move ahead, some kind of breakthrough in human relations needs to occur. For that to happen, they need to understand each other better.

Of course, many major religions emphasize understanding “the other,” even welcoming the stranger. So, here is my question for this week:

What one strength of Ted Cruz’s would you suggest President Obama appreciate? And what one strength of President Obama’s would you suggest Sen. Cruz appreciate?

Read on for some surprising answers.



 MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism and speaker on interfaith matters, Dallas

All the good and bad things in the world, like war and peace, invention and destruction, progression and regression, were caused by one individual. Indeed, one man can really make the difference in shaping the world.

We have two individual politicians at odds with each other. Both have made a difference in their own way and will continue to be discussed through midnight, November 4, 2014.

President Obama should appreciate the Jihadist mindset of Sen. Ted Cruz. The man would not listen to the polls, public or peer opinions, but just believed in himself and passionately worked on his belief, however wrong that belief was. He is a bulldozer; and nothing matters to him when he rolls on the terrain. Mahatma Gandhi and Hitler had a similar passionate mind set. One believed that truth will ultimately triumph and non-violence will trump oppression. The other believed in the dominance of a superior race.

As a torch bearer of the Democratic Party, the president has a lot to appreciate in Ted Cruz, who with his singular jihadist act assured a gain for the Democrats to have a stronger say in the next Congress. That will preserve and protect his legacy: The Affordable Care Act, job growth in his second term and the continuance of a Democrat in the White House.

As a motivational speaker, Cruz is my subject. He was successful in bringing the mighty United States government to a grinding halt. If this passion were applied towards peace and prosperity, the world would be a better place.

Now turning the table, Sen. Ted Cruz can really appreciate President Obama’s patience and his passionate belief that the Affordable Care Act is good for America. He can also appreciate the president’s will to make it his legacy is stronger and has greater support than the senator’s own whim to undo it.


Sen. Cruz can also appreciate the president for not accusing him of being disrespectful to the law of the land. ObamaCare is the law of the land, and not upholding the law amounts to contempt of the Constitution and the procedure it requires to become the law.

I am sure he realizes that we have the best government in the world because we are a nation of law. The process it takes to change must be adhered to be a genuine constitutional conservative. 

To read the other panelists take, please visit Dallas Morning News at: http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/2013/10/texas-faith-what-can-obama-and-cruz-learn-from-each-other.html/

Mike Ghouse
(214) 325-1916 text/talk
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Ghouse
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Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. He believes in Standing up for others and has done that throughout his life as an activist. Mike has a presence on national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News; fortnightly at Huffington post; and several other periodicals across the world. His personal site www.MikeGhouse.net indexes all his work through many links.

Thanks to JFK, his immortal words will become the crutch to great men and women of our future, a corollary of which will become a standard for them, “I am not the Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Atheist or Wicca candidate for president. I am the Democratic or Republican Party’s candidate for president, who happens also to belong to the respective faith. I do not speak for my church on public matters, and the church does not speak for me.”
 - Mike Ghouse

TEXAS FAITH: Did JFK have a greater impact on religion than any modern president?

By Bill McKenzie / Editorial Columnist
wmckenzie@dallasnews.com
4:28 pm on October 15, 2013 | Permalink

d

John F. Kennedy speaking as a candidate to Houston ministers in 1960

The nation and certainly the city of Dallas are coming upon the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s assassination. There are many parts of his presidency and death that our paper and others are starting to examine, from the legacy of his foreign policy to his imprint on civil rights to his use of television to communicate.

One area that hasn’t gotten much coverage is John F. Kennedy’s impact on religion in America. Often, we read about how Jimmy Carter and then Ronald Reagan awakened evangelicals and changed the face of religion in America, particularly in politics.

But did JFK have a greater effect than perhaps any modern president on religion in America?

Read on for some insightful answers.
MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism, Dallas and speaker on interfaith matters

JFK had the most profound effect on religion in America than any other modern president. Indeed, he led the inclusionary trend in America.

A Catholic could have never dreamt of becoming president of the United States. Yet, there he was, the first one to break loose the unwritten Protestant monopoly on the White House with his sheer personal charisma and ability to communicate the right message. He paved the way for any American who aspired to lead the nation regardless of race or religion.

JFK had to be twice as good to win the hearts of Americans, just as African-Americans and other minorities have to be twice as good to be on par. He precisely communicated his adherence to his faith and the loyalty to the ideals of our Constitution without compromising. Perhaps, for the first time in our history, we became acutely aware of the separation of church and state, and understood what it meant.

On September 12, 1960, JKF delivered this powerful message:

“I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute, where no Catholic prelate would tell the president (should he be Catholic) how to act, and no Protestant minister would tell his parishioners for whom to vote;” and he continued, “I believe in a president whose religious views are his own private affair, neither imposed by him upon the nation, or imposed by the nation upon him as a condition to holding that office.”

America will continue to grow to reflect our deeply held values that all men are created equal. Thanks to JFK, his immortal words will become the crutch to great men and women of our future, a corollary of which will become a standard for them, “I am not the Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Atheist or Wicca candidate for president. I am the Democratic or Republican Party’s candidate for president, who happens also to belong to the respective faith. I do not speak for my church on public matters, and the church does not speak for me.”

His impact on the civil rights movement is lasting. On June 11, 1963 Kennedy defined the crisis as a moral one, as well as a constitutional and legal one. He announced that major civil rights legislation would be submitted to the Congress to guarantee equal access to public facilities, to end segregation in education, and to provide federal protection of the right to vote.

Most importantly, in behalf of all immigrants, I want to express my gratitude to JFK and MLK. Thank you, we are here today contributing to the richness of America, because of the Civil Rights Act and you two.

To read the other panelists take, please go to Dallas Morning News at: http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/2013/10/texas-faith-did-jfk-have-a-greater-impact-on-religion-than-any-modern-president.html/#more-30501
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Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. He believes in Standing up for others and has done that throughout his life as an activist. Mike has a presence on national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News; fortnightly at Huffington post; and several other periodicals across the world. His personal site www.MikeGhouse.net indexes all his work through many links.
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In my tradition Islam, there is a greater emphasis placed on service to mankind. Indeed, Prophet Muhammad goes on to say that if a person is having a full meal while his neighbor is hungry, he is not following his religion. There are innumerable stories where a sinner woman saves a thirsty cat with water, another one feeds a hungry dog and the prophet said that both of them will earn God’s grace. Mike Ghouse

TEXAS FAITH: Pope Francis criticizes narrow focus on abortion, gay rights and conception

By Bill McKenzie / Editorial Columnist
wmckenzie@dallasnews.com
5:21 pm on September 24, 2013 | Permalink

Pope Francis offered some provocative thoughts last week. Speaking about the hot-button issues of abortion, gay rights and conception, he told a Jesuit interviewer: “It is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time.”

He went on in the interview to say that hischurch had grown obsessed with those topics.

I have to admit, the church universal seems way too caught up in debates over abortion, gay marriage and conception. So, I happen to agree with his view.

But what do you think? Are people of faith becoming too occupied with gay rights, abortion and conception?

And what do you make of this statement that also came from the Pope:

“The dogmatic and moral teachings of the church are not all equivalent.”

Applying that line to your own religious tradition, how are believers supposed to know which teachings are more important than others?

In my tradition, the Presbyterian Church USA, we have creeds, but we don’t necessarily have a Presbyterian’s guide to the top 10 beliefs, or some such list of priorities.

This could get arbitrary, couldn’t it?

MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism and speaker on interfaith matters

There are two sides to hot-button issues like abortion, gay rights and conception.

On the one hand, the Pope and the conservative guardians of religion may be satisfied that they have softened their approach towards the issues. Probably they are asking what else you want. As if they have done a favor in removing the shackles which they placed on people originally.

On the other hand, the relentless discussion on the topic stems from the fact that the letting up of restrictions has not translated into acceptance. Until it becomes a norm it will continue to remain caught up in the debates.

The closure to the transaction will happen if the church writes down the revision in its policy manual. If not, the Pope needs to accept the legitimacy of the occupation with the topic.

I do agree with the Pope that the dogmatic and moral teachings of the church are not all equivalent.

In my tradition Islam, there is a greater emphasis placed on service to mankind. Indeed, Prophet Muhammad goes on to say that if a person is having a full meal while his neighbor is hungry, he is not following his religion. There are innumerable stories where a sinner woman saves a thirsty cat with water, another one feeds a hungry dog and the prophet said that both of them will earn God’s grace.

Then there is a story of a man who prays day and night, but the prophet advises him that caring for his wife is as important as prayers and that he should cut down on his prayers. But, unfortunately, greater emphasis is placed on visible aspects of the religion like prayers, one’s beard, etc than on the aspect that builds cohesive societies.

Indeed, every religion is about justice and at the end of the day or end of the world, there is hope that justice will prevail; violators will pay for their wrong doing, and do-gooders will receive salvation, nirvana, Mukti, Nijaat or freedom from the birth cycles.

Even though justice seems to be cruel at times, that is the bottom line of the religion or a society. However, the prime value of religion is Mercy. Thanks to Pope France for re-emphasizing on the mercy aspect of religion.

To read all the contributors, please go to Dallas Morning News at:  http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/2013/09/texas-faith-pope-francis-criticizes-narrow-focus-on-abortion-gay-rights-and-conception.html/

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Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. He believes in Standing up for others and has done that throughout his life as an activist. Mike has a presence on national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News; fortnightly at Huffington post; and several other periodicals across the world. His personal site www.MikeGhouse.net indexes all his work through many links.