Religion, apple pie and peach cobbler

Each one of us likes either Peach Cobbler or applie pie, if that is the only choice we have. If the desserts are world wide, there are plenty of choices including these two. There is no rhyme or reason why any one likes one over the other.

If a doctor, dietician, nutritionist, connoisseur, scientist or your mother tries to explain one tastes better than the other, you would still eat what appeals to you? Whatever one is conditioned or nurtured (convert) with, it becomes a part of one. Faith has no rhyme reason logic or any grounding to it, it is just faith.

Let me enjoy my peach cobbler and you enjoy your apple pie, both give the pleasure to each others senses, is there a problem with it? Each faith gives tranquility to the one it is part of both nature and nurturance. As the beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, I say, faith is in the heart of the believer.

Submission to God

The word "submission" is yet to be understood in its full context.

There are those who believe the words of Jesus "follow me" in literal sense but more of them believe it is the essence of what Jesus said - to be like him, to be like God, open and loving towards fellow beings. Like wise, there are those ... See MoreMuslims who believe submission means just performing the rituals, whereas the majority silently believes in being like God, being in tune and balance with his creation and God who loves us all despite our shortcomings. The society is composed of both views; the problem is when one tries to impose his or her views on others. If we can learn to respect the otherness of other and accept the God given uniqueness of each one of the seven billion of us, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge.

Dealing with Terrorism

While we must not condone any terrorism, we must also take the moral high ground by addressing the underlying grievances and problems and avoid pursuing policies, and undertaking ventures that provide new impetus to the terrorists, as it has unfolded in Iraq.

You and I have opportunities to find satisfaction in life through food, entertainment, family, friends, freedom…. What options to the terrorist have? The only option we have forced on them is to hit us back before they crumble, that is the only source of joy they have left. Shame on us, we need to give them options a way out of it, so the end result is a sense of security in us and hope for them.

In fighting the menace of terrorism, if we go after the individuals responsible for the crimes and not their families, not their nation or their religion, we will achieve far greater success, if we learn to laser bark at the right criminals, instead of barking at the universe.

A dash of unselfishness

A dash of unselfishness in each one of us is a necessity, it carries an individual or a nation through the good and bad times fairly smoothly. It is an insurance policy against the vulnerable moments.

Standing up for others

Unless we learn to stand up for the rights of others, we cannot claim to be just, and we have no right to expect others to stand up for us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrjU0KULv-Y

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/standing-up-for-jews-gays_b_650167.html

Faith is in the heart of the believer

Our insecurities cause us to believe that "ours has to be right" and "others have to be wrong". Other religions don't need to be less than ours for ours to be good. Again, other faiths don't have to be wrong for my faith to be right.

As beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, faith is in the heart of the believer.

My faith in Islam is stronger than ever, perahps stronger than most traditional religious scholars, because it is on its own merits and not based on perceived weakness of others. Islam gives me everything I want, it would be dumb of me or you to believe that Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism or other faiths dont give the solace their followers want.

I see the beauty in every faith and praise and appreciate it, not an ounce of my faith is lost.

There are hunderds of cars out there in the market and thousands of colors - you cannot have all, you chose one because it appeals to you , not because others are bad or ugly, the moment you say that your friend, sister or brother will buy that other ugly car, what do you do?
You like your car based on the strenght of your likes not otherwise.

Islam works for me and it is beautiful faith to me, just as other faiths are beautiful and work for others.

It is unveiling the truth that was covered up for centuries. I hope this gives an idea of where I am coming from.

Woman's freedom

A woman is as free as a man, no one should have advantages over the other, such advantages are deleterious to lasting relationships of free will. Let the woman choose what she wears.

We all need to stand up for the oppressed; The lousy idiotic french want to force women not to wear and the creepy Talibans force the women to wear... who the hell are they to tell a free person what to eat, belive or wear? It is time we stand up!... See More

Islam teaches non-judgment.

Every one who claims to be a Muslim is a Muslim, who are we to judge that some one is not? This is the reason Muslims recite "malik-e-Yommiddin" at least 21 times a day - meaning he alone is the master of the day of judgment about one's faith and no one else is. If we cannot get it even after uttering 21 times, then what do we get out of our prayers and our recitations. Iqbal had rightly said, "Tujhe kya milay ga namaza may"

If one is insecure in his or her faith, the find security by denying other's faith. what a way to feel secure? It makes one doubly insecure.

Reponded to comments at:
Standing up for Gays, Jews and Catholics
http://www.facebook.com/MikeGhouse#!/note.php?note_id=450919337773

One God concept

The Concept of one God need not be threatening if we all understand the intent behind the word "One God". It is extensively used in the monotheistic traditions, it is not opposed to "many iconic representations" of God, and rather it is the oneness of universe, oneness of creator and oneness of humanity. When there is oneness, you would feel the pain for the rape victims in a remote village or pray for the people who are being washed away in floods. It brings the humanity together.

In Judaism and Islam there is an emphasis about no God but God, it is stressed to make the point of oneness with the creator, so we can feel the pain of other humans no matter where they are. It avoids the apathy that they are worshippers of XYZ God and their pain is not my pain. Which Hinduism titles as ekantha or Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam or the other traditions call it one God. Reverend Moon, whom I admire, calls "one family under God”. We are seven billion unique beings God has intentionally created us to be different, look at our minds, our thumb prints and DNA's, each one is unique, if we can learn to respect the God given uniqueness of each one of us, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge.

Terrorists bullshit the Neocons

Why are we giving credence to the crackpot terrorists who claim to be inspired by a religion, why are we buying that non-sense, they are duping us to believe that their actions are religiously inspired so we blame the religion and let them go scot free? Hell no, individuals must be accountable and held responsible for their acts. As societies we need to grow up and point the finger precisely at the wrong doers and not bark at the religion, which you cannot kill, slaughter, hang or eloctrocute.

God in Judaism Islam and Atheism

The concept of God is identical in Judaism and Islam, it is akin to Atheism, there is not a being that exist, there is not a face to affix the word G_d, and there is not a central diety that has all the computers to control the planet earth and there is no image either to take a picture. It is simply an energy that has the built-in mechanism to keep things in balance, if they go off, then we have the Tsunamis. Deep down, the concept is similar in all tradtions but some traditions found comfort in an iconic representation of God.

Mike Ghouse

God can be worshipped in so many ways

Around 1994, my daughter and I were in the Dallas/ Fort Worth Hindu Temple and I took my kids to every place of worship. We were in the midst of the devotional songs in the sanctuary and as usual my little girl would get on her knees and look around as if no one is watching her and then whisper the standard question in my ears, "Dad, what are they saying?" to which I reel off.... God is the Nourisher, sustaine... sweeite they are saying to thank God for the life.

OMG, I want those moments back in my life… how much I loved those tender moments! She could not contain her excitement, right in the middle of the Bhajans, the six year old stands up with her eyes wide open, and in an excited voice blurts out, “Gee Dad, that’s cool, God can be worshipped in so many different ways!” Indeed that sentence has become a part of my teaching in Pluralism. Pluralism is simply respecting the otherness of other and appreciating the god given uniqueness of each one of the seven billion of us. We can learn from children, they are pure, they see the beauty in diversity and cherish everywhich way one worships the divine.

THIS IS A NEW BEGINNING IN RELIGIOUS DISCOURSE

Imam Hussain

Imam Hussain remains an icon of principles in the Islamic world. He refused to surrender to the unjust ruler Yazid, who destroyed the concept of leadership through consensual democracy and began a spiritually destructive greedy dynasty. However, the sacrifice of Imam Hussain is looked up as the revival of the faith and justice, as encapsulated in a couplet in Urdu language, “Islam zinda hota hai, her karbala ke baad”.

Mosque on Ground Zero

“Would Muslims in any part of the world let the Jews or Christians build a Church/Synagogue” .
It is this rotten attitude that keeps the nations and individuals digging in their heels and this is the very reason we need to support the mosque near ground zero. It is to set an example to the world what freedom of religion means, to express the American spirit of liberty and to show how a nation and people treats their minorities. We need to be that example where other nations look up to us, and not the other way around. As Americans regardless of our religion have to set the new standards in the world of co-existence.

Group compositions

Every community; be it religious, ethnic, racial or cultural is composed of a spectrum of attitudes - from benevolent, merciful, caring, to ruthless, intolerant, bigoted and violent radicals, it is a mix. No group is an exception to that mix. My guesstimate is the violent intolerant ones are less than 1/10th of 1% of any group including the Atheists.

Score keeping does not solve the problem, the world has witnessed ruthlessness from Atheists to Zoroastrians and every one in between. They have massacred people, butchered people and have forced people to do things against their will. Singling out any group is downright ignorant; no one can cast the first stone.

Villian God

Shamelessly there are an insignificant percent of people among Muslims, Evangelists, Baptists, Jews and others who are not only intolerant but make a villain out of God by making that God favor one over the other behind their backs. Would God do that? That goes against the very concept of God who is all loving, caring and just.

God does not have a religion

This reminded me of my favorite Mike Ghouse quote: "God does not have a religion."

Carol Covington Mason

Blaming religion

Blaming religion is like barking aimlessly, religion is intangible, you cannot jail, hang or electrocute it. It is gutlessness on our part to blame the religion and pass the buck... to NO one. It has become a bloody fashion to blame the religion and that is why we were not able to bring justice or restore faith in the system. Let's blame where it belongs and punish the wrong doer.

Womens right

We men need to stand for women's right, the ugly and cruel among us have usurped their rights.. it is time to be equal in thoughts and actions

Conflict

Indeed, if you really want to understand and solve a conflict, you have to see others persons motivation.

Existence and conflict

"We exist and that is a fact, we might as well make our existence enjoyable, after all belief should not be the source of conflict, the only real conflicts are one’s space, sustenance and nurturance, all else is intangible and don’t have to be in the category of conflict."

Hello Mr. Ghouse,I read the essay "Guest Voices: Harris, Hitchens, Dawkins, Dennet: Evangelical Atheists?" by Reza Aslan and your comment on it. In general I found it very insightful and dead on but one sentence in particular stood out to me.

That, sir, is pure and simple genius. Just thought you should know. I look forward to delving into your other writing and works in the future.
Hope you and yours have a good weekend.
- Charlie Vollmer III

Future of Religion

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The world is shrinking, exclusive conclaves would become obsolete and people will be living together more harmoniously than ever before as the new society would define it as a necessity.

Religion will continue to be an important aspect of people’s life, but it will be the religion of justice that Moses taught, religion of love and forgiveness that Jesus taught, religion of humility and equality that Mohammad taught, religion of taking responsibility for one's good and bad that Zarthustra taught, religion for caring for others that so many earth based and indigenous traditions taught, religion of respect for every being that Krishna and Mahavir taught, religion of caring (even) for the enemies that Nanak taught and the idea of one humanity that Bahaullah taught… and all the goodness that every peace maker in the world has contributed to.

Despite the issues of the world, we will be living in a better tomorrow.

Mike
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exclusive to inclusive societies

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As the societies evolve,
exclusive conclaves of groups by faith,
race, ethnicity or culture will fade.

A more inclusive society would evolve.

Mike Ghouse

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We created God

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Mike Ghouse

Whether we are theists or atheists,
we humans find our own balance.
I would rather say “we have created God in our own image
and every image works for the follower.”

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Responsible Capitalism

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Mike Ghouse Wisdom;

I believe in responsible capitalism, where one's short term self interest blends in with her/his long term self interest. Meaning, you don't take advantage of any, if you do, you will pay it in terms of tension and insecurity, and perhaps get used to walking on needles. If you base your life on justness in all your dealings be it with your family members, friends, your shareholders and your customers you cannot go wrong. You cannot be safe and secure, when others around you aren't.

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