h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Oil?

Jazz

Maybe - water is another good one. Perhaps resources and access to resources would be a catch-all.

Irrespective of different philosophies, the most important thing is to have a tamed and disciplined mind and a warm heart.

-His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Hypatia

and Faith in what ever you believe.

Adib

I'm sure we could find wisdom and inspiration in all of the major faiths if we would have an open mind and look for common threads rather than focusing on our differences.

I'm going to use this conversation to make an observation about something that has bothered me for years. Tomorrrow is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. In the Christian calendar the six weeks of Lent are supposed to be used for reflection, self-sacrifice, fasting and repentance.

So how do we kick off this quite, holy season? By having several days of parties, parades, and costume balls; by gorging on too much food, getting drunk, wearing vulgar clothes and having casual sex.

What is wrong with this picture? How can anyone justify this? It is an absolute disgrace, imho. I will plead guilty to being very conservative when it comes to public displays. But I don't know how any Christian could look at the drunken revelry of Mardi Gras or Carnival in Rio, and not be offended. It would be bad enough if it had absolutely no attachment to a religious observance. But to use it as the start of a period of fasting and repentance is a mockery.

I agree Hypatia but it was ever thus.

Ramadan follows a similar pattern - starve by day but feast and revel by night

We don't have the vulgar displays in this country by those who follow the ideas of lent - but the rest of the population just carry on with their everyday licencious behaviour, lent or not lent.

And the people who are serious about it and will benefit are not going to behave badly in the first place. Sure makes me wonder if there isn't something to the notion of some of us being old souls and more spiritually advanced due to repeated incarnations while others of us are young souls with a lot to learn.

H

Hey, if you are about to enter into six long weeks of sobriety and self-restraint, it makes sense to get all of your bad instincts out at once so you will be prepared for the challenge. At least, that is the original purpose for the holiday: Fat Tuesday on which you throw a feast and consume all the things that you won't be able to eat and that can't be stored over lent. It is not that surprising that it would expand into other forms of things that need to be put off until after lent.

Frankly, it would seem that these previous statements show a surprising intolerance. If you truly want to look for the unifying principles of all religions, respect for each other and love for a diety (or dieties) is going to be up there, but modesty and self-denial aren't. Especially in many native polytheist or animistic religions, holy festivals very commonly include dancing, feasting, and even ritualistic sex. The idea of the act of avoiding pleasure as a virtue is a relatively new and far from universal one.

Soor I have to disagree there.
Ramahdhan does not involve massive parties and wearing revealing clothes and casual sex.

As for the fasting thing, Muslims are not allowed to eat, drink, have sex with there spouse, be rude or inpolite to people.

After sunset you can break fast, but the idea is you do not gourge your self. You are only ment to eat enough to get rid of your hunger and thirst.

As for the sex thing. It is permissable to have sex after sun set in Ramadhan but only with your wife and you can not go over the top. In Islam we are taught thay while some things are good in small doses for us they can also be bad for us if we have to much of it.

As for parties, religiously speaking thay should only occur on Eid after Ramadhan to celebrate a succesful fast.

For christians, fasting is all about removing sins or some thing, which as Jesus died for your sins, you don't really have to worry about. So I think its actually more of away of proving your faith in Jesus as your saviour.

While for Muslims, fasting is both a good and bad time. This is because Muslims believe that people do wrong when shaytan lures people to do wrong and they are to week to resist the temptation. But in Ramadhan Allah (swt) stops Shaytans influence, and so any bad deeds you do, is on your own head as Shaytan has not influenced you at all.

This means that while you should enjoy and look after your self Muslims should be extra careful to make sure they do not sin.

Also in Ramadhan we are taught to imagine how the poor people feel like, as we have only abstained from food for a short while where as they never have much food. Which is why the giving of Zakat is given after Ramadhan.

But as said above about the Christian celebrations, whee people go to far, some Muslims also go to far and don't follow what has been taught properly.

Adib

Well, perhaps I am showing intolerance. That happens as we get older. But the drunken revelry that preceeds Lent is a far cry from using up perishable foodstuffs in a pre-refrigeration era.

And whereas temple prostitutes and drunken orgies may have been a part of some religious celebrations, they were never part of Jewish or Christian traditions. At various times religious ceremonies have included throwing children into volcanos or wells, cutting out captives hearts and throwing them down the steps of pyramids and flaying people alive and dressing in their skins. Do you want to incorporate those into Shrove Tuesday celebrations as well?

There have to be limits for what is and is not acceptable behavior. Parades and drinking and casual sex are part of many celebrations. If that's what people want to do, then so be it. No one forces me to participate. I'm objecting to taking secular activities and giving them religious connotations. And to the hypocrisy of using a solemn ritual as an excuse for excess.

I wasn't necessarily suggesting that we actually practice these things, but if we are going to pick and choose what of ancient religion is 'spiritual' and what isn't we should at least be aware that is what we are doing. Decorating a Christmas tree is an adaptation of a pagan rite celebrating the way evergreens stayed green and living through the winter. Today, we consider the tree to be a spiritual ceremony, but the drinking that would have accompanied it in ancient times wouldn't be spiritual today. Picking and choosing.

Actually Christmas day is based on the pagen worship of light defeating the dark. dating back to Babylon and Kind Midas.

Santa claus is actually based on a priest whom used to leave food out side of poor peoples homes on that day and he was made a saint, and his name was Nicolas, hence farther christams being saint Nick.

Also there is a Christian brach that believe that Christmas has nothing to do with Jesus at all, I can't remember what the branch is called, but when I remember I will let you know if you want to.

Adib

Sure,Adib

let us know - I'm all in favour of the dissemination of Knowlege - the more we know the better it ought to be to pick out the truth.

Of course to the Jehovah's witnesses the bible is truth, the undisputable word of God, letter for letter (Ignoring the fact of it's compilation by men, and selection of the most favourable bits by the church) And, of course, the interpretation of the words as agreed by the elders of the group. No room for individuality there.

Hello everybody!

This sounds like an interesting place, and this idea, of speaking religion and spirituality from different perspectives, without flaming, is a good one. I hope it could continue in this vein.

Me, I used to be a Christian, belonging to a church, but I've left the church and now I'm practicing spirituality outside of a church. Nevertheless, I think it might be good to practise an organised form of relgion, if an appropriate religion can be found. So far, I've not found an organised form of religion appropriate to my own belief.

For now I would like to say something - I do believe in modesty and self-restraint! I think things are best enjoyed in moderation. Don't eat too much, don't drink too much, and with regards to sex, I think there's something to be said for abstinence, for fidelity, for safe and responsible intercourse. With almost all good things, there can be abuse, or too much of a good thing.

The entire planet these days is being affected by excessive consumption! Excessive consumption especially of energy. But also minerals and other resources. We're consuming them quicker than they can replenish, and in doing this, we are robbing others, robbing future generations.

I think a core view of many religions and beliefs would be that material possessions are in fact not as important as we make them. We should think of people living in extreme poverty. Material goods should be used sparingly, wisely, considerately and shared with others as much as possible. In my own case it is a spiritual quest to learn to live with less, and to find more of what I need *inside* me than outside.

Hi WillemNice to see you here.
I was going to point you this way!

salaam, The Return of The Unmentionable Marauding Pillowcase!!!

Intersting name.

You sound like a Muslim speaking like that you know.

We believe in modesty and self restraignt, and not to eat to much, drink to much, not to take things that can harm you in big dose's like alcohol and cigerettes, safe and respocible sex by only having one partner (or four in very rare case's, if you want an explantion I will tell you).

Muslims believe that one should be loyal to there wives, children, family and friends, society and faith and most of all to Allah (God).

To be fair though a lot of other religions preach a lot of these virtuos but a lot of people (including Muslims) do not follow what there faith preaches.

Adib

I agree that it is nice to have polite civilized discussions about important topics without becoming unpleasant even though we may disagree.

Muzaakboy, have you experienced any discrimination because of your religion? Especially since uninformed people are trying to blame Islam itself for terrorism? If you told us where you live, I have forgotten. (Unfortunately my memory isn't what it used to be.)

We have a small Muslim community in my city. They were treated well during the aftermath of the terrorist attacks by most people. But I am ashamed to say that there were a few people in town who treated them badly. Which was very unfair.

H

Salaam,

I live in Birmingham, which is a very mixed culutural city, and so thankfully the majority of people are not racist on the street. I can't say if they are at home or not though.

But I have had discrimination towards my self.
I am a white Muslim, so at first glane people do not think you, are a Muslim, its not till they speak to me they find that out.

After sept 11th there was racism at my place of work at that time. I worked at safeway in Kings Heath which is an ok place.
Because I was white people presumed that it was ok to speak bad about Muslim to me, as they thought I was like them.

When I stuck up for Islam and Muslims I was labelled the Paki want to be.

This was not all of safe way just a few of the staff there, though most of them where racist to a certain degree, but they still treated you with respect.

I would say about 65% where to faced as they would be all friendly to the Muslims there, ut behind there back they would talk about them.

Said that they all deserved to die, so I asked do you think Nishat, Rukhsana, Samara and that lot deserve to die, to which they said no, and I said well the majority of Muslims are like them.

Did not stop it though.

I moved to Coventry soon after, and worked for Spar in Allesley. Its a franchise and the guy who owned that part of the franchise was a racist man, but the other staff was not.

Used to try and make me cook bacon and other pig things all the time, and used to call me names and stuff.

After Nimra went back to Pakistan, I moved back to England, worked at Toyr r us for a short while. No racism at all there, and I now work for the Islamic Experience Exhibition in Birmingham as the co ordinater.

I used to help out with the stop the war stalls on the High street in Kings Heath, and used to get some stick from people.

Once I was giving out a article by John Pilger about sept 11th and a old women asked if I was a Muslim, I said yes and she told me to f**k off.

Also when I came back from my brothers wedding I was walking with my friend Samara in a shamark' amise suit and some kids in a meastro went past and shouted get some proper clothes you cheap prick, which was kinda funny as the shamark amis suit I was wearing has a price tag of 600 pounds.

That being said though, it is only a small majority of people, most people are ok and very understanding.

But what can you do about the racists, not a lot, if you retaliate you just prove there point in there eyes, so I want articles so people who want to learn can learn about Islam, and also I answer peoples questions and get involved with debates, plus educate children and adults from all walks of life about Islam.

The only way to combat racism is through the spreading of Knowledge.

Sorry about the lecture.

Adib

Adib,

May I apologise to you on behalf of the English people for the bad manners and ignorance of some of us, who direct racist jibes at you.

Most of us are not like that, particularly those of my generation. The English race is made up of many continental races in addition to the original Anglo Saxon and, being a seafaring lot, we have always had a great mixture of other peoples within our shores.

We don't have a written constitution but the principles of personal freedom are very dear to us, and most of us accord those same freedoms to our neighbours. That includes religion.

The constiution of the United States was written in english and based on the ideals of the English race - and you'll find no racism in that constitution.

Ha ha don't apologise, I know its only a small minority of the people.

There is no need for apologising, plus as I already said I am white my self, I just happen to be Muslim to.

Adib