Let us build a better world together, says Mike Ghouse. Here’s how

It is a delight to read my article reformated by my  friend Susan McKenzie,  making the article more meaningful and powerful. Thanks  you Susan - Mike Ghouse

The website is Abe Today
Link: http://abetoday.com/2011/11/06/let-us-build-a-better-world-together-says-mike-ghouse-here%e2%80%99s-how/

November 6, 2011

by Susan McKenzie

WHAT DOES LIVE AND LET LIVE MEAN?
We need to think about this as our neighbours may be of a different religion and culture. In America, Australia, Asia and Europe – your neighbours could be Hindus, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Atheists, Pagans, Wiccans, Zoroastrians and all manner of others as well.

LET A THOUSAND FLOWERS BLOOM
Why should anyone stand up for you, if you are not willing to do the same for others?

THE PLURALISTIC FACTS OF LIFE
Other people follow different beats in their hearts and even if we find it difficult to understand why they don’t embrace our faith we should respect their way of life.

LEVELS OF ACCEPTANCE
We may not want to take part in the prayers and ceremonies of Jewish, Muslim or Hindu religions if we are Christian, but we should have enough respect in our hearts to realize that devout Jews, Muslims and Hindus could never be expected to become Christians, or embrace all aspects of secular culture.

EXTENDING RESPECT
We should also respect Christians and others who are prepared to attend the prayer sessions of other religions because they believe in pluralism, harmony and as a way of showing respect to others.

ACTION FOR GOOD AND GODLINESS
In fact, these actions confirm our beliefs in the overall goodness of religion. Embracing our fellow man and partaking in his religious ceremonies actually gets us closer to God. Think about it – what would you be doing if you were not doing that? You might be at a ball game (nothing wrong with that) or watching television (nothing wrong with that either), but if you are in a Temple of God, a Mosque of God or a Church of God then you are drawing nearer to God.

DRAW NEARER TO GOD AND GOODNESS
Jesus (PBUH) was a Jew and worshipped in synagogues – if what is good enough for Jesus, it must also be good enough for us. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also worshipped God with non-Muslims. Hinduism may not be about one God but nevertheless we could look upon this religion as encompassing all aspects of God from different perspectives. At the very least it is about holiness and respect and that can only be good.

WHY WE SHOULD BUILD UP OTHER’S FAITHS
Look at your world – do we have enough Godliness in it? The world would be so much better if everyone had a religion and practised it as best they could. We should make it our life purpose to build up Godliness in all and that includes respecting and supporting all religion.

WHAT EACH FAITH IS
Mike Ghouse: Each faith is dear to the believer and no faith is superior to the other either. Faith is about humility. All faiths are designed to bring solace to its followers. Religion is a mechanism that gives hopes and restores one’s balance with what surrounds one; people and the environment.

LET US BUILD A BETTER WORLD BLESSING
B: Building up should be our aim in life. Build up the Godliness within us and then we can help others.
L: Live and let live, because living in a respectful way leads on to building better communities and societies.
E: Embrace Godliness by showing respect to all good and wholesome religions. Every major religion (Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Hinduism, Buddhism and more) have good and wholesome values at their core.
S: Show respect and make this a better world.
S: Showing respect will increase the amount of respect in this world, including respect for your beliefs and religion.

Y: You are an ambassador of your religion if you say you have a religion, so do remember to be the best ambassador that you can be.
O: Our world will be so much nicer if we put respect at the forefront of our understanding of the practices by people with other religions. Other people follow different beats in their hearts and even if we can’t understand why they don’t embrace our faith we should respect their way of life. Our heart should be a heart of respect.
U: Understand the interplay of religion and culture and seek to increase the understanding in the world by being the personification of the good aspects of your religion.

BEST BLESSING: Building respect leads on to building understanding and with understanding we may have more respect. Respect and understanding leads to a more harmonious society – a more peaceful society where more people can operate together and flourish. Will you help in this grand scheme of building up society in this way? Encourage everyone to practice their religion by really respecting the practice of religion generally. Godliness and being godly and goodly in our natures is what makes the world a better place.

SOURCE OF THIS POSTING
http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/2011/11/bigotry-against-hinduism-in-kentucky.html
Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer committed to build a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. His work is fully indexed at www.MikeGhouse.net

Susan McKenzie is an English teacher with over 20 years teaching experience. Susan has worked in the British Council and Linguaphone, well-known language teaching organizations. Susan is a London-trained lawyer, and has also been an editor in an international book publishing house and a national magazine. In her teens, Susan was a Sunday School teacher and in 2006 was appointed as an Ambassador of Peace by the Universal Peace Federation and Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace. Susan is also a co-author of two law books: English Legal System and Company Law, published by Blackstone, Oxford University Press. For enquiries about the IELTS, practical English and pronunciation courses Susan teaches, email susanmckenzie2003@yahoo.co.uk. FOR DAILY BLESSINGS: www.abetoday.com

Commitment is at the core of Eid. Commitment is the bedrock of life

It is a delight to read my article reformated by my friend Susan McKenzie, making the article more meaningful and powerful. Thanks you Susan - Mike Ghouse 

November 6, 2011

by Susan McKenzie

Share/Bookmark

MAN OF ALL VIRTUES
The Qur’an describes Abraham as “a man who combined within himself all virtues, devoutly obeying God’s will” (An-Nahl (The Bee) 16:120)

SACRED FAITH, LOVE AND DEVOTION
God wanted to test Abraham’s faith, love and devotion and asked of him what everyone in love asks; “If you love me, you would…”

SACRED COMMITMENT
No one wants the beloved to give up his or her life, but wants a simple assurance and commitment in the relationship.

SACRED LOVE
It was Abraham’s main trial to face the command of God to sacrifice his only son. Upon hearing this command, he prepared to submit to God’s will. When he was all prepared to do it, God revealed to him that his “sacrifice” had already been fulfilled. He had shown that his love for his Lord superseded all others that he would lay down his own life or the lives of those dear to him in order to submit to God.

SACRED SACRIFICE
Thus the tradition of symbolic sacrifice began. During the celebration of Eid-al-Adha, Muslims commemorate and remember Abraham’s trials by sacrificing an animal such as a sheep, camel, or a goat.

SIGN UP TO RESPECT
Mike Ghouse says that submitting to God simply means subscribing to the idea of a cohesive environment where each human being is respected for his or her place, nourishment and nurturance.

WE ARE ALL CONNECTED
Mike Ghouse wants to emphasize that we are all connected. He quotes a Native American, Chief Seattle who said: “All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does it to himself.”

ONE WORLD, ONE WEB
The idea of one web encompasses the idea of the world as one family and the oneness that we really are as humanity.

WHAT EID REALLY IS
Mike Ghouse: God does not need one to sacrifice; it has nothing to do with atoning sins or using the blood to wash ourselves from sin.

WILLING TO SHARE
The act symbolizes our willingness to give up some of our own bounties in order to strengthen and preserve the web and help those who are in need. We recognize that all blessings come from God, and we should open our hearts and share with others. The meat from the sacrifice of Eid-al-Adha is given away in three ways; self, relatives and the poor. It is a symbolic act of sharing with people who are malnourished and don’t get to eat the meat as we do.

SHARING SHINE
The attitude – a willingness to make sacrifices in our lives in order to stay on the right path (subscribing to the oneness of humanity and oneness of creator the God). The creator would be pleased when his creation is nurtured, cared for and sustained. Indeed, to be religious is to be a peacemaker, one who seeks to mitigate conflicts and nurtures goodwill for peaceful co-existence.

BLESSINGS TO YOU – HAPPY EID
Happy Eid
Eid Mubarak
Eid-al-Adha Mubarak

ONENESS BLESSING
B: Blessings to you on this Eid.
L: Love and commitment are at the heart of Eid. Let love reign in your heart and show it in your commitment to God and man.
E: Eid is about the deepest of devoted love, sharing, caring and helping fellow humans. Every moment of our lives we have the opportunity to express love, care and concern.
S: Show your love and commitment through sharing with others, family, friends, and those in need, which is the true essence of Eid and of religion.
S: Sacred and holy is simple love, simple sharing and caring.
S: Sign up to respect: respect for God and for fellow man. Sign up and subscribe to the idea of a cohesive environment where each human being is respected, nourished and nurtured.

Y: You are connected to me and I am connected to you because there is a web of life at work, so don’t rock the boat, keep an even keel as much as you can.
O: One world, One family, One God, One web, so let us be One as much as possible and respect the other.
U: Use what you have to benefit the world and a miracle of good will unfold.

BEST BLESSING: May we all live in such a way that we strengthen and preserve the web of life, the interconnected web that we all inhabit. Blessings come ultimately from God and we should open our hearts and share what we have with others.

CREDIT: This article was first published by Mike Ghouse at http://www.worldmuslimcongress.com/n.php?nid=5168&fb_source=message

About the author
Susan McKenzie is an English teacher with over 20 years teaching experience. Susan has worked in the British Council and Linguaphone, well-known language teaching organizations. Susan is a London-trained lawyer, and has also been an editor in an international book publishing house and a national magazine. In her teens, Susan was a Sunday School teacher and in 2006 was appointed as an Ambassador of Peace by the Universal Peace Federation and Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace. Susan is also a co-author of two law books: English Legal System and Company Law, published by Blackstone, Oxford University Press. For enquiries about the IELTS, practical English and pronunciation courses Susan teaches, email susanmckenzie2003@yahoo.co.uk. FOR DAILY BLESSINGS: www.abetoday.com