Texas Faith: Do we need a new national conversation about marriage?

Humanity is diverse, that's God's intentional creation. The male/ female ratio has always remained around 50/50 with +/- 2 points variation on either side. The world would never be 100% male or female, likewise the world would never be 100% Gay, it will be a natural 10-15% of the population. Mike Ghouse


Texas Faith: Do we need a new national conversation about marriage?

By Bill McKenzie / Editorial Columnist
Dallas Morning News, Published on February 5, 2012

Ten panelists contributed to this forum, to read the contributions from all the panelists, please visit - http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/2013/02/texas-faith-do-we-need-a-new-national-conversation-about-marriage.html/

Has the conversation about marriage reached a dead-end in our country, as Blankenhorn suggests? If it has, please explain what you would like this conversation to now include. If you think we don't need a new conversation, please explain.

MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism, Dallas, and Speaker on interfaith matters, diversity and pluralism

The conversation on marriage has just opened up, and we are far from reaching the dead-end. But until that time we will need two parallel societies. They will not be in conflict with each other, but each on its own path.

What is missing in the conversation is our untapped ability in understanding the wisdom of God. As humans we are disgustingly selfish, and grind on to the selective verses that suit our insecurities to force the weak (minority) into obedience, as if we gain something.

The conservatives among us, particularly those who are Christians and Muslim, are stuck in the dished-out versions of the Sodom and Gomorrah story. We need to follow Jesus in spirit, and follow the merciful and inclusive God of the Universe (Quran).

God has endowed us with free will. He let Adam make the mistake without slapping him for eating the forbidden fruit. Instead, he kicked us out, and gave us an opportunity to multiply and live out in a bigger world with free will. He wanted us to figure out living with each other without punishing the few, who opt not to multiply.

As a futurist of interfaith trends, I have been struggling to understand sin. I found guidance in Buddhist literature about sin from this analysis, which I read on ReligionFacts.com:

"'Sexual misconduct' has thus traditionally been interpreted to include actions like coercive sex, sexual harassment, child molestation and adultery. As homosexuality is not explicitly mentioned in any of the Buddha's sayings recorded in the Pali Canon (Tripitaka), most interpreters have taken this to mean that homosexuality should be evaluated in the same way as heterosexuality, in accordance with the following principles: I) Intention - Is the act motivated by love, generosity and understanding? And ii) consequential - does the act cause harm and regret (in oneself or others) or benefit and joy?"

As a pluralist, I draw upon different religious scriptures, and here is a corollary from Quran about carrying on a civil dialogue. "Respectfully, I do not practice what you practice, and you do not practice what I practice, so you live with your belief as I do with mine, as long as we understand our differences and not harm each other."

The dialogue must continue until we learn to respect the otherness of others and live in harmony. No one's belief should be thrust on the other. That kind of freedom is a hallmark of civil societies.
 …
The phobias that acknowledging and accepting the gay sexual orientation will cause more people to become gay is as ridiculous as saying eating Chicken will make you a Chicken. The sooner we accept this, the quicker we can put this fear behind and move on with our lives, instead of harassing and denigrating fellow humans. Thank God, I am blessed to be friends with all of God's creation including many gay and lesbian friends. The alarmist attitude will evaporate one day, why not junk it now? Indeed, it's a blessing to be free.
…..

References:

 New York Times piece on Blankenhorn. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/30/us/in-shift-blankenhorn-forges-a-pro-marriage-coalition-for-all.html?_r=0

American Values, marriage a new conversation
http://www.americanvalues.org/marriage-a-new-conversation/index.php

Buddhism about Homosexuality
http://www.religionfacts.com/homosexuality/buddhism.htm

Quran about Civil Dialogue
http://www.religionfacts.com/homosexuality/buddhism.htm
 

. . . . . . . Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place and standing up for others as an activist. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. 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 everything you want to know about him.

Who created Religion - Man or God?

Religion can be seen from two perspectives; God and Man. I have interviewed and met many people who were not conditioned with any religion or any versions of God. Both were alien thoughts to them, however, it helps us see Religion from a different point of view.

One view holds that Religion is man’s attempt to understand God and the nature, about life, death, sickness, incomplete things in life, the love or hate for each other and where we fit in the scheme of things.

The other view can be seen as an expression of God’s love for his creation. Creation can be broadly categorized in to matter and life.

Every piece of matter that has evolved or created is designed to have its own balance, whether it is Jupiter or the moon or other objects of nature, they were designed to remain and operate in balance without any interference.

Whereas humans were not put on auto pilot like the matter, instead we were given the freedom and ability to think and find our own balance.

Even though the creator gave (or evolved out of necessity) the free will to humans, the goal remained “harmony” or “balance” among humans and its environment. Just like the mother loves the well being of her children, teacher wants every student to excel, a chef wants every patron to enjoy his or her food, and the creator wants every one of us to live in peace and harmony. 

It was this love of God that he chose to restore trust in the society through peace makers, prophets or messengers to give us guidance, in the form of religion, wisdom or tradition so we can live in the “Kingdom of heaven” where no human has to live in apprehension, anxiety, discomfort or the fear.

These thought are derivatives from Bhagvad Gita, Bible and Quraan.

A few more details at: http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2012/05/texas-faith-how-far-should-religious.html

MikeGhouse is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. He is a professional speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, civic affairs, Islam, India, Israel, peace and justice. Mike 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 and regularly at Huffington post, and several other periodicals across the world. The blog www.TheGhousediary.com is updated daily.

Koran Giveaway in Germany Worries the Right

COMMENTARY - NOT AN ARTICLE.
Mike offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. 
Koran Giveaway in Germany Has Some Officials Worried
New York Times, article below 

1. One should have the freedom to distribute the copy of Quraan. Either you stop for all, or allow for all. Free speech ultimately wins, we don't need to regulate it. If the worry is that the readers may convert to Islam, so what?  Let people have the freedom to breathe, drink, eat, wear and believe what works for them. We cannot have double standards.  

2. On the other hand, as a Muslim it concerns me, if the translation radicalizes the youth, it messes up the society, it is our duty to protect the rights of all Citizens and ensure safety for all. Put the offenders behind the bars without slapping a religion onto them.

Indeed,  some of the Islamophobia has origins in mis-translations of Quraan.  Check this out -http://www.dallasnews.com/news/columnists/steve-blow/20100919-In-defense-of-Islam-pursuing-9397.ece

Solution

Germany Government can create  a commission to review books that meet public policy and stamp it so, unstamped ones should still be there,  but the public would know the difference and input will cause one to think the difference and may lead to intellectual understanding. If they had checked on the literature, most likely we would not have seen a massacre in Norway. 

Wrong translation of the Quraan is a problem, and only a few subscribe to it. Most Muslims prefer Muhammad Asad's translation.

Mike Ghouse

Koran Giveaway in Germany Has Some Officials Worried

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/17/world/europe/germany-koran-giveaway-worries-officials.html?_r=1&emc=eta1

By MELISSA EDDY and NICHOLAS KULISH

Published: April 16, 2012

BERLIN — A drive by a fundamentalist Muslim group to give a copy of the Koran to every German, Swiss and Austrian household has tapped into the widespread anti-Islamic feeling in Germany and created an uproar among politicians and security officials concerned that the group handing out the holy books is using the campaign as a cover to recruit radicals.

There is nothing illegal about distributing religious works in Germany — it is a frequent practice of Scientologists and Hare Krishnas, not to mention Christians — but officials are worried about who is doing the distributing.

The Koran campaign is the brainchild of Ibrahim Abou-Nagie, a Palestinian who preaches a fiery conservative brand of Islam known as Salafism.

Mr. Abou-Nagie, who has lived in Germany for 30 years, has been on the radar of German security officials since 2005, when he set up a Web site that has been suspected of spreading extremist propaganda. An attempt to prosecute Mr. Abou-Nagie on charges of incitement of religious hatred failed this year.

The campaign to hand out the Korans drew nationwide attention — and widespread condemnation — last week after journalists who had criticized the effort were threatened in an online video. And on Monday, the interior minister in Hesse, a state in central Germany, called Mr. Abou-Nagie and his followers “pied pipers” and said that the danger from radical Islam had reached “a new dimension.”

But Rauf Ceylan, a professor of religious sociology at the University of Osnabrück, said that violent extremists represented “a minority within a minority” and that the discussion of Muslims’ participation in German society should not be focused on Salafists. “Politicians have a great responsibility for communicating the fact that Germany is now an immigration society,” he said, “and thus far they have failed at that.”

The role of Islam in Europe has been fiercely contested in the decade since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Moderate Muslims say that officials’ emphasis on extremist groups and terrorism helps contribute to a climate of fear that can lead to violence, like the killings last summer by Anders Behring Breivik in Norway.

A German security official who did not want to be quoted by name because of the delicacy of the issue said officials were worried that disaffected, directionless young people would be drawn to what he called the Salafists’ simplistic interpretation of the Koran and find inspiration in it for violent acts.

He cited Arid Uka, who opened fire at a bus carrying American airmen at a Frankfurt airport in March 2011, killing two and wounding two others. Mr. Uka, who was born in Kosovo but had lived in Germany since he was a child, said he had become radicalized by reading Web sites, including some linked to Salafist groups in Germany.

On a Web site set up to promote the Koran distribution campaign, Mr. Abou-Nagie said the goal was “to bring Allah’s word to every household.” The campaign began in October 2011.

On Saturday, a stack of Korans sat on a table under a white-topped tent in Berlin’s Potsdamer Platz, a crossroads for tourists and shoppers, as several men greeted passers-by and offered them copies.

A few yards away, a handful of protesters stood with signs denouncing Islamic extremism. Two squads of police officers kept watch.

Yannick Salziger-Ouatain said he had heard about the giveaway on the Internet and was simply interested in the book’s contents. “Islam plays such a major role in the general political discussion right now,” he said. “I figured that as a democratic human being, I need to find out more about it and make up my own mind.”

A version of this article appeared in print on April 17, 2012, on page A4 of the New York edition with the headline: Koran Giveaway in Germany Has Some Officials Worried.

Mike

www.MikeGhouse.net

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Mike Ghouse is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. He is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, civic affairs, Islam, India, Israel, peace and justice. He is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, commentator on national radio network, writes weekly at Dallas Morning News and bi monthly at Huffington post, The Smirking Chimp and other periodicals. His daily blog is www.TheGhousediary.com

Blasphemy Laws go against the spirit of Quran

Secure men believe in God and the Day of Judgment and have full faith that God alone decides what is in one’s heart. Insecure men's way to find solutions is to eliminate the other with power, screams, deaths and threats. 

Unless a few of us start speaking against Blasphemy, the evil vigilantist anti-Islamic practice of insecure men will continue.

Except the first four caliphs, who were chosen to govern rather than forcefully taking over,  we have a bad history of oppression.  Have we ever been ruled by sane men? It is not just us, until 100 years ago with the exception of the United States; the whole world was run by dictators and kings. Most nations are moving towards civil societies run by the consensus of the people and sadly our freedom is not proportional.

Look at our history, we have been prevented from independent inquiry, we were imposed by the damned dictators and kings. Thank God we have Turkey, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Indonesia, and Pakistan (occasionally), where the civil society rules. Islam will do well in democracies and freedom.

Unfortunately Muslims do not have the breathing room to be themselves, they are continuously bonded by one tyrant or the other… We certainly can pray asking God to help Muslims to be free to govern themselves and not throw them in the mouths of Mullahs from the dictators. One bad Mubarak goes and the brotherhood is out there to force their laws on the unwilling people…  

We the Muslims have been reduced to Pavlovian Muslims - we are too damned conditioned with the laws of men like Zia, Wahhab, Maududi, Banna and others,   rather than guidance of God. We need to be free, and do our Iqra.

Prophet Muhammad said, I am leaving this book to you - he did not say, well, I have assigned the interpretation of the book to the Imams, Kings and the dictators... you don't need to read the Quran any more, just follow the rules made by the dominant partners of God, you will get a free pass on the Day of Judgement. They will take care of you.

Time to start from Zero and listen to the Prophet and not the Great Imams of the past, following them has made us cowards and insecure with Blasphemy and Apostasy laws that go against God's will.  

Here are the verses from Quraan, compiled by Irtaza.

 [5:57] O you who believe, do not befriend those among the recipients of previous scripture who mock and ridicule your religion, nor shall you befriend the disbelievers. You shall reverence GOD, if you are really believers.

[6:68] If you see those who mock our revelations, you shall avoid them until they delve into another subject. If the devil causes you to forget, then, as soon as you remember, do not sit with such evil people.

[18:106] Their just requital is Hell, in return for their disbelief, and for mocking My revelations and My messengers.

[39:48] The sinful works they had earned will be shown to them, and the very things they used to mock will come back to haunt them.

[45:33] The evils of their works will become evident to them, and the very things they mocked will come back and haunt them.

Why the Muslim masses ignore the Messenger Muhammad?  Who they want to please?

The punishment is delivered by God, not by you or me.

The killing is justified only if  people wage  war against you. You may kill them, in that case:

[5:33] The just retribution for those who fight GOD and His messenger, and commit horrendous crimes, is to be killed, or crucified, or to have their hands and feet cut off on alternate sides, or to be banished from the land. This is to humiliate them in this life, then they suffer a far worse retribution in the Hereafter.

The killing is not justified if people evict you. You may only evict them:

[2:191] You may kill those who wage war against you, and you may evict them whence they evicted you. Oppression is worse than murder. Do not fight them at the Sacred Masjid, unless they attack you therein. If they attack you, you may kill them. This is the just retribution for those disbelievers.

The killing is not justified if people insult the Prophet. God will take care of it.

[18:106] Their just requital is Hell, in return for their disbelief, and for mocking My revelations and My messengers

And, these are some of the Quranic wisdoms:

[42:37] They avoid gross sins and vice, and when angered they forgive

[42:40] Although the just requital for an injustice is an equivalent retribution, those who pardon and maintain righteousness are rewarded by GOD. He does not love the unjust.

The Muslim masses need to learn a lot from the Quran.  They are shackled by their Ulams and Allamas!

# # #

Mike Ghouse is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. He is a professional speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, civic affairs, Islam, India, Israel, peace and justice. Mike is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he writes weekly at Dallas Morning News and regularly at Huffington post, The Smirking Chimp and several other periodicals. www.TheGhousediary.com is Mike's daily blog.


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 Irfan sahib,

It is illogical that in a Muslim state Prophet will be insulted and the offender will not be punished. Dr  Hashim Kamali has concluded in chapter on Blasphemy in his book  the Freedom Of Expression in Islam that blasphemy is punishable under Taziir and the punishment will depend on the level of offence. I feel he is right.

Shah Abdul Hannan

_____ 

 Dear Mr. Hannan,

Please do not insult the Qur'anic teachings.  The Qur'an does not require us to punish blasphemy in THIS world.  It's solely Allah's territory and He will deal with the blasphemers as He sees fit.  Why do you want to kill the blasphemer when Allah has declared ALL murders unlawful (except when the  are legally justified-and blasphemy is NOT one of them)?  Do you blood on your hands?

 Even the prophets were badly insulted during their lifetimes and Allah threatened the blasphemers to punish them Himself---Here and in the Hereafter.  Only He has this prerogative, no one else.  This is because the blasphemer must be allowed to have their natural life to repent  at any time, and this opportunity must not be taken away from them.  I hope you understand the difference between insulting and spreading widespread corruption on the Earth. 

Irfan

Pamela Geller, Sean Hannity and the Qur’aan

Sean Hannity and Pamela Geller were presented a copy of the Qur’aan translated by Muhammad Asad on the Hannity Show on Friday, October 21, 2011. I am glad she had the time to read some pages from Qur’aan and write a blog about it, which I intend to respond.

It's a business for Pamela to misrepresent Islam. Her Blog has caused a few to read the Qur'an as well and a few have questioned her integrity and I appreciate them for writing to me about it.  Thanks Pamela for the mis-statements.

On this particular blog “The Ghouse diary” only my writings are posted, however, I am including the write up of Pamela Geller as it has do with me. Pamela seems to have fallen in the same trap that a few on the right do; not read the verses before and after and who it is addressed to.  God willing, I plan to respond to her write up and hope she can publish in her blog in the interests of discovering the truth.

There are sixty some verses that are deliberately mistranslated. Steve Blow in Dallas Morning News quotes, “But he said deeper study led him to realize the Quran had been purposely mistranslated down through history. In the Middle Ages, European leaders commissioned a hostile Quran translation to foster warfare against Muslim invaders. Later, Muslim leaders produced another translation to inflame Muslims against Christians and Jews.”

Of the 25 some available translations, two are deliberately mistranslated, for example “ Unlike Jews and Christians 1:7, Slay the Idolaters 9:5,  Jews who turned into apes 2:65, ,  Pluralism in Quraan and several others. Insha Allah, I hope to respond to the misunderstandings of Pamela Geller with the help of Imam Zia Shaikh, who co-authored the response on Dutch Parliamentarian Geert Wilders false claims. The links are references below Pamela’s article.  

Mike Ghouse

Committed to a cohesive America
www.MikeGhouse.net

# # #

Reading the Real Qur’an
Pamela Geller
http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/10/reading_the_real_quran.html

Last Friday I was on the Sean Hannity Show, debating Muslim activist Michael Ghouse on the future of Libya. 

Debating Michael Ghouse is like shooting kuffar in a barrel. But Friday night, Ghouse presented me with an enormous Qur'an, courtesy of the Muslim Brotherhood-tied Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR): The Message of the Qur'an, Translated and Explained by Muhammad Asad. Giving out these giant door-stoppers is further proof of Hamas-linked CAIR's limitless resources.

Inside, Ghouse had written this inscription: "Quran has 25 translations. 2 are bad -- One by Christian Kings other by Muslims -- both to generate hate for the other. Quran is a book of Justice." On the show, Ghouse gave Hannity a copy of the same edition, repeating his claim about the two "wrong translations" and saying, "This is the right translation."

So this must be the book of peace from the religion of peace. Because Ghouse is all about peace. At his website, he says: "Welcome to my world, the world of Pluralism. If we can learn to accept the otherness of other and respect the God given uniqueness of each one of the seven billion of us, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge."

The only problem that Ghouse fails to address is there is no respect or acceptance of "the other" in Islam. "The others" are despised, denigrated, and dawah-ed to death. Under the sharia, nonbelievers are forced live under dhimmitude, a subjugated class status denied basic human rights. 

According to Ghouse, it would seem that the things in the "bad" translations that are designed to "generate hate" must not be in this Qur'an. The one he gifted to Hannity and me promotes "the world of Pluralism." So I started reading. The first thing I noticed was that this translation uses "God" for Allah throughout, even as it shows on every page that the Allah of the Qur'an is not the G-d of the Jews or of the Christians. Hmmmm.

I found plenty of pluralism. I found Allah saying to the Jews, who "profaned the Sabbath," "Be as apes despicable!" (2:65). And saying to the Muslims that they should "fight in God's cause against those who wage war against you, and do not commit aggression, for, verily, God does not love aggressors. And slay them wherever you find them" (2:190-191). Don't commit aggression, but slay them wherever you find them. Right.


I kept reading. "And as for those women whose ill-will you have reason to fear, admonish them [first]; then leave them alone in bed; then beat them" (4:34; the bracketed word is in the book in this and all other quotes). I sure am glad I am finally reading the right translation.

The pluralism and peace don't end there. I learned that God has "disowned" the "hypocrites" -- that is, people who pretend to be Muslim but aren't really, or who were once Muslim but leave the religion. It says that if they "revert to [open] enmity," the Muslims should "seize them and slay them wherever you may find them" (4:89). So now Muslims are supposed to beat "women whose ill-will" they "have reason to fear," and kill those who wage war against them, and hypocrites who are in open enmity against them, wherever they find them. And we're only on page 139 (out of 1,164 pages). They're not told to try to talk things out, or turn the other cheek, or work to make peace even while defending themselves. Muslims are supposed to fight against those who have "denied the truth" until "there is no more oppression and all worship is devoted to God alone" (8:39). So now Muslims have to fight unbelievers until everyone worships only Allah.

But still I kept on reading, looking for that pluralism. And I found out that "the Jews say, 'God's hand is shackled!' It is their own hands that are shackled; and rejected [by God] are they because of this their assertion" (5:64). I also learned that "the Jews say, 'Ezra is God's son,'" which will come as news to us Jews, and then Allah says, "May God destroy them!" (9:30) Isn't the one speaking in the Qur'an supposed to be Allah alone, and Allah is supposed to be the only G-d? So whom is he asking to destroy the Jews?


Anyway, not only does this "right translation" ask G-d to destroy the Jews, but also tells Muslims to do it themselves: "fight against those who -- despite having been vouchsafed revelation [aforetime] -- do not [truly] believe either in God or the Last Day, and do not consider forbidden that which God and His Apostle have forbidden, and do not follow the religion of truth [which God has enjoined upon them], till they [agree to] pay the exemption tax with a willing hand, after having been humbled [in war]" (9:29).


Those who have been "vouchsafed revelation aforetime" are the Jews and Christians. The "Apostle" is Muhammad." So Muslims must fight Jews and Christians until they have been "humbled" and pay a special tax.


By that point I was so overwhelmed with all the pluralism and peace that I had to put Mike Ghouse's generous gift aside. But not to worry -- no longer do I struggle with keeping that heavy basement door open. Problem solved.


Pamela Geller is the publisher of AtlasShrugs.com and the author of the WND Books title Stop the Islamization of America: A Practical Guide to the Resistance."

REFERENCES:

Dallas Morning News - http://www.dallasnews.com/news/columnists/steve-blow/20100919-In-defense-of-Islam-pursuing-9397.ece

Unlike Jews and Christians 1:7 - http://quraan-today.blogspot.com/2008/01/unlike-jews-or-christians-17.html

Slay the idolaters 9:5 - http://quraan-today.blogspot.com/2007/12/slay-idolaters-95.html

Jews turned into apes 2:65 - http://quraan-today.blogspot.com/2008/01/jews-turned-into-apes.html

Dutch Parliamentarian Geert Wilders false claims - http://quraan-today.blogspot.com/2008/01/muslim-response-to-wilders.html

Pluralism in Quraan - http://quraan-today.blogspot.com/2009/08/quraan-and-pluralism.html

Sixty difficult verses - http://quraan-today.blogspot.com/2010/12/list-of-difficult-passages-in-quraan.html

Do Jews, Christians and Muslims better understand each other since 9/11?

TEXAS FAITH: Do Jews, Christians and Muslims better understand each other since 9/11?

Abstract:   Jews need sincerity and not duplicity. Native Americans need an apology and there is a good amount of phobia embedded in Hindus about conversions. We believe in Jesus as a Prophet and not as a son of God. Unless we deal with tough issues about our differences, we will continue to fake being nice to each other and brood with ill-will within. There is indeed improved understanding among faiths since 9/11. But there also is deepening suspicion among them. One is spiritually motivated and the other is political.  Please note, most of my writings are inclusive of all theist and atheists traditions, we all inhabit the earth and we need to figure how best to co-exist cohesively.

# # #

Since September 11, 2001, many conversations have taken place among Muslims, Jews and Christians. There are official interfaith conversations occurring all over the globe, where participants dig into each other's texts. And numerous personal dialogues have been established over the last decade. Many of us have learned more about the three Abrahamic faiths since September 11, 2001 than perhaps we knew before that day.

But here's this week's question, which is simple in its wording but not necessarily simple to answer: Do followers of the three Abrahamic faiths really understand each other better since 9/11?

Eight Texas Faith Panelists including Mike Ghouse weighs in at: http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/09/texas-faith-do-jews-christians.html

MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism, Dallas

There is indeed improved understanding among faiths since 9/11. But there also is deepening suspicion among them. One is spiritually motivated and the other is political.

We were better off when we knew very little about each other. But as we faced the hostage crisis in 1979, the evangelical foray into politics, the Baptist convention on harvesting poor souls and finally 9/11, religion moved on to center stage. It will get better when we know more about each other.

On September 11, 2001, I was on the radio in Dallas attempting to make sense out of the chaos of the day and pave the way for relevant actions. Interfaith-faith prayers, blood donation and fundraising for the men and women in uniform were all in place by evening. The fog was clearing up. Osama bin Laden was the bad guy and Muslim-Americans had nothing to do with his actions, nor did they authorize him to terrorize any one. Indeed, he placed a wedge between Americans that still needs to be undone.

Atheists, Baha'i, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Jains, Jews, Native Americans, Pagans, Sikhs, Wicca and Zoroastrians along with area city mayors, FBI, police and fire chiefs and community leaders graced the first interfaith event in Frisco. Out of which a new tradition evolved called Unity Day. It continues year after year.

But while we are trying to know more about each other, more needs to be done. Here are a few examples;

* Mosques in Dallas/ Fort Worth area opened their doors right after the 9/11 incident. As Christians walked in, they were naively welcomed by yet-to-be trained volunteers who said, "We believe in Jesus as a Prophet and not as a son of God." However, the volunteers were trained to welcome without conflict the very next week.

Of course, back in the 8th Century, a Syrian bishop had declared that Islam was a false religion. That declaration has remained in the psyche of a few Christians forever.

Pastor Robert Jeffress of the First Baptist Church of Dallas reiterated the statement and added, "Quran is a false book written by a false prophet." He was asked to prove it but failed.

There are several verses in Quraan that are mistranslated for political gains. Steve Blow in Dallas Morning News quoted me, "In the Middle Ages, European leaders commissioned a hostile Quran translation to foster warfare against Muslim invaders. Later, Muslim leaders produced another translation to inflame Muslims against Christians and Jews."

One such difficult passage is "Kill the infidels wherever you find them." Ten such propaganda verses were read to separate the myths from reality. They were not read by Muslim clergy, but by Baptist, Mormon, Protestant, Catholic, Unitarian, Methodist, New Age, Unificationists, Sikhs, Hindu and others at the Quraan Conference

*Shamelessly, anti-Semitism continues to operate under the radar. The anti-circumcision bills in San Francisco and Santa Monica were irksome to some, but frightening to others. Indeed, there are still a few Christians out there who cannot shake off what Fred Phelps was demonstrating with reckless posters such as "Christ Killers."

The Judeo-Christian phrase was thrown around in the 40's to build relationships between Jews and Christians. A whole industry of opportunists was born from it. The support for Jews by Billy Graham, Richard Nixon, Pat Robertson, John Hagee, Glenn Beck and other chest thumpers have ulterior motives. They want to cash in on the name of Israel and perhaps convert them. Jews need sincerity and not duplicity to feel genuinely secure.

*Native Americans need an apology for the destruction of their religion and there is a good amount of phobia embedded in Hindus about conversions. Some of them feel that Governors Nikki Haley and Bobby Jindal made it in politics because they converted to Christianity.

*The spiritual balance in the community needs to be restored through observing and following the Golden Rule, which is treat others as you would like others to treat you. Although we have failed in the past, such as when the city of Plano rejected a permit to build a Hindu temple in the early 80's and Richardson did not permit a Muslim school to open there in the mid-1990s, we still have come a long way. Thank God, those are now history and the public in the metroplex welcomes diversity.

* Interfaith meetings are still social gatherings. Leaders from smaller groups are invited as tokens rather than to genuinely get to know each other. Unless we deal with tough issues about differences, we will continue to fake being nice to each other and brood with ill-will within. There is plenty of room for honesty to grow and mature.

If we can learn to respect the otherness of other people and accept the God-given uniqueness of each one of us, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge. One of these days we will get there. Meanwhile, I am pleased to invite you to the 7th Annual 9/11 Memorial, the Unity Day USA on Sunday September 11 at 5:00 PM at the Unity Church of Dallas on Forest Lane. Details are at www.UnitydayUSA.com

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References:
Steve Blow – Dallas Morning News: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/columnists/steve-blow/20100919-In-defense-of-Islam-pursuing-9397.ece

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List of difficult passages: http://quraan-today.blogspot.com/2010/12/difficult-passages-in-quraan.html

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Quraan Conference program sequence: http://quraanconference.blogspot.com/2010/12/quraan-conference-program-sequence.html

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Mike Ghouse is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day to the media and the public. He is a speaker thinker and a writer on the topics of pluralism, cohesive societies, Politics, Islam, interfaith, India and Peace. Over a thousand articles have been published on the topics and two of his books are poised to be released on Pluralism and Islam. Mike's work is reflected in 4 website's and 27 Blogs indexed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/ and you can find all of his current articles at www.TheGhousediary.com

Texas Faith: How do you interpret the Genesis Creation story?

TEXAS FAITH: How do you interpret the Genesis creation story?

An old Jewish folk tale makes the point. One day God said to Abraham, "If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be here," to which Abraham replied, "True, but if I weren't here there wouldn't be anyone to think about you." To conclude, we created God in our own image and let's give him wisdom as well.

Dallas Morning News shares 15 opinions on the topic including mine at http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/08/texas-faith-how-do-you-interpr.html

MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism, Dallas

The simplistic understanding of the Genesis is that God produced the world in six days in a process that created the universe -- planets, water, earth, plants and life -- and wrapped it up with a final product: man in his own image so he can commune with them. Adam and Eve were set on autopilot to keep procreating themselves and we are here today, seven billion of us from that one single couple.

The conservatives among Abrahamic faiths believe that Adam was the outcome of an intelligent design, and was created in the same format as we are today. They believe that the idea of evolution is in conflict with creationism and goes against the very word of God.

Indeed, they have an unquestionable need to believe that what "they know" is precisely what God means; any other point of view is anathema and confusing to them.  The non-Abrahamic faith followers need not gloat; a new idea is usually an abomination to someone or the other including them.

The liberals on the other hand feel secure to explore unfamiliar territories and find new meaning in the theory of evolution. Both attitudes serve the basic motivations of the individuals: security in the cocoon and need to quench the thirst for knowledge. Together we grow into newer areas of knowledge and enrich life.

Our leaders have a personal right to believe in creation or evolution, or both. They are not mutually exclusive. However, they do not have the right to deprive the rights of citizens to their beliefs and shut one or the other. Most see creation as an understandable transition from evolution.

Is it possible that Adam was the first species in the process of evolution that was able to communicate coherently, take care of him and survive against the nature's oddities?

He was able to survive the fires, storms, blizzards, floods and furies of nature. Did God feel pleased with this new species that was fit enough to survive and become a permanent fixture of the universe unlike the others that faded into oblivion?

Did God call him "Adam" because he was the first one to stand out on his own?

God's word is all embracing and that is what he may have meant in the Bible, Torah and Qur'aan. I am sure the other scriptures carry similar wisdom. It is rather our shortcoming in understanding the spectrum of God's word by limiting the meanings to suit our security needs. Let's give some leeway to God's word, religion is about what we are conditioned to believe.

An old Jewish folk tale makes the point. One day God said to Abraham, "If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be here," to which Abraham replied, "True, but if I weren't here there wouldn't be anyone to think about you." To conclude, we created God in our own image and let's give him wisdom as well.

Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker, writer and a frequent guest on Hannity show and nationally syndicated Radio shows including local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. Over 1000 articles have been published on Pluralism, politics, Islam, India, Israel, Palestine, justice and civil societies.  Two of his books are poised to be released this fall on Pluralism and Islam. He is available to speak at your place of worship, work, school, college, seminars or conferences. His work is encapsulated in 27 blogs, four websites and several forums indexed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/ and www.TheGhousediary.com

Did the King James Version of the Bible change the world?

Did the King James Version of the Bible change the world?  Bill McKenzie of Dallas Morning News asks this question, here is my take:

Even if Jesus, Muhammad, Krishna, Buddha, Confucius, Moses and the others had the opportunity to print the holy books when they began their missions, the Bible and the Qur'aan would have remained the most influential books in changing the world.

Both the books inspire the followers to believe that the word of God must be spread to all corners of the world. Even though Buddhism was taken up by Asoka, one of the greatest kings of his time who sent emissaries around the world to preach the word of enlightenment, it did not add adherents as fast as the other two perhaps because it addressed the enlightenment within an individual whereas community building was the focus of Christianity and Islam. Since Hinduism does not have the conversion component, it still remains in the top slot mainly because it is one of the oldest religions.

As a pluralist who believes in the divinity of all religions as the pathways to becoming part of the larger energy called God, I believe Qur'aan seems to be the book that leads the pack in changing the world, while the Bible runs toe to toe for many reasons; the biggest of all the reasons was reliance on the book.

Prophet Muhammad was crystal clear in his last sermon, to paraphrase him, "O People, I am leaving this book and my practices to you, that is all you need to know to lead a moral life, and you cannot go wrong with it if you follow them." The responsibility to be a good human being was placed directly on shoulders of the individuals and hence reliance on the book.

Neither Jesus nor Muhammad encouraged the establishment of clergy; it was between the individual and the creator. Indeed, many Christians and Muslims refer to the book more frequently than the followers of other religions. The profession of clergy was bound to happen with a need for getting the word of God out.

The Muslim prayers require one to recite at least a few chapters during the prayers and without an exception every one of the 1.6 billion Muslims can recite at least five chapters, and about 5% of the Muslims have memorized the whole Qur'aan; word for word.

The phrase "People of the book" was indeed coined by Prophet Muhammad, meaning those who follow a book to live a moral life. The emphasis was on the book. The King James Version of the Bible certainly became available to the masses bolstered by the printing press and it will continue to be number one book in hands of the people.

A majority of Muslims, if not all, start every activity of their day by invoking the blessing of God and place themselves under the trust of God. As a result I place Qur'aan as the book that has changed most people.

Mike Ghouse

www.MikeGhouse.net

12 Opinions including mine are included in this piece at Dallas Morning News;

http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/03/texas-faith-did-the-king-james.html  

Evolution, Quraan, Freedom and Muslims

I am saddened to read BBC report that Dr. Usama Hasan withdrew his statements on evolution due to social pressures from a few Muslims.  I hope no one jumps to conclusion that Muslims are a monolithic lot, they are not.

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had predicted that his community will eventually split into 72 or 73 tribes, indeed he was paving the way for Muslims to accept diversity and compete with each other in serving humanity.  He said; only God will decide who will be righteous, not now, but on the Day of Judgment. He took judgment and prejudgment out of people’s hands. Thank God, at least six schools of thought and about six main denominations in Islam exist today with several divisions within. Prophet’s prophecy will come true and hope no Muslim will be belligerent towards the other.    

Had Darwin presented his theory of evolution six centuries earlier, when Muslims were free and contributed tremendously to science, medicine, mathematics, astronomy and religion, the Muslim Scholars at that time would have seen God’s glory and infinite wisdom in his words, rather than limiting God’s word to narrow definitions within the confines of our comprehension.

Quraan 31:20 (Asad) ARE YOU NOT aware that God has made subservient to you all (has enabled you to derive benefit from all)  that is in the heavens and all that is on earth, and has lavished upon you His blessings, both outward and inward? (Both visible and invisible benefits, as well as both physical and intellectural endowments) And yet, among men there is many a one that argues about God without having any knowledge [of Him], without any guidance, and without any light-giving revelation;

The Muslims of the Golden age believed in scientific inquiry as God had repeatedly said in Quraan to reflect on his bounties of nature and encouraged humans to truly become the honored creatures by managing the affairs of the universe and earn the title of superior species; the survival of the fittest. They would have embraced the idea faster than the Christian Europe given their proclivities.

For the first time in nearly 500 years Muslims are becoming free again, they are extricating themselves from all bondages and forced limitations on Islamic thinking. The people in Egypt, Tunisia and elsewhere are freeing themselves from all clutches, thanks to Google, twitter and facebook.

A decade from now, Muslims will see reason and logic in God’s words and will develop an understanding that Adam was the first in the series of species who achieved the status of “Ashraful Mukhlookhat” the honored one among the species by observing God’s signs and learning to deal with them.   He was the first one who managed to survive, managed his environments, used intelligence and spoke cohesively; he was released from the dream world of heaven, and took his species to become a permanent fixture on the earth and God called him Adam, the first one.   

The new generation will see the plausibility of evolution, and two generations down will do more research in understanding Quraan and perhaps find the link; creation out of evolution.

Mike Ghouse is committed to nurturing the pluralistic and intellectual values embedded in Islam through the World Muslim Congress – his work is indexed at www.MikeGhouse.net

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Reference: The Imam who retracted the statements on evolution due to social pressures. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12661477