Hello and Happy Thursday!
As we head into 2011, I'd like to take this time to look back on 2010 and thank all who contributed to this blog- the amazing participants who shared so much with everyone, as well all who have left comments and questions and to all who took the time to vote on the polls, and of course all the YMR followers too!
We've had such a wonderful and wide variety of participants and I for one, have learned a great deal from all.
Cheers to 2010's YMR participants:
Andrew Joseph
Kim
Michelle Wickstrom
Salman
Char
Angel
Monica
Kris 'Mrs. B.' Bradley
Deb Dove
Cora
Inannasstar
Casey Kochmer
Ange
Ryan
Abe Solomon
Infidel753
James 'The Amazing' Randi
ALC
Carlos Scienza
Muslimah
Tirzah Roxie
Jason
Don Emmerich
Kola Boof
Sarita Rucker
Ilene Rosenblum
Noor
Anne Johnson
Jake Collyer
Chanan
Rand
Rachel
AnOceanofJoy
Ruby Sara
Peter Clothier
Joanna Tzortzis
Mystic Tourist
Ven. Jo Jo
Chaviva G.
Sally Coleman
Thank you all!
2011 will be bringing some more excellent interviews so be sure to check back with us!
Til then, hope everyone has a safe and wonderful New Year!
See you Saturday!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Oprah Winfrey Quote
Hello and Happy Tuesday!
Today's quote is brought to you by Oprah Winfrey:
Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. This is your moment. Own it.
Today's quote is brought to you by Oprah Winfrey:
Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. This is your moment. Own it.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Sally Coleman
Hello and a Happy Saturday to All!
I wish to thank Chaviva for not only her wonderful interview last week but also for taking the time to answer all the many comments and questions following her interview. And thank you to all who did comment; it was wonderful to read the different views!
Thank you so much for sharing Chaviva!
Today we have a new interview so please welcome Sally Coleman.
Sally is a Christian and I know you will enjoy her post as well!
Here Is Sally's Introduction:
I am a Methodist Minister working with a number of churches in rural North Yorkshire, I’m a wife and a mum to five grown up children. I enjoy walking, cycling, swimming and am just learning to sail (dinghies). I am a beginner vegetable gardener and have enjoyed having fresh veg this summer, I have two cats who are a source of real joy except when they bring presents, the last present was a frog!
My passion is sharing the love and grace of God with others, breaking free from rule bound dry and dusty religion to truly reconnect with God. I believe that prayer should be honest not ritualised, and that God speaks to us through all things, other people, creation, music, literature…. Sally
www.sallysjourney.typepad.com
1) What religion do you practice?
I am a practicing Christian.
2) Did you convert or were you born into this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I am a convert, I was not brought up in a religious family and religion was never mentioned. Somehow I believed in a God who was out there somewhere but didn’t know anything about him/her. I converted through learning to pray when my middle son was born with a major heart condition, I found an inner peace through prayer and a connection to a God who knows about suffering through Jesus.
3) Would you consider yourself a moderate, conservative or other.
I am not fond of labels but am not a conservative, although I was called both a fundamentalist and a woolly liberal in the same weekend so I guess I am fairly moderate, but would probably prefer the term progressive.
4) In your opinion, what makes you moderate/conservative/other?
I am willing to engage with tough questions and to admit that I don’t know stuff. Social conscience and justice issues are dear to my heart and they influence the way I approach scripture; I don’t read the Bible as if it were a manual but as the story of different people’s interaction with God through the ages. In it I find poetry and history, story, song and instruction.
5) In your opinion, what makes someone conservative? What makes someone moderate?
Like I said I’m not fond of labels and really not fond of applying them to others.
6) What's your heaven/paradise like?
That is something I will wait to find out! I do however believe in a physical heaven/ new earth, where we will work and grow, learn and interact not only with one another but also with God in a way that is currently impossible.
I don’t believe in a physical hell though. I believe that some people and often through choice will simply cease to be.
7) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
Not my call to make! But this I do believe, that I will be surprised who is there, and I might be surprised at who is not.
8) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
Grace- I believe in a God of grace as revealed through the Christian gospels, and so often missed out on! I love Jesus words in Matthew 11: 28-30:
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
9) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, those are the main ones, and with the first two it can be difficult to remove the secular trimmings from them which strip them of meaning. I try to embrace the simplicity of the stable, and the wonder of the incarnation, the mystery of the cross and the glory of the resurrection. I love celebrating the gift of the Spirit at Pentecost.
That said a party with a feast is always good!
10) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Yes. I have friends of other faiths, and friends with no faith.
11) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
Yes but I may not participate in all of the activities/ festivities…
13) What are your thoughts on women not being allowed to become priests?
I am a woman, I am a priest. I guess that says it all!
14) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
No.
15) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
My faith affects every aspect of my life; it requires that I consider my actions carefully and prayerfully. I try to read the scriptures everyday and they inspire/ inform me. Prayer is a listening activity and I believe that God speaks by his/her Spirit, and sometimes prompts me to a certain course of action.
As for abortion- this is a often a complex issue to which there is no one size fits all answer. I don’t believe it should be an easy option or used as a late form of contraception, but there are times when it is the best of a set of difficult choices. I believe that the God of grace I worship is more loving and forgiving that s/he is sometimes portrayed to be, and that s/he understands our hearts better than we know.
The Scriptures I read are pro- committed love. Gay marriage is committed love
16) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
We would talk it through, and discuss the potential difficulties, but I would not stand in their way.
17) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
No- like I said- not my call!
18) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
People like the folk from Westboro’ Baptist Church who spew hate do not speak for Christianity, they speak for a twisted form of religion!
19) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
No.
20) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
My faith does not devalue me, but occasionally folk who speak for it do, when they speak against women and argue about sexuality I am afraid that I wonder whether they have lost the plot. I believe that Christianity is life-giving and transformative, if people are devalued then it is institutions not the Spirit who is to blame.
21) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes: read this: http://sallysjourney.typepad.com/sallys_journey/2010/08/inner-peace.html
22) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
No. I believe in an afterlife but not that we return to this earth. I cannot see how or why that would be either edifying or transformational, nor do I believe in a God who would use reincarnation as a punishment. I do believe that our life on earth will impact our life in heaven.
I wish to thank Chaviva for not only her wonderful interview last week but also for taking the time to answer all the many comments and questions following her interview. And thank you to all who did comment; it was wonderful to read the different views!
Thank you so much for sharing Chaviva!
Today we have a new interview so please welcome Sally Coleman.
Sally is a Christian and I know you will enjoy her post as well!
Here Is Sally's Introduction:
I am a Methodist Minister working with a number of churches in rural North Yorkshire, I’m a wife and a mum to five grown up children. I enjoy walking, cycling, swimming and am just learning to sail (dinghies). I am a beginner vegetable gardener and have enjoyed having fresh veg this summer, I have two cats who are a source of real joy except when they bring presents, the last present was a frog!
My passion is sharing the love and grace of God with others, breaking free from rule bound dry and dusty religion to truly reconnect with God. I believe that prayer should be honest not ritualised, and that God speaks to us through all things, other people, creation, music, literature…. Sally
www.sallysjourney.typepad.com
1) What religion do you practice?
I am a practicing Christian.
2) Did you convert or were you born into this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I am a convert, I was not brought up in a religious family and religion was never mentioned. Somehow I believed in a God who was out there somewhere but didn’t know anything about him/her. I converted through learning to pray when my middle son was born with a major heart condition, I found an inner peace through prayer and a connection to a God who knows about suffering through Jesus.
3) Would you consider yourself a moderate, conservative or other.
I am not fond of labels but am not a conservative, although I was called both a fundamentalist and a woolly liberal in the same weekend so I guess I am fairly moderate, but would probably prefer the term progressive.
4) In your opinion, what makes you moderate/conservative/other?
I am willing to engage with tough questions and to admit that I don’t know stuff. Social conscience and justice issues are dear to my heart and they influence the way I approach scripture; I don’t read the Bible as if it were a manual but as the story of different people’s interaction with God through the ages. In it I find poetry and history, story, song and instruction.
5) In your opinion, what makes someone conservative? What makes someone moderate?
Like I said I’m not fond of labels and really not fond of applying them to others.
6) What's your heaven/paradise like?
That is something I will wait to find out! I do however believe in a physical heaven/ new earth, where we will work and grow, learn and interact not only with one another but also with God in a way that is currently impossible.
I don’t believe in a physical hell though. I believe that some people and often through choice will simply cease to be.
7) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
Not my call to make! But this I do believe, that I will be surprised who is there, and I might be surprised at who is not.
8) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
Grace- I believe in a God of grace as revealed through the Christian gospels, and so often missed out on! I love Jesus words in Matthew 11: 28-30:
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
9) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, those are the main ones, and with the first two it can be difficult to remove the secular trimmings from them which strip them of meaning. I try to embrace the simplicity of the stable, and the wonder of the incarnation, the mystery of the cross and the glory of the resurrection. I love celebrating the gift of the Spirit at Pentecost.
That said a party with a feast is always good!
10) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Yes. I have friends of other faiths, and friends with no faith.
11) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
Yes but I may not participate in all of the activities/ festivities…
13) What are your thoughts on women not being allowed to become priests?
I am a woman, I am a priest. I guess that says it all!
14) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
No.
15) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
My faith affects every aspect of my life; it requires that I consider my actions carefully and prayerfully. I try to read the scriptures everyday and they inspire/ inform me. Prayer is a listening activity and I believe that God speaks by his/her Spirit, and sometimes prompts me to a certain course of action.
As for abortion- this is a often a complex issue to which there is no one size fits all answer. I don’t believe it should be an easy option or used as a late form of contraception, but there are times when it is the best of a set of difficult choices. I believe that the God of grace I worship is more loving and forgiving that s/he is sometimes portrayed to be, and that s/he understands our hearts better than we know.
The Scriptures I read are pro- committed love. Gay marriage is committed love
16) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
We would talk it through, and discuss the potential difficulties, but I would not stand in their way.
17) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
No- like I said- not my call!
18) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
People like the folk from Westboro’ Baptist Church who spew hate do not speak for Christianity, they speak for a twisted form of religion!
19) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
No.
20) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
My faith does not devalue me, but occasionally folk who speak for it do, when they speak against women and argue about sexuality I am afraid that I wonder whether they have lost the plot. I believe that Christianity is life-giving and transformative, if people are devalued then it is institutions not the Spirit who is to blame.
21) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes: read this: http://sallysjourney.typepad.com/sallys_journey/2010/08/inner-peace.html
22) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
No. I believe in an afterlife but not that we return to this earth. I cannot see how or why that would be either edifying or transformational, nor do I believe in a God who would use reincarnation as a punishment. I do believe that our life on earth will impact our life in heaven.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Margaret Thatcher Quote
Hello and Happy Wednesday!
Today's quote is brought to you by Margaret Thatcher:
If you just set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and you would achieve nothing.
Be sure to check back this Saturday for a new post!
Today's quote is brought to you by Margaret Thatcher:
If you just set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time, and you would achieve nothing.
Be sure to check back this Saturday for a new post!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Chaviva G.
Hello and Happy Saturday!
I wish to thank Ven. Jo Jo for sharing his journey with us. A very interesting and indepth piece that I very much enjoyed reading. Thank you Ven. Jo Jo!
Today we have a new interview so please welcome Chaviva G.
Chaviva is a Jewish Convert and I know you will enjoy her interview as well!
Here Is Chaviva G.'s Introduction:
Chaviva, a social media devotee, is the the creator and writer of blogs Just Call Me Chaviva (www.kvetchingeditor.com) and the Kosher Critic (www.kosher-critic.com), among others. You can find her on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, 12seconds.tv, Yelp, and every other social-networking, music, and media platform the web over. Why the vast virtual presence? Every e-avenue is an outlet for explaining, exploring, developing, and expanding the understanding of and experience of Judaism in the 21st century not only for Jews of every flavor, but also for the larger global community.
When she's not blogging or Tweeting, Chaviva, an Orthodox Jew, is a master's student at New York University, and the future holds more academic promise, she hopes. In a past life, Chaviva was a copy editor for The Denver Post, The Daily Nebraskan, and The Washington Post, and Chaviva still manages to mix her passion for proper grammar with Judaism through Jewish-style editing projects.
1) What religion do you practice?
Orthodox Judaism.
2) Did you convert or were you born into this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I converted to Judaism under Reform auspices in 2006 and under Orthodox auspices in 2010. Before converting, I grew up in the Bible Belt of Missouri and then Nebraska, where my parents raised me largely on the Golden Rule. I attended church regularly, went to Vacation Bible School, and was for all intents and purposes a practicing Christian with the big secret that I didn't believe that Jesus was the son of G-d (not to mention a crop of other Christian tenets). I was a very social person with a big group of friends -- a big group of Christian friends. So I went along, I did the clubs and the retreats, and I got saved a half-dozen times. And then, in high school, I quit. I couldn't fake it. I founded my own religion, my own beliefs, and went a fairly agnostic route. In college, a friend, inquiring about my beliefs, suggested I look into Judaism and thus, I found myself at the doorstep of the house that had truly always been my home.
3) Would you consider yourself a moderate, conservative or other.
I consider myself socially liberal, religiously conservative, and politically liberal ... if that exists!
4) In your opinion, what makes you moderate/conservative/other?
Socially, I'm sort of outside the box compared to my religious beliefs. I believe a lot of things that don't float, according to a lot of right-wing Jews I know, because they don't match up necessarily with the simplest understanding of the text of the Torah (Hebrew Bible). For me, however, I think rights, liberties, and acceptance are the underlying message of just about everything in Judaism, so I choose to be socially liberal. Religiously, I see the binding nature of the mitzvot, or commandments, that are found in the Torah, and I live a Torah-observant lifestyle (keeping kosher, observing the Sabbath, dressing modestly, etc.). I don't think the two -- being socially liberal and religiously conservative -- are out of balance. Add to that, of course, that politically I'm a liberal!
5) In your opinion, what makes someone conservative? What makes someone moderate?
Nine times out of ten, I think it's how you grew up, what values your parents instilled in you, and how open-minded you are toward a change in those views and sentiments. I think environment plays on people's conservative and moderate sentiments more than beliefs, because we tend to worry more about how people view us and how accepting others are of us than what is right or just.
6) What's your heaven/paradise like?
In Judaism, there's really no necessarily defined view of the afterlife, what we call olam ha'ba, or the "world to come." Thus, I don't think much about heaven or an afterlife, because as a Jew, my emphasis is on this life, doing good and positive things here, because I know the tangible results that can be had. When it comes to a heaven, it's impossible to know what it entails, so I don't think much about it. I did read a brilliant fiction book by Dara Horn called "The World to Come," in which she suggests that olam ha'ba actually is *this* world, the one we live in. When people die, they spend their lives teaching and preparing souls for this world!
7) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
Since I don't really conceive of it, I don't really have a good answer to this. My inclination is to say, Sure, why not?
8) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
It focuses on doing good and living a commandment-based life, this life, the hear and now. A focus on the present just makes sense to me. Why live for something that might come later, or put responsibility for your life in the hands of someone else? In my mind, G-d gave each of us the gumption to do good and make this world better for a reason, and I found that reason and realization in Judaism.
9) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
Do you have a few hours? Hah. Judaism has a lot of holy days; we have FOUR new years! Some of our holy days include Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Shavuot, and Sukkot. Each hold historic and religious importance, but going into the details would take me quite some time and probably confuse your readers.
10) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Of course. All of my high school friends are Christians, I have a few Hindu friends, I have a college friend who converted to Islam. I don't discriminate or not include people in my life for their faith choice. I believe firmly that what is right for me is not right for everyone, and because we can know with no certainty which religion (if any) is "right," then why bother creating divisions or converting others or discriminating? Why not just live your life and your faith in the way that makes you most comfortable.
11) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
There are a variety of restrictions as an Orthodox Jew as to what I can and cannot celebrate, where I can and cannot go, etc. I would love to invite a variety of individuals with varied faiths for a Passover seder or Chanukah party, but I cannot go to a Christian Mass or celebration because of laws about entering churches and taking part in non-Jewish ceremonies.
12) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
I don't know enough to answer.
13) What are your thoughts on women not being allowed to become priests?
Again, I don't know enough to answer, but in Judaism, we have this issue with women being rabbis and/or faith leaders.
14) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
My synagogue does have separate seating, with a mechitzah, which is a sort of walled separation, dividing us. In many synagogues this is a *beautiful* separating structure, made of etched glass or latticework. In some Orthodox synagogues, women have seating upstairs overlooking the main sanctuary where the men are (it's a very Friendship Meeting House sort of kick-back). I actually really love having the separate seating, because it gives everyone a chance to focus on their own prayers, without the distraction of a husband or possible love match. I know that before I became Orthodox, going to synagogue with my then-boyfriend was hard because he wanted to hold hands and talk to me during the service, which kept me from really connecting to G-d on a personal and in-depth level. The separation allows me to sort of climb into my own world with G-d.
15) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
My religion affects EVERYTHING I do -- it affects how I dress in the morning, how I cover my hair, how I leave my house, how I purchase, cook, and eat my food, how I talk and interact with individuals, and more. Judaism allows me to be 110 percent conscious of every small and large thing I do and decision I make. It does play into how I view social and political issues, of course.
16) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion? It would break my heart, but I would understand the need to make one's own place in the world (after all, I did). I would hope, however, that my child would come out of his life at home with the powerful impact of Judaism on his or her heart and mind.
17) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
No. Judaism doesn't believe in Hell ... there's (pretty much) always a chance to turn back, to make teshuvah.
18) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
Not sure I understand the question. There are a lot of people who claim to speak for aspects of Judaism (think Madonna and Kaballah) who really don't represent or express the positive aspects (or even the true aspects) of my religion.
19) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
Thank G-d, no.
20) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
Never! The common misconception about Orthodox Judaism is that it devalues women, the modern world, and anything that doesn't float back to our earliest sages and Rabbis. This, of course, is a complete misconception. Don't worry, I haven't been brainwashed. But as with all things, you view your religion through your own, unique lenses and if those lenses are dirty or chipped, then you'll see everything you don't agree with as a stumbling block and not a building block.
21) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes.
22) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
There are a lot of curious aspects of Judaism that cater to an idea of reincarnation in a sort of tangential way, but I don't know enough to speak about it at length. There is a thought that a friend once shared with me that the reason there are so many young Jews returning to Orthodox Judaism, to a Torah-observant life, is because the souls of those who died in the Holocaust are being rekindled in these Jews who are returning to the faith as those souls might have, had they not been killed. It's a unique and beautiful thought, I think.
I wish to thank Ven. Jo Jo for sharing his journey with us. A very interesting and indepth piece that I very much enjoyed reading. Thank you Ven. Jo Jo!
Today we have a new interview so please welcome Chaviva G.
Chaviva is a Jewish Convert and I know you will enjoy her interview as well!
Here Is Chaviva G.'s Introduction:
Chaviva, a social media devotee, is the the creator and writer of blogs Just Call Me Chaviva (www.kvetchingeditor.com) and the Kosher Critic (www.kosher-critic.com), among others. You can find her on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, 12seconds.tv, Yelp, and every other social-networking, music, and media platform the web over. Why the vast virtual presence? Every e-avenue is an outlet for explaining, exploring, developing, and expanding the understanding of and experience of Judaism in the 21st century not only for Jews of every flavor, but also for the larger global community.
When she's not blogging or Tweeting, Chaviva, an Orthodox Jew, is a master's student at New York University, and the future holds more academic promise, she hopes. In a past life, Chaviva was a copy editor for The Denver Post, The Daily Nebraskan, and The Washington Post, and Chaviva still manages to mix her passion for proper grammar with Judaism through Jewish-style editing projects.
1) What religion do you practice?
Orthodox Judaism.
2) Did you convert or were you born into this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I converted to Judaism under Reform auspices in 2006 and under Orthodox auspices in 2010. Before converting, I grew up in the Bible Belt of Missouri and then Nebraska, where my parents raised me largely on the Golden Rule. I attended church regularly, went to Vacation Bible School, and was for all intents and purposes a practicing Christian with the big secret that I didn't believe that Jesus was the son of G-d (not to mention a crop of other Christian tenets). I was a very social person with a big group of friends -- a big group of Christian friends. So I went along, I did the clubs and the retreats, and I got saved a half-dozen times. And then, in high school, I quit. I couldn't fake it. I founded my own religion, my own beliefs, and went a fairly agnostic route. In college, a friend, inquiring about my beliefs, suggested I look into Judaism and thus, I found myself at the doorstep of the house that had truly always been my home.
3) Would you consider yourself a moderate, conservative or other.
I consider myself socially liberal, religiously conservative, and politically liberal ... if that exists!
4) In your opinion, what makes you moderate/conservative/other?
Socially, I'm sort of outside the box compared to my religious beliefs. I believe a lot of things that don't float, according to a lot of right-wing Jews I know, because they don't match up necessarily with the simplest understanding of the text of the Torah (Hebrew Bible). For me, however, I think rights, liberties, and acceptance are the underlying message of just about everything in Judaism, so I choose to be socially liberal. Religiously, I see the binding nature of the mitzvot, or commandments, that are found in the Torah, and I live a Torah-observant lifestyle (keeping kosher, observing the Sabbath, dressing modestly, etc.). I don't think the two -- being socially liberal and religiously conservative -- are out of balance. Add to that, of course, that politically I'm a liberal!
5) In your opinion, what makes someone conservative? What makes someone moderate?
Nine times out of ten, I think it's how you grew up, what values your parents instilled in you, and how open-minded you are toward a change in those views and sentiments. I think environment plays on people's conservative and moderate sentiments more than beliefs, because we tend to worry more about how people view us and how accepting others are of us than what is right or just.
6) What's your heaven/paradise like?
In Judaism, there's really no necessarily defined view of the afterlife, what we call olam ha'ba, or the "world to come." Thus, I don't think much about heaven or an afterlife, because as a Jew, my emphasis is on this life, doing good and positive things here, because I know the tangible results that can be had. When it comes to a heaven, it's impossible to know what it entails, so I don't think much about it. I did read a brilliant fiction book by Dara Horn called "The World to Come," in which she suggests that olam ha'ba actually is *this* world, the one we live in. When people die, they spend their lives teaching and preparing souls for this world!
7) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
Since I don't really conceive of it, I don't really have a good answer to this. My inclination is to say, Sure, why not?
8) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
It focuses on doing good and living a commandment-based life, this life, the hear and now. A focus on the present just makes sense to me. Why live for something that might come later, or put responsibility for your life in the hands of someone else? In my mind, G-d gave each of us the gumption to do good and make this world better for a reason, and I found that reason and realization in Judaism.
9) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
Do you have a few hours? Hah. Judaism has a lot of holy days; we have FOUR new years! Some of our holy days include Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Shavuot, and Sukkot. Each hold historic and religious importance, but going into the details would take me quite some time and probably confuse your readers.
10) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Of course. All of my high school friends are Christians, I have a few Hindu friends, I have a college friend who converted to Islam. I don't discriminate or not include people in my life for their faith choice. I believe firmly that what is right for me is not right for everyone, and because we can know with no certainty which religion (if any) is "right," then why bother creating divisions or converting others or discriminating? Why not just live your life and your faith in the way that makes you most comfortable.
11) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
There are a variety of restrictions as an Orthodox Jew as to what I can and cannot celebrate, where I can and cannot go, etc. I would love to invite a variety of individuals with varied faiths for a Passover seder or Chanukah party, but I cannot go to a Christian Mass or celebration because of laws about entering churches and taking part in non-Jewish ceremonies.
12) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
I don't know enough to answer.
13) What are your thoughts on women not being allowed to become priests?
Again, I don't know enough to answer, but in Judaism, we have this issue with women being rabbis and/or faith leaders.
14) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
My synagogue does have separate seating, with a mechitzah, which is a sort of walled separation, dividing us. In many synagogues this is a *beautiful* separating structure, made of etched glass or latticework. In some Orthodox synagogues, women have seating upstairs overlooking the main sanctuary where the men are (it's a very Friendship Meeting House sort of kick-back). I actually really love having the separate seating, because it gives everyone a chance to focus on their own prayers, without the distraction of a husband or possible love match. I know that before I became Orthodox, going to synagogue with my then-boyfriend was hard because he wanted to hold hands and talk to me during the service, which kept me from really connecting to G-d on a personal and in-depth level. The separation allows me to sort of climb into my own world with G-d.
15) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
My religion affects EVERYTHING I do -- it affects how I dress in the morning, how I cover my hair, how I leave my house, how I purchase, cook, and eat my food, how I talk and interact with individuals, and more. Judaism allows me to be 110 percent conscious of every small and large thing I do and decision I make. It does play into how I view social and political issues, of course.
16) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion? It would break my heart, but I would understand the need to make one's own place in the world (after all, I did). I would hope, however, that my child would come out of his life at home with the powerful impact of Judaism on his or her heart and mind.
17) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
No. Judaism doesn't believe in Hell ... there's (pretty much) always a chance to turn back, to make teshuvah.
18) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
Not sure I understand the question. There are a lot of people who claim to speak for aspects of Judaism (think Madonna and Kaballah) who really don't represent or express the positive aspects (or even the true aspects) of my religion.
19) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
Thank G-d, no.
20) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
Never! The common misconception about Orthodox Judaism is that it devalues women, the modern world, and anything that doesn't float back to our earliest sages and Rabbis. This, of course, is a complete misconception. Don't worry, I haven't been brainwashed. But as with all things, you view your religion through your own, unique lenses and if those lenses are dirty or chipped, then you'll see everything you don't agree with as a stumbling block and not a building block.
21) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes.
22) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
There are a lot of curious aspects of Judaism that cater to an idea of reincarnation in a sort of tangential way, but I don't know enough to speak about it at length. There is a thought that a friend once shared with me that the reason there are so many young Jews returning to Orthodox Judaism, to a Torah-observant life, is because the souls of those who died in the Holocaust are being rekindled in these Jews who are returning to the faith as those souls might have, had they not been killed. It's a unique and beautiful thought, I think.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Bliss Carman Quote
Hello and Happy Wednesday!
Today's quote is brought to you by Bliss Carman:
Indifference may not wreck a man's life at any one turn, but it will destroy him with a kind of dry-rot in the long run.
There'll be a new post this Saturday, so be sure to check back!
Today's quote is brought to you by Bliss Carman:
Indifference may not wreck a man's life at any one turn, but it will destroy him with a kind of dry-rot in the long run.
There'll be a new post this Saturday, so be sure to check back!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Ven. Jo Jo
Hello Everyone and Happy Saturday!
I wish to thank Mystic Tourist for sharing what it means to him to be a Secular Mystic. A very interesting read; thank you so much Mystic Tourist!
Today we have a new post. Please welcome Ven. Jo Jo.
Ven. Jo Jo is a Buddhist and I know you will enjoy his post as well!
Here Is Ven. Jo Jo's Introduction:
Ven. Jo Jo began training in Buddhist meditation in 1980 at the age of thirteen. After the passing of his master in 1992, he spent much of his time in the mountains continuing his pursuits of mental cultivation.
Gradually he began leaning toward becoming a monk as the pursuits of everyday life began losing their appeal. After choosing to reacquaint himself with some of the local temples and train under their teachers, he had firmly made the decision to become a monk. By the spring of 2006, he received ordination.
Ven. Jo Jo has decided to contribute to the Buddhist community primarily through writing. As such, he has begun work on several books as well as recently begun efforts to be active in the online community. Though most of his writings at this point are seen only by his students, he has every intention on getting active with posting essays to his blog - http://bhikkhujojo.blogspot.com/ for the general public. He also does a Dhamma Tweet every Sunday morning to inspire reflection. You can follow him on Twitter @BhikkhuJoJo.
1) What religion do you practice?
Buddhism.
2) Did you convert or were you born into this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I was not converted nor was I born into Buddhism. I was raised in a family that was typically Christian, meaning they believed in some sort of Christian religion, but didn't practice it or talk about it. I have never considered myself a believing Christian. My great aunt and uncle dragged me to church occasionally when I was a toddler but I was disinterested, as I'm sure most kids of that age are.
I was never truly a practitioner of any religion. In my teens I intently studied the Bible and various Christian denominations because I enjoyed going to the preachers around town and debating with them. Though I know now, looking back, it was more along the lines of arguing with them. So I went through that phase. Then I began to feel the social pressures of identifying with a religion, so I experimented in various occult practices. In the end I found all of these previous studies and dabblings to be lacking.
At the age of thirteen I began to study meditation from a master who was also my martial arts master. He would only train us if we cultivated not just our bodies but our minds as well. This marked the beginning of my Buddhist practice. However, I was already familiar with meditation to some extent from an earlier age growing up in the tail end of the hippie era and always enjoyed just being in my mind. So much so that my mother was at her wits end on how to punish me as a child because sitting in a corner (which was common in those days) was no punishment at all for me.
3) Would you consider yourself a moderate, conservative or other?
If this is referring to politics, I don't concern myself with politics. Therefore I'd have to answer none of the above. With regards to Buddhism, again, none of the above. Buddhist practice is about recognizing these sorts of biased states of mind, which cloud our perception and judgement, and purging them.
4) In your opinion, what makes you moderate/conservative/other?
Refer to question three.
5) In your opinion, what makes someone conservative? What makes someone moderate?
When we get caught up in our thinking and begin to identify with the subsequent opinions and positions we begin to create an imbalance in our minds. This is how these defiled states arise.
6) What's your heaven/paradise like?
The Buddha used the prevalent Brahman cosmological view of the day as a metaphor to help people understand his teaching in a way they could relate to. Therefore, when he spoke of the heavenly realms, he was illustrating that it's a mental state we are "born" into when we are at peace and happy. Likewise, when we are perhaps angry, we are "born" into the hell realms.
7) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
Again, irrelevant. What Buddhist practice aims to uncover in this situation, if speaking of it literally, would be why the person has a need to feel as though they are going to go to heaven or some sort of paradise. It's all about delving into the mind and uncovering what's there, why it's there, and how it got there.
8) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
It's relatively scientific. The claims it makes, though not always testable via instruments, are verifiable by practicing. For example, if I say sit down and breath in and out deeply for two minutes and you will experience a relaxing feeling, that would be verifiable. You could go try it, and see for yourself. This is what makes it appealing to people — "It just works". Living in the modern age of science and critical thought, we expect our practices for well-being, religions, philosophies, etc., to be able to hold up to scrutiny. Being told to follow something on blind faith, just doesn't make sense to the modern human anymore.
9) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
There are numerous occasions that would be referred to as holy days in Buddhism. Each country will celebrate a different variety than others. However, the one universally celebrated holiday, as well as the biggest event in Buddhism, is Buddha's Birthday. The rituals and ceremonies will all vary depending upon the country as well, but the one common theme throughout the Buddhist community is the tradition of pouring water over a little statue of the Buddha as a baby. This is done by each member in attendance. The decor is often replete with hanging Chinese-style lanterns and parades being held with elaborate floats. People will flock to the temples and mediation centers to meditate or participate in ceremonies and hear talks on Buddhism, or about Buddha's life given this occasion.
10) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Yes.
11) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
Yes, I have even done this a few times. Irregardless of whether someone thinks these holy days are sacred and important or not, realistically they are social occasions that bring people together. When someone I care about is celebrating an occasion that's important to them and they wish to share the experience with me, then why would I not go? When this dualistic thinking of "their way" and "my way" ceases, then there's no problem, only harmony.
12) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
There are countries where women are beaten and the law either permits it or traditionally turns a blind eye to it. Or children are turned out into prostitution to earn money for the struggling family. Yet I hear so much uproar over Islam's burka which isn't harming anyone. It being a degradation of women is merely a cultural way of thinking. Muslim women who wear the burka say they are proud to wear it, some even say they have a choice. Whether this is a result of indoctrination or not is a matter of speculation. The bottom line is that the Western world has latched onto the burka as a way of maintaining its disdain for Islam as a result of the acts of terrorism in the last decade and Islam's perceived role in fostering it. Instead of recognizing that those responsible, though Muslim, are radicals just like other religions have their radicals now and in antiquity, we choose to continually bash an entire religion and grasp at petty things to continue fueling our outrage. What if we were to do this with the Christian religion because of their crusades, or in recent times the mass suicides, and other unfortunate happenings? No one is hesitant then to recognize these as the actions of radicals, cults, and other misguided people.
As for the shariah, I must profess I know virtually nothing of it save for the commonly criticized law that puts people to death for leaving Islam. I understand that the Islamic community has been attempting to push their ways on the societies in which they have immigrated to, and even going so far as to attempt to have laws implemented for or in favor of Muslims. But a society is an aggregate of people. The laws and culture are made up of all those individuals. If the masses don't want such Islamic laws being incorporated into their system, then they won't be. But they have just as much right to try and integrate their ways into their new culture as others before them have likewise done and are still doing. By the same token, Islam or any other religion should not and must not be allowed a free pass based upon religion when they break the laws established by the people. Religion is not above reproach. If they kill someone while in a Western country because someone de-converted from Islam then they are punishable by those laws which prohibit such action. Or not being permitted to wear the burka when entering a bank. They do not get a get out of jail free card in the name of religion or shariah. They have their own countries and culture that has evolved with their religion and shariah in mind allowing them to live in accord with it, regardless of what the rest of the world may think of them for it.
13) What are your thoughts on women not being allowed to become priests?
Religion is losing ground among the people not just because of the modern mind being more logical, scientific, and less apt to dispense with critical thought, but also as a result of the religious institutions being either unwilling or too slow to change and adapt to the times. People, at least in the Western world, do not accept discrimination anymore. When a religion is doing something that the people no longer wish or those people have higher moral standards than the religious institution, something is going to give and that is likely going to be the religion getting the boot.
In Buddhism we have a similar situation to the women not being allowed to become priests situation. In the school of Buddhism dominant in southeast Asia, the lineage of nuns died out long ago. It's only been being reinstated in the last ten years. But this is a slow and arduous undertaking. The reigning monks and institutions refuse to recognize these ordinations and officially disassociate themselves from those who do these ordinations. There are questions of legitimacy with regard to the rules and procedures for ordination as to whether it can be done or not. But these have been hashed out over the last decade also. It's been found that there is no reason to deny these ordinations. The reasons those in charge are giving are merely excuses in a feeble attempt to maintain their prejudices against women which stems from their culture. If they wish for their flavor of Buddhism to take root in the West, and they do, then they must find a way of rectifying this issue. Because to the majority of Western people involved or interested in Buddhism, it is an unacceptable situation and all of Buddhism is going to be hindered by this discrimination as long as it persists.
14) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
No it doesn't segregate. Though in the Buddhist monastic tradition the nuns are required to sit behind the monks. It's also most common for the monks and nuns to live in separate temples, though some do not. However, they all practice together, so in that sense there is no segregation.
15) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
We all have mental defilements that keep us from experiencing life clearly and fully. It's like being sick, we just aren't functioning efficiently and effectively. Buddhist practice is like receiving a medicine that kills off the bacteria causing the sickness. Therefore, Buddhism does affect your daily life because it's exuding a profound change upon the mind. To say that it influences the way in which a practitioner views the issues of abortion or gay marriage would be hard to say. Out of hand I would say it quite possibly could. But these decisions are still up to the individual, there is no Buddhist doctrine that decrees they must think such and such a way on these issues. As for me, I don't know if it's influenced my thinking on these topics because I've been involved in the practice far before I even had a knowledge of these issues.
16) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
I would have no issues with it and have actually experienced this. The only concern is for the child and if the other person's fervor for their religion is going to dominate and cause difficulties in their marriage, which often doesn't become pronounced until after children enter the picture. This potentially volatile situation must be made apparent to the child. But this is a far cry from inflicting my own biases and prejudices upon him, it's simply ensuring he understands all the ramifications of his decision so HE can make an intelligent decision.
17) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
No.
18) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? i.e. who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
Yes, there are those who are purported as being authorities on Buddhism but clearly are not and/or should not be, though I won't give names. This is actually a topic of concern within Buddhism among some people. The issue has become pronounced with the introduction of Buddhism to the West. Western culture places a huge value on people of academia. So what we see are people who are getting a degree in Buddhism from a university and then going out and calling themselves a Buddhist teacher and writing books. Or people who are academically inclined go and become monks for a stint, then quit and become professors at a university as if they were merely conducting field research. These sorts of approaches to Buddhism is causing many issues, especially for those new to Buddhism, because their understanding of the teachings are often shallow and not tempered by serious practice and a sincere approach to introspection. Although none of this means that all of these people are not worthy of teaching.
Traditionally it's the monastic order that is charged with preserving the teachings and conveying those teachings down to the laypeople. By going through the proper channels and observations by masters during the monastic training they're ensured, in theory anyway, that by the time the practitioner becomes a full monk they are not only well rounded in their understanding of the teachings academically as well as the practice and absorption of those teachings, but that they are qualified to teach. However, this also doesn't mean they are any more qualified than the academics who call themselves teachers, especially with the deteriorating way monastics are often being bred in the modern age now.
These are the two factions that many feel needs to be resolved. And it clearly is an issue given the perceived decline in the quality of the monastic community, and the often intellectual-only approach to Buddhism the academics are often accused of. As for me, I agree and disagree with both sides. For the sake of those who are interested in training their minds effectively and efficiently and receiving the proper teachings of the Buddha and his practice, perhaps some sort of a worldwide certification or recognition process needs to be instated. This would ensure a level of integrity with regards to Buddhist teachers. Perhaps it's time for another Buddhist council involving all the three schools of Buddhism and their denominations from around the world to address this issue, as well as that of the ordination of women?
19) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
Yes, I've been physically, though mildly, assaulted as well as being the victim of vandalism as a result of people being ignorant and intolerant of things they don't understand. Although this was quite a long time ago before Buddhism was seen as not so esoteric.
20) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No.
21) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes. It's a training of the mind!
22) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
Buddhism accepts what is commonly called in English, rebirth. This is to distinguish itself from reincarnation, though it doesn't do a very good job of it. Reincarnation is some sort of entity or soul that is transmigrating from one life to the next. Buddhism doesn't recognize any sort of unchanging and impermanent entity.
Whereas rebirth is the process of the idea of a soul, this sense of 'I'. When it arises in your mind "you" are born, and likewise when there is no grasping at this sense of Self, "you" die. It's a mental process that is the crux of the practice. When a practitioner reaches a point where they've seen the fallacy of the Self so the phenomenon no longer arises in the mind, he will have fulfilled perhaps one of the most difficult hurdles to realizing enlightenment.
I wish to thank Mystic Tourist for sharing what it means to him to be a Secular Mystic. A very interesting read; thank you so much Mystic Tourist!
Today we have a new post. Please welcome Ven. Jo Jo.
Ven. Jo Jo is a Buddhist and I know you will enjoy his post as well!
Here Is Ven. Jo Jo's Introduction:
Ven. Jo Jo began training in Buddhist meditation in 1980 at the age of thirteen. After the passing of his master in 1992, he spent much of his time in the mountains continuing his pursuits of mental cultivation.
Gradually he began leaning toward becoming a monk as the pursuits of everyday life began losing their appeal. After choosing to reacquaint himself with some of the local temples and train under their teachers, he had firmly made the decision to become a monk. By the spring of 2006, he received ordination.
Ven. Jo Jo has decided to contribute to the Buddhist community primarily through writing. As such, he has begun work on several books as well as recently begun efforts to be active in the online community. Though most of his writings at this point are seen only by his students, he has every intention on getting active with posting essays to his blog - http://bhikkhujojo.blogspot.com/ for the general public. He also does a Dhamma Tweet every Sunday morning to inspire reflection. You can follow him on Twitter @BhikkhuJoJo.
1) What religion do you practice?
Buddhism.
2) Did you convert or were you born into this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I was not converted nor was I born into Buddhism. I was raised in a family that was typically Christian, meaning they believed in some sort of Christian religion, but didn't practice it or talk about it. I have never considered myself a believing Christian. My great aunt and uncle dragged me to church occasionally when I was a toddler but I was disinterested, as I'm sure most kids of that age are.
I was never truly a practitioner of any religion. In my teens I intently studied the Bible and various Christian denominations because I enjoyed going to the preachers around town and debating with them. Though I know now, looking back, it was more along the lines of arguing with them. So I went through that phase. Then I began to feel the social pressures of identifying with a religion, so I experimented in various occult practices. In the end I found all of these previous studies and dabblings to be lacking.
At the age of thirteen I began to study meditation from a master who was also my martial arts master. He would only train us if we cultivated not just our bodies but our minds as well. This marked the beginning of my Buddhist practice. However, I was already familiar with meditation to some extent from an earlier age growing up in the tail end of the hippie era and always enjoyed just being in my mind. So much so that my mother was at her wits end on how to punish me as a child because sitting in a corner (which was common in those days) was no punishment at all for me.
3) Would you consider yourself a moderate, conservative or other?
If this is referring to politics, I don't concern myself with politics. Therefore I'd have to answer none of the above. With regards to Buddhism, again, none of the above. Buddhist practice is about recognizing these sorts of biased states of mind, which cloud our perception and judgement, and purging them.
4) In your opinion, what makes you moderate/conservative/other?
Refer to question three.
5) In your opinion, what makes someone conservative? What makes someone moderate?
When we get caught up in our thinking and begin to identify with the subsequent opinions and positions we begin to create an imbalance in our minds. This is how these defiled states arise.
6) What's your heaven/paradise like?
The Buddha used the prevalent Brahman cosmological view of the day as a metaphor to help people understand his teaching in a way they could relate to. Therefore, when he spoke of the heavenly realms, he was illustrating that it's a mental state we are "born" into when we are at peace and happy. Likewise, when we are perhaps angry, we are "born" into the hell realms.
7) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
Again, irrelevant. What Buddhist practice aims to uncover in this situation, if speaking of it literally, would be why the person has a need to feel as though they are going to go to heaven or some sort of paradise. It's all about delving into the mind and uncovering what's there, why it's there, and how it got there.
8) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
It's relatively scientific. The claims it makes, though not always testable via instruments, are verifiable by practicing. For example, if I say sit down and breath in and out deeply for two minutes and you will experience a relaxing feeling, that would be verifiable. You could go try it, and see for yourself. This is what makes it appealing to people — "It just works". Living in the modern age of science and critical thought, we expect our practices for well-being, religions, philosophies, etc., to be able to hold up to scrutiny. Being told to follow something on blind faith, just doesn't make sense to the modern human anymore.
9) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
There are numerous occasions that would be referred to as holy days in Buddhism. Each country will celebrate a different variety than others. However, the one universally celebrated holiday, as well as the biggest event in Buddhism, is Buddha's Birthday. The rituals and ceremonies will all vary depending upon the country as well, but the one common theme throughout the Buddhist community is the tradition of pouring water over a little statue of the Buddha as a baby. This is done by each member in attendance. The decor is often replete with hanging Chinese-style lanterns and parades being held with elaborate floats. People will flock to the temples and mediation centers to meditate or participate in ceremonies and hear talks on Buddhism, or about Buddha's life given this occasion.
10) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Yes.
11) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
Yes, I have even done this a few times. Irregardless of whether someone thinks these holy days are sacred and important or not, realistically they are social occasions that bring people together. When someone I care about is celebrating an occasion that's important to them and they wish to share the experience with me, then why would I not go? When this dualistic thinking of "their way" and "my way" ceases, then there's no problem, only harmony.
12) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
There are countries where women are beaten and the law either permits it or traditionally turns a blind eye to it. Or children are turned out into prostitution to earn money for the struggling family. Yet I hear so much uproar over Islam's burka which isn't harming anyone. It being a degradation of women is merely a cultural way of thinking. Muslim women who wear the burka say they are proud to wear it, some even say they have a choice. Whether this is a result of indoctrination or not is a matter of speculation. The bottom line is that the Western world has latched onto the burka as a way of maintaining its disdain for Islam as a result of the acts of terrorism in the last decade and Islam's perceived role in fostering it. Instead of recognizing that those responsible, though Muslim, are radicals just like other religions have their radicals now and in antiquity, we choose to continually bash an entire religion and grasp at petty things to continue fueling our outrage. What if we were to do this with the Christian religion because of their crusades, or in recent times the mass suicides, and other unfortunate happenings? No one is hesitant then to recognize these as the actions of radicals, cults, and other misguided people.
As for the shariah, I must profess I know virtually nothing of it save for the commonly criticized law that puts people to death for leaving Islam. I understand that the Islamic community has been attempting to push their ways on the societies in which they have immigrated to, and even going so far as to attempt to have laws implemented for or in favor of Muslims. But a society is an aggregate of people. The laws and culture are made up of all those individuals. If the masses don't want such Islamic laws being incorporated into their system, then they won't be. But they have just as much right to try and integrate their ways into their new culture as others before them have likewise done and are still doing. By the same token, Islam or any other religion should not and must not be allowed a free pass based upon religion when they break the laws established by the people. Religion is not above reproach. If they kill someone while in a Western country because someone de-converted from Islam then they are punishable by those laws which prohibit such action. Or not being permitted to wear the burka when entering a bank. They do not get a get out of jail free card in the name of religion or shariah. They have their own countries and culture that has evolved with their religion and shariah in mind allowing them to live in accord with it, regardless of what the rest of the world may think of them for it.
13) What are your thoughts on women not being allowed to become priests?
Religion is losing ground among the people not just because of the modern mind being more logical, scientific, and less apt to dispense with critical thought, but also as a result of the religious institutions being either unwilling or too slow to change and adapt to the times. People, at least in the Western world, do not accept discrimination anymore. When a religion is doing something that the people no longer wish or those people have higher moral standards than the religious institution, something is going to give and that is likely going to be the religion getting the boot.
In Buddhism we have a similar situation to the women not being allowed to become priests situation. In the school of Buddhism dominant in southeast Asia, the lineage of nuns died out long ago. It's only been being reinstated in the last ten years. But this is a slow and arduous undertaking. The reigning monks and institutions refuse to recognize these ordinations and officially disassociate themselves from those who do these ordinations. There are questions of legitimacy with regard to the rules and procedures for ordination as to whether it can be done or not. But these have been hashed out over the last decade also. It's been found that there is no reason to deny these ordinations. The reasons those in charge are giving are merely excuses in a feeble attempt to maintain their prejudices against women which stems from their culture. If they wish for their flavor of Buddhism to take root in the West, and they do, then they must find a way of rectifying this issue. Because to the majority of Western people involved or interested in Buddhism, it is an unacceptable situation and all of Buddhism is going to be hindered by this discrimination as long as it persists.
14) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
No it doesn't segregate. Though in the Buddhist monastic tradition the nuns are required to sit behind the monks. It's also most common for the monks and nuns to live in separate temples, though some do not. However, they all practice together, so in that sense there is no segregation.
15) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
We all have mental defilements that keep us from experiencing life clearly and fully. It's like being sick, we just aren't functioning efficiently and effectively. Buddhist practice is like receiving a medicine that kills off the bacteria causing the sickness. Therefore, Buddhism does affect your daily life because it's exuding a profound change upon the mind. To say that it influences the way in which a practitioner views the issues of abortion or gay marriage would be hard to say. Out of hand I would say it quite possibly could. But these decisions are still up to the individual, there is no Buddhist doctrine that decrees they must think such and such a way on these issues. As for me, I don't know if it's influenced my thinking on these topics because I've been involved in the practice far before I even had a knowledge of these issues.
16) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
I would have no issues with it and have actually experienced this. The only concern is for the child and if the other person's fervor for their religion is going to dominate and cause difficulties in their marriage, which often doesn't become pronounced until after children enter the picture. This potentially volatile situation must be made apparent to the child. But this is a far cry from inflicting my own biases and prejudices upon him, it's simply ensuring he understands all the ramifications of his decision so HE can make an intelligent decision.
17) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
No.
18) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? i.e. who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
Yes, there are those who are purported as being authorities on Buddhism but clearly are not and/or should not be, though I won't give names. This is actually a topic of concern within Buddhism among some people. The issue has become pronounced with the introduction of Buddhism to the West. Western culture places a huge value on people of academia. So what we see are people who are getting a degree in Buddhism from a university and then going out and calling themselves a Buddhist teacher and writing books. Or people who are academically inclined go and become monks for a stint, then quit and become professors at a university as if they were merely conducting field research. These sorts of approaches to Buddhism is causing many issues, especially for those new to Buddhism, because their understanding of the teachings are often shallow and not tempered by serious practice and a sincere approach to introspection. Although none of this means that all of these people are not worthy of teaching.
Traditionally it's the monastic order that is charged with preserving the teachings and conveying those teachings down to the laypeople. By going through the proper channels and observations by masters during the monastic training they're ensured, in theory anyway, that by the time the practitioner becomes a full monk they are not only well rounded in their understanding of the teachings academically as well as the practice and absorption of those teachings, but that they are qualified to teach. However, this also doesn't mean they are any more qualified than the academics who call themselves teachers, especially with the deteriorating way monastics are often being bred in the modern age now.
These are the two factions that many feel needs to be resolved. And it clearly is an issue given the perceived decline in the quality of the monastic community, and the often intellectual-only approach to Buddhism the academics are often accused of. As for me, I agree and disagree with both sides. For the sake of those who are interested in training their minds effectively and efficiently and receiving the proper teachings of the Buddha and his practice, perhaps some sort of a worldwide certification or recognition process needs to be instated. This would ensure a level of integrity with regards to Buddhist teachers. Perhaps it's time for another Buddhist council involving all the three schools of Buddhism and their denominations from around the world to address this issue, as well as that of the ordination of women?
19) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
Yes, I've been physically, though mildly, assaulted as well as being the victim of vandalism as a result of people being ignorant and intolerant of things they don't understand. Although this was quite a long time ago before Buddhism was seen as not so esoteric.
20) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No.
21) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes. It's a training of the mind!
22) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
Buddhism accepts what is commonly called in English, rebirth. This is to distinguish itself from reincarnation, though it doesn't do a very good job of it. Reincarnation is some sort of entity or soul that is transmigrating from one life to the next. Buddhism doesn't recognize any sort of unchanging and impermanent entity.
Whereas rebirth is the process of the idea of a soul, this sense of 'I'. When it arises in your mind "you" are born, and likewise when there is no grasping at this sense of Self, "you" die. It's a mental process that is the crux of the practice. When a practitioner reaches a point where they've seen the fallacy of the Self so the phenomenon no longer arises in the mind, he will have fulfilled perhaps one of the most difficult hurdles to realizing enlightenment.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Salman Rushdie Quote
Hello and Happy Thursday!
Today's quote is brought to you by Salman Rushdie:
What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist.
There'll be a new post this Saturday, so be sure to check back!
Today's quote is brought to you by Salman Rushdie:
What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist.
There'll be a new post this Saturday, so be sure to check back!
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
January
Hello and Happy Tuesday!
Here's a sneak peek into January's interviews!
We'll hear from Ebtesam who is a Muslim, Alan Jones who is a Rational Mystic, Irving Karchmar who is a Sufi Darvish, Beth Chapman who is Non-denominational/Buddhist and Carina who is a Christian.
All excellent interviews that you are not going to want to miss!
Here's a sneak peek into January's interviews!
We'll hear from Ebtesam who is a Muslim, Alan Jones who is a Rational Mystic, Irving Karchmar who is a Sufi Darvish, Beth Chapman who is Non-denominational/Buddhist and Carina who is a Christian.
All excellent interviews that you are not going to want to miss!
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Mystic Tourist
Hello and Happy Saturday!
I am a Secular Mystic. My life is dominated by God, no matter what I do. I live a life of singular devotion, to God. I accept that what is absolute is of God. Devotion to what is absolute assures that whatever I have to do is done. Every and any responsibility is met. I expect, God does make an example, does express and represent Gods-self. I am comfortable with whatever that is. I believe in no religion and am certain that no man speaks for God. I have greater confidence in God than that.
I have a website http://mystictourist.com
1) What religion do you practice?
I practice no religion.
2) Did you convert or were you born into this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I was born Roman Catholic.
3) Would you consider yourself a moderate, conservative or other.
You left out liberal.
4) In your opinion, what makes you moderate/conservative/other?
I have liberal sensibilities. I believe the only qualification to being right is to think you are. I do not think so, and, so I am moderate.
5) In your opinion, what makes someone conservative? What makes someone moderate?
I could write a post about that, but, this is not that.
6) What's your heaven/paradise like?
Not there yet.
7) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
Trying does get you there. It is in the doing. It is, or, it is not.
8) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
Not having one.
9)What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
Aside from everyday; Equinox and Solstice.
10) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
I do not believe in faith and it does not affect whether or not I consider a person a friend.
11) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
I would join in celebration. Every day is holy.
12) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
An affront against humanity and every good thing. The same could be expected of many religions. The required ingredient is political power.
13) What are your thoughts on women not being allowed to become priests?
Some activities are gender specific but the priesthood is not one of them. The prohibition against women is a slight against women and thereby a slight against humanity.
14) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
Where I worship it is not possible to segregate.
15) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
I am a secularist. My singular devotion to God, is what I do.
16) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
It is their life. I want for them to be happy the best way they can.
17) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
Hell is a temporal, human state. It exists only in such places.
18) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
No religion.
19) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
No. Unless you include my ex wife.
20) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
I think religion devalues; as much as it does anything else.
21) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Religion can not do that.
22) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
I do. It has been my experience that it is true.
I wish to thank Joanna Tzortzis for her very interesting post last week. I definitely enjoyed reading her answers. Thank you so much Joanna!
Today we have a new post so please welcome Mystic Tourist. Mystic Tourist is a Secular Mystic and I know you will enjoy his post as well.
Here Is Mystic Tourist's Introduction:I am a Secular Mystic. My life is dominated by God, no matter what I do. I live a life of singular devotion, to God. I accept that what is absolute is of God. Devotion to what is absolute assures that whatever I have to do is done. Every and any responsibility is met. I expect, God does make an example, does express and represent Gods-self. I am comfortable with whatever that is. I believe in no religion and am certain that no man speaks for God. I have greater confidence in God than that.
I have a website http://mystictourist.com
1) What religion do you practice?
I practice no religion.
2) Did you convert or were you born into this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I was born Roman Catholic.
3) Would you consider yourself a moderate, conservative or other.
You left out liberal.
4) In your opinion, what makes you moderate/conservative/other?
I have liberal sensibilities. I believe the only qualification to being right is to think you are. I do not think so, and, so I am moderate.
5) In your opinion, what makes someone conservative? What makes someone moderate?
I could write a post about that, but, this is not that.
6) What's your heaven/paradise like?
Not there yet.
7) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
Trying does get you there. It is in the doing. It is, or, it is not.
8) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
Not having one.
9)What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
Aside from everyday; Equinox and Solstice.
10) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
I do not believe in faith and it does not affect whether or not I consider a person a friend.
11) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
I would join in celebration. Every day is holy.
12) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
An affront against humanity and every good thing. The same could be expected of many religions. The required ingredient is political power.
13) What are your thoughts on women not being allowed to become priests?
Some activities are gender specific but the priesthood is not one of them. The prohibition against women is a slight against women and thereby a slight against humanity.
14) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
Where I worship it is not possible to segregate.
15) How much does your religion affect your daily life and how much thought do you give it when making a decision? Does it affect in any way your decision on abortion, gay marriage, etc?
I am a secularist. My singular devotion to God, is what I do.
16) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
It is their life. I want for them to be happy the best way they can.
17) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
Hell is a temporal, human state. It exists only in such places.
18) Who do you think is not a practicing ----- in your religion and why? ie who in the public domain claims to speak for your religion? Do you agree with them or not?
No religion.
19) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
No. Unless you include my ex wife.
20) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
I think religion devalues; as much as it does anything else.
21) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Religion can not do that.
22) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
I do. It has been my experience that it is true.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Laura Ingalls Wilder Quote
Hello and Happy Wednesday!
Today's quote is brought to you by Laura Ingalls Wilder:
The real things haven't changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong
There'll be a new post this weekend, so be sure to check back!
Today's quote is brought to you by Laura Ingalls Wilder:
The real things haven't changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong
There'll be a new post this weekend, so be sure to check back!
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