Please write one brief paragraph entitled
"What I most want you to know about my religion is..." Please make your comments as personal and heartfelt as possible. At the end of the paragraph please include your first name, age, occupation, rough location and anything else you think someone would most want to know about you.
These responses will be culled and appear on my new site www.abrahamstent.com
What I most want you to know about my religion is that it leaves me with questions, never answers. It never commits to a course of action, it gently guides me to what part of life, and questions, are next.
ReplyDeleteMy name is Jordan, I'm a thirty-three year old forester in Toronto, Canada.
I most want you to know that Judaism is a profound spiritual tradition not just a ethnic tribal religion. It strives to elevate ALL of us to holiness, even the most minute details of life I want you to know that Judaism is a tremendous resource for addressing the problems that are really important to people. I also want you to know that Judaism teaches love and kindness.
ReplyDelete-Lee, 51 Jewish Studies teacher, Irvine CA, husband and father
I most want you to know about my religion is how it is open for everyone. How it teaches the believers to love, regardless of our differences. How important it is to spread love. It is a religion of peace and tranquility. I love how we're treated differently, but equally. Simply put, i love how beautiful my religion is.
ReplyDeleteAmirah, 20, Malaysia.
What I most want you to know about my religion is that it is a religion that obliges us to vow to liberate all sentient beings from suffering. Not as a promise that we might honor someday but as an intention that informs all our actions that hopefully are all enlightened actions for the benefit of all.
ReplyDeleteWhat I most want you to know of The Quran, is that what I read in the poets of Abraham asking his people why they worship and they responded because they saw their forefathers do the same. I found that I was no different than these pagans and that lead me to doubt God & then truly find Him by His boundless Grace through surrender and letting go.
ReplyDeleteAbdullah, 23 student, Doha- Qatar
"What I most want you to know about my religion is...
ReplyDeleteAlmighty God sent the same religion "Submission to the will of God" (i.e. Islam in Arabic) to all His prophets, namely, Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus et al, finally ending with Muhammad (peace upon them all.
The Creator knows what is best for his creation, hence the religion of God is a complete system and code of conduct, addressing every aspects of our lives, from the personal, social, environmental, business and political spheres including how to treat animals.
The Quran is a miracle that proves itself from numerous angles that it is the Final Revelation of God, so I urge you to read it and find out for yourself.
One God; One Humanity; One Religion = Submission to God [Islam]. Only through the Final Revelation of God, humanity can attain peace and true happiness.
Abu Maryam
Educator and Social Activist, in his 30s, Husband and Father, from West Midlands, UK
What I want you to know about my religion is how liberating it is. Often Islam is cited as misogynistic and oppressive, but that is not the case. I relish wearing niqab and hijab, though I don't need to wear either. I like having a protected status and I am glad to be treated as a spiritual equal. I want to be reserved and quiet. Even as a lesbian, I feel at peace and happy with Islam. Allah (swt) has ninety-nine names, and He is the merciful, the loving, the forgiving. I am free, and I am not haram.
ReplyDeleteLindsey, 18, UK.
What I want you to know about Judaism is that it believes that all non-Jews are obligated by the 7 Noahide laws. But that obligation is between the nations of the world and God. The Jewish people are NOT the enforcers of those laws.
ReplyDeleteI am a Christian. My religion teaches me to not judge the faults of others, but to examine myself at all times. It also teaches that with out love for my neighbors regardless of their beliefs I am nothing, a hypocrite and my religion is useless. Peace, Shalom, salam!
ReplyDeleteBTW I am 41 and I live in Tulsa, Ok.
ReplyDeleteWhat I most want you to know about my religion is that it has never failed me. At the most profound and difficult points of my life, I found peace, belonging, and answers through Islam. I am a liberal, I don't wear hejab or abaya, I don't listen to any religious clerics. I read the words of the Quran and instantly know the message and answer is perfect for me.
ReplyDeleteMona, 23, Bahrain
What i most want you to know about my religion is that it is the SAME religion shared by everybody from the first conscious human being (Adam?) to the last one who will ever walk this earth. There is one G-d, though he/she/it may not ascribe to the mental picture that I or you have built up inside our heads.
ReplyDeleteThe sooner we realise that every man or woman, who has ever spoken about a higher power running this world of ours, was talking about the SAME power, the better it is for all of us. The differences we create or see around us are just differences in language, region & local cultural practice.
What i most want you to know about MY religion is that it is YOUR religion too.
Fahd, 29, Artist/Businessman, India
What i want you to know ablut my religion is that it has never failed to serve me, whenever i distance myself from my religious obligations i feel bad, then when i turn to Allah i feel much better, to me its as if a heavy weight has lifted from my chest.. Getting to terms with this, i now on take every step to goodness for the Sake of God Almighty. And it sure is easy steps, having to deal with a majority that does.not like you, it relaxes your thoughts to focusing on what means the most for me in this shattered world, my main cause of hope, strenght and love for all humans. <3
ReplyDeleteAsiya,20,Sweden(Göteborg)
What many people don't know or realise is that Islam was built on the foundation of those religions that came before it i.e. Judaism and Christianity. We are commanded to believe in all The Almighty's Prophets (Adam, Moses, Jesus, Mohammed etc) and His books (Torah, Psalms of David, Scrolls of Abraham and the Gospels of Jesus - although we don't accept The New Testament) and His angels (Archangels Gabriel, Micheal, Azrael etc) as set out in the 6 Articles of Faith, without which we wouldn't be recognised or even considered as Muslims.
ReplyDeleteEssentially, above all else, I believe with my whole heart that we all belong to the same Creator and that the only differences between us are our circumstances. And that God is the only Judge.
Azra, 30, Johannesburg (South Africa)
http://www.azurah.com
What I want people to know is I'm a muslim woman who is American and Mexican and didn't cover or marry a muslim man right away. I learned the Religion of Islam by studying, prayer and by making changes through the ONLY thing that has brought me some grounding to my life and a "safety net". I did NOT convert because I married some man. I was muslim for a year and a half before I even knew who my current husband is. No one person threatening to kill me or force me to cover and NO one thankfully told me to disown my friends and family. I speak Spanish and English daily as well as recite Quranic Arabic in prayers and I'm STILL a Muslim a Mexican and American even though I veil.
ReplyDeletePs- I LOVED all the answers here, thanks for this blog!
ReplyDeleteWhat I want yo to know of Islam is that it is not a new religion, but a continuation of what came before to all great prophets from Adam to Noah, David, Solomon, Moses, Jesus and Mohammed and all other prophets (Peace be upon them all) and that the four great books (Psalms, Torah, Gospel and Quran) give the same message - of peace, unity and justice. I, being a muslim, am by default a Jew and a Christian, because without believing in the divinity of the message brought forth by Moses and Jesus I cannot be a muslim.
ReplyDelete"I, being a Muslim, am by default a Jew and a Christian..." Love that :)
DeleteNice article, thanks for the information.
ReplyDeleteWhat I most want u to know about my religion is, it teaches me to spread peacefulness. Do not harm people's right in every way. Even they're your enemies. Be just; be fair. If you cannot give benefits, then do not harm others.
ReplyDeleteHalida, 28, Housewife, Australia
As a Satanist, my mission was to rule the world. As an Atheist, my mission was to exploit the world. As an Agnostic, my mission was to deconstruct the world. As a Christian, my mission was to salvage the world. As a Muslim, my mission was to recompense the world. As a Jew, my mission was to repair the world. As an Anarchist, my mission was to screw the world. I think I'll shtick to navigating the terrain of Momoa's naval. Lint is less predictable.
ReplyDeleteWhat I want you to know about my religion is that contrary to popular belief and what the media would like you to believe, it truly is a way of life founded on the principles of respect, tolerance, acceptance and understanding. It is in the interpretation of all the good books that Man has made errors in judgement and taken aspects out of context. When Man faults, the good books and word of God are blamed. That's like blaming the vehicle for driver error.
ReplyDeleteFareed Kaloo, Muslim, South Africa
http://thekalooreport.blogspot.com
What I want you to know about my religion is that it is an internal journey which you must undertake. it forces no one to accept doctrine or dogma, makes no move to conform everyone within a single ideology. my faith is open to all lines of questioning, and welcomes within it every other form of belief on this planet, recognizing every single one of them as just another map which you can make use of or disregard.
ReplyDeleteMy faith allows for the final judgement to be passed only by the God, Gods, universe or whatever it may be beyond this life. the key within my faith, is that no man or woman may tell you you are wrong, because to know a true path is to assume wisdom beyond the limits of humanity and to adopt an air of arrogance, and knowledge akin to that of the divine.
What I most want you to know about my religion is... (especially to those in my country) is that we Muslims pray 5 times a day. Not just on Fridays, Not just during Eid celebrations. Oh, and eid'ul fitri is not a Muslim New Year.
ReplyDeleteShalom, Peace, Salaam!
Fizah, 25, Student, Singapore.
What I most want you to know about my religion is that is preaches peace, tolerance and patience. One who does not have these three, has made a terrible loss.
ReplyDeleteMushtaq, 16, Student, Norway.
PS: You're awesome, JihadiJew! :)
What I most want you to know about my religion is that it, like all the others, urges a connection between you and god, and that that connection cannot be policed or judged by others.
ReplyDeleteHow you conceive god is for you to manifest, and to take ownership of now, and in the hereafter you may believe in.
Chris, born into Greek Orthodoxy, schooled in Anglicanism, converted into Islam for the sake of marriage, a studier of spirituality almost all of my 39 years. Mother, writer, blogger, from Malaysia.
What I most want u to know about my religion is,Muslim women don;t shake hands with man other than their mahram.
ReplyDeleteWe pray 5times a day and as long as the place is clean to perform our solat.And yes,we are not terrorist and I choose to cover myself and proud of it.
first name : AimiSarah
age: 26
occupation: Technical Assistant
rough location : Malaysia
What I want you to know about my religion is that we believe in God. We believe that he is merciful kind and just. He is our father and he loves us. God loves us all equally regardless of who we are and what we believe. He gives us our freedom to choose right and wrong, but he asks us to be obedient for our own safety.
ReplyDeleteWe also believe in the son Jesus Christ who is the savior of all the world. Finally, we believe in the Holy Spirit which shines like the sun and teaches truth to everyone who will listen.
We do not believe in the trinity as described by traditional christian doctrine.
First Name: Nathan
Age: 36
Occupation: Teacher
Rough Location: USA
Religion: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS, Mormon)
Can Muslims listen to the holy spirit? if they do, will it tell them the same things it would tell a Mormon or different stuff?
DeleteWhat I want people to realize about my Religion is that it is Truth and that it is the solemn religion of the future. "O ye messengers! enjoy (all) things good and pure, and work righteousness: for I am well-acquainted with (all) that ye do.***And verily this Brotherhood of yours is a single Brotherhood, and I am your Lord and Cherisher: therefore fear Me (and no other).***But people have cut off their affair (of unity), between them, into sects: each party rejoices in that which is with itself." Quran 23:51-53
ReplyDeleteWhat I want you to know about my religion is that the two most important aspects that all prophets taught, all throughout time is to do good and to worship one God. as time passed people started using intermediateries -idols, saints, ancestors. God made us intelligent and tells us to think about what is the truth. my religion is an intellectual religion. I love my religion. islam. I think that everybody owes it to themselves to research the reason for themselves being alive.
ReplyDeletemaryam 23 africa