Hello and Happy Saturday!
I wish to thank Liorah Lleucu/Myfanwy for her very interesting and enjoyable interview of last week. Thank you so much for sharing with us!
Today we have a new interview so please welcome Christopher Darren Horn. Christopher is a Noahide and I know you'll enjoy his interview as well!
Here Is Christopher Darren Horn's Introduction:
I am an ex christian. I had a strange series of events that caused me to rethink my ideas about G_D, my place in this great creation and what we can do to make it better. I don't try to push others into believing what I do, because frankly, I wouldn't know where to start. LOL. You can, if you want, go to this link; http://www.nightghost.ws/2009/06/old-post-strange-happenings.html, and read about some of the strangeness, but that is not nearly all of it. I guess, I would be a searcher of truth more than anything else. I believe in Hashem and what he has taught and will teach me. I'll stuff as much as I can in the ol' 'noggin.
Yes, if it is ok, my blog/website is at http://www.nightghost.ws. I just title it "Ponderings and Other Things from the Nightghost"
1) What religion do you practice?
I guess I would be classified as a Noahide.
2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I think, I could be called a convert. Strangely, I was shown this by a weird series of events. I was not raised within this "religion" I used to be christian.
3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
I don't see there being degrees of observance and the acquisition of knowledge of creation, to me seems to be the defining characteristic.
4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
I am always looking to learn something new and meet others and hear their opinions and ways of doing things, I would think it is not about degrees of observance as it is about trying to find the truth.
5)What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept)
I am not sure, I guess I'll leave that question to the philosophers, LOL!!
6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
I have no idea, but I would like to hope, evil is punished and good is rewarded.
7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
The constant learning, any kind of learning and the desire to see everyone have that chance.
8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
I guess I would have to say, any day I am alive is holy, to me, LOL.
9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Yes, I like to learn about other faiths, some are really strange, but no reason we cannot be friends.
10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
Sure I would. It would be interesting to see.
11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
I think if someone wants to wear a burka, it is ok, but I do not like Shariah Law, it seems way too restrictive for my tastes.
12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
Yep, they sure can. I hold women in high regard. They are much better at everything, just ask my wife, she'll tell you so.
13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
Nope, no segregation. Unless she wants to. Then I leave her alone (I don't like pain, LOL).
14) 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 really don't know. I don't like the idea of aborting a little baby, it is a hard thought. Concerning gay marriage, sure let them marry, as long as I can have more than one wife, that would be cool, maybe!
15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
That would depend on the religion, but if it makes my child happy and doesn't involve hurting others, beating them on the head, or scaring them into accepting it, it is ok with me.
16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
I think everyone will learn, not hell, but sometimes, you have to learn the hard way
17) 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?
I don't think I see anyone in the public domain who is a Noahide, so can't really answer.
18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
Yes, my wife hates it when I act stupid and gets mad at me. I thought it was ok to leave my cigarette butts on the ground, but I guess not.
19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No, as a matter of fact, it has set me free.
20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes it does. There is a strange mystery in it, because of the ability to reach out and touch all things, the worry is gone.
21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
I believe in it, but only if I get the choice to come back as someone more interesting than myself.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Irving Karchmar Poem
Hello and Happy Thursday!
Slightly different today! Instead of a quote, here is a beautiful poem written by Irving Karchmar:
The knowledge of You
Comes swift as light
To sit within the circle
Of zekr and gratitude
A presence felt in darkness
The soul’s delight
The knowledge of You
My bones remember
My blood, nerves, sinews
And my eyes, this poet’s sight
That writes only You, who
Are pen and ink and paper
You are love and turmoil
Hope and answered prayers
Fathomless as oceans
Encompassing as night
My heart’s rest as winter comes
And all the leaves take flight.
There's a new interview coming up on Saturday so be sure to check back!
Slightly different today! Instead of a quote, here is a beautiful poem written by Irving Karchmar:
Answered Prayers
Comes swift as light
To sit within the circle
Of zekr and gratitude
A presence felt in darkness
The soul’s delight
The knowledge of You
My bones remember
My blood, nerves, sinews
And my eyes, this poet’s sight
That writes only You, who
Are pen and ink and paper
You are love and turmoil
Hope and answered prayers
Fathomless as oceans
Encompassing as night
My heart’s rest as winter comes
And all the leaves take flight.
There's a new interview coming up on Saturday so be sure to check back!
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
A Look Back
Hello and Happy Tuesday!
I can't believe YMR is turning 2 years old in a couple of weeks. It wouldn't have been possible without all of you!
As we enter the new year, I'd like to take a look back and thank all of the wonderful participants:
Ebtesam
Alan B. Jones
Irving Karchmar
Beth Chapman
Carina
Tricia Nolan
Michael Webb
Diana
SJ
Lily Shahar Kunning
Leah Jane
Derek Leman
Upasana
Loga Abdullah
Michelle
Sarah
Miss Grace
Hesham A. Hassaballa
G*3
AnnMarie
Wee_Beastie
Jason Hughes
CF
Kriss
KV
Stephanie
Friko
Skeptitcher Rebbe
Judy Dudich
Renee Olson (aka Sosanna)
Monica Chase
Bill Jiryu Webb
Adam
Jenny (aka The Retro-Housewife)
Justin Whitaker
Musa Talib
Umm Salihah
Joel Holopainen/Jouji Heion
Harry/Hanrei Banzan
Dalyn Robert Montgomery
Louise Rogers
Adrian Worsfold
Christina
Elinor Predota
Janie (aka Mother Moon)
Larry Tanner
Modern Girl
Vincent Enlund/VikingJack
Malwina
Navjeet Singh Sandhu
Omar Ghraieb
Liorah Lleucu/Myfanwy
and
Christopher Darren Horn
I also wish to thank all the amazing followers on the blog, twitter and facebook, as well as everyone who has contributed comments!
You are all very much appreciated and I thank you deeply.
All my best for 2012
~Debra
I can't believe YMR is turning 2 years old in a couple of weeks. It wouldn't have been possible without all of you!
As we enter the new year, I'd like to take a look back and thank all of the wonderful participants:
Ebtesam
Alan B. Jones
Irving Karchmar
Beth Chapman
Carina
Tricia Nolan
Michael Webb
Diana
SJ
Lily Shahar Kunning
Leah Jane
Derek Leman
Upasana
Loga Abdullah
Michelle
Sarah
Miss Grace
Hesham A. Hassaballa
G*3
AnnMarie
Wee_Beastie
Jason Hughes
CF
Kriss
KV
Stephanie
Friko
Skeptitcher Rebbe
Judy Dudich
Renee Olson (aka Sosanna)
Monica Chase
Bill Jiryu Webb
Adam
Jenny (aka The Retro-Housewife)
Justin Whitaker
Musa Talib
Umm Salihah
Joel Holopainen/Jouji Heion
Harry/Hanrei Banzan
Dalyn Robert Montgomery
Louise Rogers
Adrian Worsfold
Christina
Elinor Predota
Janie (aka Mother Moon)
Larry Tanner
Modern Girl
Vincent Enlund/VikingJack
Malwina
Navjeet Singh Sandhu
Omar Ghraieb
Liorah Lleucu/Myfanwy
and
Christopher Darren Horn
I also wish to thank all the amazing followers on the blog, twitter and facebook, as well as everyone who has contributed comments!
You are all very much appreciated and I thank you deeply.
All my best for 2012
~Debra
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Liorah Lleucu/Myfanwy
Hello and Happy Saturday!
First up I wish to thank Omar Ghraieb for his very interesting and informative interview of last week. Thanks so much for sharing with all of us Omar!
Today we have a new interview so please welcome Liorah Lleucu/Myfanwy. Liorah is a Jewitch and I know you'll enjoy her interview as well!
Here Is Liorah Lleucu/Myfanwy's Introduction:
I am fifty years old, a divorced mother of 3 adult children and grandmother of 6 grandchildren, with my seventh grandchild on the way. Both a registered professional nurse and a biochemist by education, I was born and currently live in the Midwest. I am a Celtic Jewish American with Welsh, British, Irish, Germanic, Jewish and Native American ancestries. My maternal ancestries are Welsh, British and Jewish. My paternal ancestries are British, Irish, German and Native American.
http://walking-on-fire.blogspot.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/LiorahLleucu
1) What religion do you practice?
Jewitchery to put it into one word. I am an eclectic witch whose nature-based ritual practice combines elements of Celtic Witchcraft and quasi-traditional Kabbalistic Judaism, with splashes of Germanic Paganism and Native American Shamanism thrown into the mix - the ancient traditions of my Ancestors. My religion is idiosyncratic and doesn’t fit neatly into any category, but Jewitchery is a term that most closely describes my religious practice.
2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
This is a complicated question for me to answer. I wasn’t raised a Jewitch, but I was indeed born one. Raised Christian, I rejected Christianity as a religious path for me in my late twenties or early thirties, and returned to Torah (the tradition of my Jewish ancestors) in 1996 (formally through a Beit Din and mikveh immersion in 1997 under the auspices of the Reform Judaism movement), from there, progressing my study of Judaic Kabbalah and Jewish Law in Liberal to Hasidic environments. Not raised Jewishly, as a Reform Jew at the time of my return to Torah, I ritually converted. My mother’s mother’s mother’s mother and father were both observant Jews, so halachically (by Jewish religious Law), I am Jewish by birth and according to Orthodox ways, conversion was actually unnecessary to reclaim my Jewish heritage as part of the Jewish people. I reclaimed my Celtic heritage, my place among the Celtic people, and returned to Witchcraft (the tradition of my Celtic ancestors) in 2006 (formally through a self-initiation ritual), combining both ancient Ancestral traditions (Judaism and Witchcraft) into a spiritual path uniquely fit to me, best described by the term Jewitch. At this point in my journey, my concept of the Divine is pantheistic-atheistic (similar to Reconstructionist Judaic conceptions of the Divine, I believe), naturalistic, earth-based and as a woman, focuses on Divine Feminine constructs. My studies and practice currently focus on traditional herbalism, artisan craftwork, meditation, Torah study, and using mystical alphabets to channel creative consciousness. Sacred alphabets I work with are Hebrew, Ogham and Runes.
3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
Certainly. There are other Jewitches but many, if not most, were raised in Judaism, unlike me. However, like me, in Jewitchery they are reclaiming the pagan and shamanic heritage of our Ancestors - so in that way, we are the same but arriving as Jewitches from different angles.
4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
I’m a mutt. In some ways, I am all of these. I’m artistic and very mystically oriented, so I lean toward meticulous metaphysical Orthodox observance. I’m a rationalist, so I tend toward a liberal religious emphasis on ethics and critical thinking. I live in the Bible belt, so I’m a realist and recognize that my observance level is unavoidably subject to my surroundings and circumstances.
5)What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept)
I’m an anomaly. I was born remembering my soul journey into physical existence and the entire story (in a very wholistic sense) of my Being. There is more to what we are as human beings than may be discerned while within a physical body. I do not remember either a heaven or hell as commonly taught – such is not my experience of Being. More than this I will not say.
6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
I don’t believe in heaven and hell as commonly taught, so no one, in my opinion, makes it to either of them. Based on my experience and remembrances, I do believe that every living creature is an amazingly rare and treasured spark of the Divine who made into physical existence against highly improbable odds. So, my experience of remembering informs me that the existence of every living creature is a miracle whose full value is totally beyond normative comprehension. Every living creature is an indispensable part of the Whole, and to where we are going, we will all surely arrive.
7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
Because it allows me to be true to myself, to evolve, and to get to where I am going.
8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
I observe all of the Traditional Jewish and Celtic Pagan holy days. It is my birthright to do so. I observe them in a myriad of ways, sometimes with ritual, sometimes not. Like I wrote earlier, I am a realist. My ritual practice has evolved and shape-shifted many times over the years. Sometimes I feel like a nut, sometimes I don't :)
9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Yes.
10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
It would depend on the context and purpose. I value interfaith sharing within a context of mutual respect.
11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
I really am not qualified to make a fair comment on either of those things. These two things exist within the context of a culture and religion which is not my own.
12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
Yes.
13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
I honor the Divine in private spaces generally.
14) 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?
The very act of breathing is a religious act for me – there is no separation between my daily life and my religious life.
15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
My adult children do not identify as Jewitches and are raising my grandchildren a Christians. I honor the right of my children to choose their own path toward Divine consciousness. We are all different as human beings, yet even so, we all share a wonderful ultimate human Destiny, so I’m not worried.
16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
No. I don’t believe in hell.
17) 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?
I can’t think of anyone.
18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
A hate crime – no. Illegal discrimination – yes. I’d rather not explain. It’s complicated and not useful to any discussion here.
19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No.
2) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes, absolutely – peace of mind and more importantly, deep joy.
21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
Yes.
First up I wish to thank Omar Ghraieb for his very interesting and informative interview of last week. Thanks so much for sharing with all of us Omar!
Today we have a new interview so please welcome Liorah Lleucu/Myfanwy. Liorah is a Jewitch and I know you'll enjoy her interview as well!
Here Is Liorah Lleucu/Myfanwy's Introduction:
I am fifty years old, a divorced mother of 3 adult children and grandmother of 6 grandchildren, with my seventh grandchild on the way. Both a registered professional nurse and a biochemist by education, I was born and currently live in the Midwest. I am a Celtic Jewish American with Welsh, British, Irish, Germanic, Jewish and Native American ancestries. My maternal ancestries are Welsh, British and Jewish. My paternal ancestries are British, Irish, German and Native American.
http://walking-on-fire.blogspot.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/LiorahLleucu
1) What religion do you practice?
Jewitchery to put it into one word. I am an eclectic witch whose nature-based ritual practice combines elements of Celtic Witchcraft and quasi-traditional Kabbalistic Judaism, with splashes of Germanic Paganism and Native American Shamanism thrown into the mix - the ancient traditions of my Ancestors. My religion is idiosyncratic and doesn’t fit neatly into any category, but Jewitchery is a term that most closely describes my religious practice.
2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
This is a complicated question for me to answer. I wasn’t raised a Jewitch, but I was indeed born one. Raised Christian, I rejected Christianity as a religious path for me in my late twenties or early thirties, and returned to Torah (the tradition of my Jewish ancestors) in 1996 (formally through a Beit Din and mikveh immersion in 1997 under the auspices of the Reform Judaism movement), from there, progressing my study of Judaic Kabbalah and Jewish Law in Liberal to Hasidic environments. Not raised Jewishly, as a Reform Jew at the time of my return to Torah, I ritually converted. My mother’s mother’s mother’s mother and father were both observant Jews, so halachically (by Jewish religious Law), I am Jewish by birth and according to Orthodox ways, conversion was actually unnecessary to reclaim my Jewish heritage as part of the Jewish people. I reclaimed my Celtic heritage, my place among the Celtic people, and returned to Witchcraft (the tradition of my Celtic ancestors) in 2006 (formally through a self-initiation ritual), combining both ancient Ancestral traditions (Judaism and Witchcraft) into a spiritual path uniquely fit to me, best described by the term Jewitch. At this point in my journey, my concept of the Divine is pantheistic-atheistic (similar to Reconstructionist Judaic conceptions of the Divine, I believe), naturalistic, earth-based and as a woman, focuses on Divine Feminine constructs. My studies and practice currently focus on traditional herbalism, artisan craftwork, meditation, Torah study, and using mystical alphabets to channel creative consciousness. Sacred alphabets I work with are Hebrew, Ogham and Runes.
3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
Certainly. There are other Jewitches but many, if not most, were raised in Judaism, unlike me. However, like me, in Jewitchery they are reclaiming the pagan and shamanic heritage of our Ancestors - so in that way, we are the same but arriving as Jewitches from different angles.
4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
I’m a mutt. In some ways, I am all of these. I’m artistic and very mystically oriented, so I lean toward meticulous metaphysical Orthodox observance. I’m a rationalist, so I tend toward a liberal religious emphasis on ethics and critical thinking. I live in the Bible belt, so I’m a realist and recognize that my observance level is unavoidably subject to my surroundings and circumstances.
5)What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept)
I’m an anomaly. I was born remembering my soul journey into physical existence and the entire story (in a very wholistic sense) of my Being. There is more to what we are as human beings than may be discerned while within a physical body. I do not remember either a heaven or hell as commonly taught – such is not my experience of Being. More than this I will not say.
6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
I don’t believe in heaven and hell as commonly taught, so no one, in my opinion, makes it to either of them. Based on my experience and remembrances, I do believe that every living creature is an amazingly rare and treasured spark of the Divine who made into physical existence against highly improbable odds. So, my experience of remembering informs me that the existence of every living creature is a miracle whose full value is totally beyond normative comprehension. Every living creature is an indispensable part of the Whole, and to where we are going, we will all surely arrive.
7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
Because it allows me to be true to myself, to evolve, and to get to where I am going.
8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
I observe all of the Traditional Jewish and Celtic Pagan holy days. It is my birthright to do so. I observe them in a myriad of ways, sometimes with ritual, sometimes not. Like I wrote earlier, I am a realist. My ritual practice has evolved and shape-shifted many times over the years. Sometimes I feel like a nut, sometimes I don't :)
9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Yes.
10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
It would depend on the context and purpose. I value interfaith sharing within a context of mutual respect.
11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
I really am not qualified to make a fair comment on either of those things. These two things exist within the context of a culture and religion which is not my own.
12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
Yes.
13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
I honor the Divine in private spaces generally.
14) 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?
The very act of breathing is a religious act for me – there is no separation between my daily life and my religious life.
15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
My adult children do not identify as Jewitches and are raising my grandchildren a Christians. I honor the right of my children to choose their own path toward Divine consciousness. We are all different as human beings, yet even so, we all share a wonderful ultimate human Destiny, so I’m not worried.
16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
No. I don’t believe in hell.
17) 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?
I can’t think of anyone.
18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
A hate crime – no. Illegal discrimination – yes. I’d rather not explain. It’s complicated and not useful to any discussion here.
19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
No.
2) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes, absolutely – peace of mind and more importantly, deep joy.
21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
Yes.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Bob Dylan Quote
Hello and Happy Thursday!
Today's quote is brought to you by Bob Dylan:
People seldom do what they believe in. They do what is convenient, then repent.
There's a new interview coming up on Saturday so be sure to check back!
Today's quote is brought to you by Bob Dylan:
People seldom do what they believe in. They do what is convenient, then repent.
There's a new interview coming up on Saturday so be sure to check back!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Big Thanks!
I wish to thank ymr participants:
Janie (aka Mother Moon), Larry Tanner, Modern Girl, Vincent Enlund/VikingJack, Malwina, Navjeet Singh Sandhu and Omar Ghraieb.
All very interesting interviews that I very much enjoyed reading and learning more from all of you.
Thank you for sharing your unique voices with us!
Janie (aka Mother Moon), Larry Tanner, Modern Girl, Vincent Enlund/VikingJack, Malwina, Navjeet Singh Sandhu and Omar Ghraieb.
All very interesting interviews that I very much enjoyed reading and learning more from all of you.
Thank you for sharing your unique voices with us!
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Omar Ghraieb
Hello and Happy Saturday!
I wish to thank Navjeet Singh Sandhu for his wonderful interview last week. Thanks so much for sharing with us Navjeet!
Today we have a new interview so please welcome Omar Ghraieb. Omar is a Muslim and I know you'll enjoy his interview as well!
Here Is Omar Ghraieb's Introduction:
I am a Journalist\Blogger\Translator from Palestine. I was born and raised in Cyprus Island, I wrote for many important international media venues and I have numerous friends around the world which all helped me to be liberal, understanding and accepting to all kinds of human beings.
Blog: www.gazatimes.blogpost.com
1) What religion do you practice?
Islam.
2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I was raised as a Muslim.
3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
Of course, just like every other religion, Islam has degrees of observance. I am not an expert to name them or explain them but from my understanding and point of view I would say that there are 3 basic degrees:
1- Conservative: A person that includes religion in all aspects of life, practices religion in a literal way and makes sure he isn’t missing any detail.
2- Moderate: A person who finds the balance between being religious yet modern.
3- Liberal: A person who is Muslim yet very open minded and manages to balance between religion and his own thoughts.
4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
I consider myself liberal. My European background, personal thoughts and level of tolerance all played a role of turning myself into a liberal person that values religion and owns a broader idea of god.
5)What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept)
Islam revolves around the basic human idea of good and bad. Just like everything in life, you do good you are rewarded but if you do bad you are punished. So its heaven for good people and hell for bad people but of course with exceptions because god is all about mercy, love, compassion and tolerance.
6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
I do believe that in the end everyone will make it eventually into heaven even bad people will make it to heaven after paying their dues.
7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
I solemnly believe that if I wasn’t Muslim I will end up being one, from my point of view Islam is a perfect fit for me because my ideas, beliefs and values match with the concept of Islam.
8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
We have many holy days of worship, eids and celebrations. Every holy day has its own rituals.
9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Of course, not just because Islam asked us to accept everyone and that there is no difference between anyone except for their level of faith but because I also have a great amount of tolerance in me. Islam asked us not to be racists and I was born to be against racism anyway.
10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
Of course, and I already did. I lived for so many years in a European country and 90% of my friends were Christia. I always celebrated their holy days with them and they always fasted Ramadan with me.
11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
Burka isn’t obligatory in Islam, it’s a personal choice. Since I am very open minded and I accept all kinds of people I don’t mind accepting women who choose to wear burka, life is all about personal choices and if we seek respect we have to give it back.
Shariah law is something that I value and believe in, but it can't be implemented in a literal way. Yes Islam covered everything in life in the Shariah law and foresaw many stuff yet we are in 2011, and many laws have to be amended and more liberal.
12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
Women can play a role in spreading Islam and offer a more understanding of it but I don’t think Women can hold religious office. I trust Islam on this one.
13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
We all know that you can worship god anywhere but just like every other faith we do have a place of worship, the mosque. If you don’t go to the mosque that doesn’t mean you are not a believer or a not a worshiper, it only means you are missing a spiritual experience that you can share with others but only god can judge for that because you can have good solid reasons like work or other reasons.
14) 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 think we are driven by our own personal choices, beliefs and thoughts which of course have religion as a part of it. In Islam, abortion can be wrong for some reasons and regulations and accepted for others while gay marriage is wrong. But that doesn’t mean I have to judge people who get abortions or who are gay or be a racist towards them. I am not god to judge. I accept them. Their relationship with god and right and wrong is their business. I accept them if they accept me, I respect them if they respect me.
15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
Honestly, I don’t know. I never thought about it and I don’t know how I will react then. I believe feelings can't be controlled yet religion should be put in consideration of course.
16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
Of course not, only god can decide that. How would I know?
17) 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?
I don’t necessarily agree with all of them. Yes, we might be all Muslims but we are all entitled to have our own thoughts and approaches so I might agree with some and disagree with some others.
18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
It didn’t get serious or harmful but yes I have been judged for being Muslim, judged for being Liberal and judged for a few other reasons which makes me even more determined to be opened and tolerant.
19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
Of course not. Islam honors human beings.
20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes it does. Maybe I don’t give myself peace of mind, but my religion does.
21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
No, I don’t. I think every individual is created and born to live his own life and fulfill his own destiny. I don’t believe that anyone can be reincarnated. Maybe people who know me will meet people who have many similarities with me after I pass away but that doesn’t mean I got reincarnated. I know so many people that are similar to me already and I am alive.
I wish to thank Navjeet Singh Sandhu for his wonderful interview last week. Thanks so much for sharing with us Navjeet!
Today we have a new interview so please welcome Omar Ghraieb. Omar is a Muslim and I know you'll enjoy his interview as well!
Here Is Omar Ghraieb's Introduction:
I am a Journalist\Blogger\Translator from Palestine. I was born and raised in Cyprus Island, I wrote for many important international media venues and I have numerous friends around the world which all helped me to be liberal, understanding and accepting to all kinds of human beings.
Blog: www.gazatimes.blogpost.com
1) What religion do you practice?
Islam.
2) Are you a convert/revert or were you raised within this religion? If you converted, what did you need to do to convert? And what did you practice prior to converting?
I was raised as a Muslim.
3)Within your religion are there degrees of observance (ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal)? What are the defining differences between the degrees of observance?
Of course, just like every other religion, Islam has degrees of observance. I am not an expert to name them or explain them but from my understanding and point of view I would say that there are 3 basic degrees:
1- Conservative: A person that includes religion in all aspects of life, practices religion in a literal way and makes sure he isn’t missing any detail.
2- Moderate: A person who finds the balance between being religious yet modern.
3- Liberal: A person who is Muslim yet very open minded and manages to balance between religion and his own thoughts.
4)Within your religion what degree of observance are you ((ie. Orthodox,conservative, moderate, liberal) ? Why did you choose this degree of observance?
I consider myself liberal. My European background, personal thoughts and level of tolerance all played a role of turning myself into a liberal person that values religion and owns a broader idea of god.
5)What is the Afterlife within your religion? For example: what happens when a person dies? Are there places for reward/punishment? (such as a Heaven/Hell concept)
Islam revolves around the basic human idea of good and bad. Just like everything in life, you do good you are rewarded but if you do bad you are punished. So its heaven for good people and hell for bad people but of course with exceptions because god is all about mercy, love, compassion and tolerance.
6) In your opinion, does everyone make it into heaven/paradise? If they do not, why?
I do believe that in the end everyone will make it eventually into heaven even bad people will make it to heaven after paying their dues.
7) What makes your religion a good fit for you?
I solemnly believe that if I wasn’t Muslim I will end up being one, from my point of view Islam is a perfect fit for me because my ideas, beliefs and values match with the concept of Islam.
8) What are your holy days and what do you do to celebrate them?
We have many holy days of worship, eids and celebrations. Every holy day has its own rituals.
9) Do you consider people of other faiths to be your friends?
Of course, not just because Islam asked us to accept everyone and that there is no difference between anyone except for their level of faith but because I also have a great amount of tolerance in me. Islam asked us not to be racists and I was born to be against racism anyway.
10) Would you ever join people of another faith to celebrate one of their holy days? Please explain why?
Of course, and I already did. I lived for so many years in a European country and 90% of my friends were Christia. I always celebrated their holy days with them and they always fasted Ramadan with me.
11) What are your thoughts on the burka, and Shariah Law?
Burka isn’t obligatory in Islam, it’s a personal choice. Since I am very open minded and I accept all kinds of people I don’t mind accepting women who choose to wear burka, life is all about personal choices and if we seek respect we have to give it back.
Shariah law is something that I value and believe in, but it can't be implemented in a literal way. Yes Islam covered everything in life in the Shariah law and foresaw many stuff yet we are in 2011, and many laws have to be amended and more liberal.
12) Are women allowed to hold religious office (priest, minister, rabbi, iman etc) in your religion and how do you feel about it?
Women can play a role in spreading Islam and offer a more understanding of it but I don’t think Women can hold religious office. I trust Islam on this one.
13) Does your place of worship segregate? If yes, how does this make you feel?
We all know that you can worship god anywhere but just like every other faith we do have a place of worship, the mosque. If you don’t go to the mosque that doesn’t mean you are not a believer or a not a worshiper, it only means you are missing a spiritual experience that you can share with others but only god can judge for that because you can have good solid reasons like work or other reasons.
14) 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 think we are driven by our own personal choices, beliefs and thoughts which of course have religion as a part of it. In Islam, abortion can be wrong for some reasons and regulations and accepted for others while gay marriage is wrong. But that doesn’t mean I have to judge people who get abortions or who are gay or be a racist towards them. I am not god to judge. I accept them. Their relationship with god and right and wrong is their business. I accept them if they accept me, I respect them if they respect me.
15) How would you react/feel if your child wished to marry outside your religion?
Honestly, I don’t know. I never thought about it and I don’t know how I will react then. I believe feelings can't be controlled yet religion should be put in consideration of course.
16) In your opinion, if someone is not of your faith, will they go to hell?
Of course not, only god can decide that. How would I know?
17) 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?
I don’t necessarily agree with all of them. Yes, we might be all Muslims but we are all entitled to have our own thoughts and approaches so I might agree with some and disagree with some others.
18) Have you ever been the target of a hate crime? Please explain.
It didn’t get serious or harmful but yes I have been judged for being Muslim, judged for being Liberal and judged for a few other reasons which makes me even more determined to be opened and tolerant.
19) Do you ever feel like your religion devalues you?
Of course not. Islam honors human beings.
20) Does your religion give you peace of mind?
Yes it does. Maybe I don’t give myself peace of mind, but my religion does.
21) Do you believe in reincarnation? Why or why not?
No, I don’t. I think every individual is created and born to live his own life and fulfill his own destiny. I don’t believe that anyone can be reincarnated. Maybe people who know me will meet people who have many similarities with me after I pass away but that doesn’t mean I got reincarnated. I know so many people that are similar to me already and I am alive.
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