If you don’t get a chance to see the show PBS refused to air, you can check out another interesting program, set to air August 21-23 on CNN.

Christiane Amanpour will be presenting a three-part series about religious zealots, called “God’s Warriors.” The program will look at zealots in Judaism, Islam, and Christianity — particularly those who have brought their religious ideals into the political sphere. Yes, it will include a small segment on those zealots who have used violence to get their ideas across.

Should be interesting. Watch it for Christiane’s fun accent if nothing else. And if you can’t, at least check out the trailer on the CNN site (see Behind-the-Scenes).

Filed under: Catholicism, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Protestantism, Religion and Ethics, Religion and Politics | No Comments »

Seriously?

Who does that?!

Filed under: Judaism, Religion and Ethics, Religion and Law, Religion and Politics | No Comments »

YESSS! (arm pump)

A while back, PBS created a documentary about moderate Muslims and their outright rejection of Islamist and extremist ideas. Then they said, “Never mind, we’re too scared to show you.” Long story short, PBS thought they would offend various Muslims in some way or another and decided not to air something that could be politically incorrect.

But you can say a little thanks to Allah today. Oregon Public Broadcasting will be airing the show in a variety of cities. Check out this article to see if your city is included. (Those of us in Champaign probably won’t make the list.)

This triggers an entire discussion that would take up much more than this blog space. But just to get your brain going…isn’t it better to have discussions that might breed understanding and peace than to allow fear to keep us from ending negativity and (perhaps) terrorism? If no one ever spoke up about civil rights, if conversations on race were never initiated, where would we be today? Isn’t it better to risk political incorrectness (gasp!) than to ignore opinions, beliefs, and (in some cases) behaviors that risk lives? Should we all just ignore one another and retain prejudices against various religions, or should we take the time to understand varied opinions and work toward peace? As the Quran (49:13) says, “O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes that ye may know each other.”

Transcend will work to obtain a copy of the film PBS doesn’t want you to see. In the meantime, I’m in the midst of a book called The Two Faces of Islam: Saudi Fundamentalism and Its Role in Terrorism about the spread of Saudi Wahhabism. So rest assured I will have a few things to say about Muslim extremists, even if PBS wins and I don’t get to see their film.

Filed under: Islam, Religion and Ethics, Religion and Politics | No Comments »

As the 2008 Olympics near, the media and various activist groups have begun increasing discussions of freedoms in China — particularly religious freedoms. Considering the amount of “free” democratic countries whose teams and fans will be entering the country, and considering the fact that media from around the world will also be allowed to report from China, it’s not surprising that religious groups are also asking for increased leeway.

The Open Doors Campaign is asking for prayers for the Chinese government to allow religious freedom (particularly for Christians). And human rights activists are getting in on the debate for religious freedom — even going so far as to request that the Chinese government take a stand, not just for religious freedoms, but for help in ending the violence in Darfur.

I just have two comments…

1. I’m all for ending violence and allowing religious freedom — but I’m guessing the Chinese government didn’t realize they’d have to bring peace to mankind when they signed on to host some games.

2. Not to be negative or skeptical, but is it really any surprise that there’s not religious freedom in China? Anyone ever heard of a little thing called Communism?

Filed under: Religion and Ethics, Religion and Politics | No Comments »

Muslims will celebrate Lailat al Miraj on August 11. Want to know more about Islam or this celebration? Keep reading.

ISLAM:
The major players: The Prophet Muhammad. Muhammad was born in 570 AD in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. In 610, while meditating in a cave, the angel Gabriel came to him and told him to recite the words of God. Those words were eventually written down in the Qur’an. Due to persecution and to the Meccan government’s refusal to accept him as a religious leader (they may have accepted him as political leader had he agreed to it), Muhammad and his early followers were forced to flee Mecca for nearby Medina. This journey was known as the hijra. After several wars and conflicts, Muhammad and his followers returned to Mecca in the year 630. They cleaned out the kabaa (then a center of idol worship). He returned to Mecca, made one more trip to Mecca (the hajj) in 632, and died the same year in Medina.
The sacred texts: The Qur’an (acceptable only in Arabic), the Hadith (traditions and words of Muhammad), and the Sira (biographies of Muhammad).
The main tenants:The five pillars of Islam:
1. The shahadah: There is no God but God and Muhammad is his prophet.
2. Salat: Prayer
3. Zakat: Obligatory alms-giving (charity to the poor)
4. Sawm: Fasting (particularly during Ramadan, a celebration of the revelation of the Qur’an)
5. Hajj: Muslims are required to take a pilgrimage to Mecca at some point in their lifetimes, assuming they have the means to do so.
6. Jihad (sometimes called the sixth pillar): Jihad means a struggle. This can be a struggle within oneself or a holy war in the defense of Islam.
The goal: To be sent to Heaven at the Day of Judgment. This is achieved by doing good works during one’s lifetime.
Social connection: Islam has been connected in recent history to acts of violence and terrorism. A majority of these acts were committed by Muslim extremists and political entities. Muslims consider themselves a peaceful people – Islam and the Qur’an do not condone unjustified violence. Other current debates include the place of women in society and the practice of women wearing th hijab (head covering; a sign of modesty).

LAILAT AL MIRAJ:
Lailat al Miraj is a celebration of the night Muhammad ascended to heaven (temporarily). As the story goes, Muhammad was visited by two angels in Mecca. He then travelled to Jerusalem atop a winged steed named Buraq. From the Temple Mount (the past site of the Jewish temple, the place where Jesus overturned tables, and the current site of the Dome of the Rock), Muhammad was taken to heaven to meet God.

While in heaven, Muhammad was given a tour, met prophets, and was told Muslims needed to pray five times a day (i.e., he was given the duty of salat).

Ironically (or perhaps I’m just finding irony where there is none), Lailat al Miraj occurs just five days after the transfiguration of Jesus in Orthodox Christianity. The story of the transfiguration in the Bible says Jesus stood atop a mountain where he spoke with God (who called him Son).

Filed under: Holidays, Islam | 1 Comment »

I know it looks like a cop-out to link you to someone else’s blog rather than provide my own original content. But I think this fellow Champaign blogger has a point.

The Minor Mennonite compares Sunday morning worship services to a sugar high that doesn’t last. He also throws in some humor alongside his musings (I mean, you have to find some sort of humor in a bar of soap with a nun trapped inside…it’s just not right).

Check it out, and then come back to my blog for original content in the future.

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I know, you thought you could find it all here. Alas, I am one person. I cannot do it all.

However, if you visit On Faith this week (a Web site jointly produced by the Washington Post and Newsweek), you can find an entire section on Islam. It’s entitled “Muslims Speak Out: What Islam Really Says About Violence, Human Rights and Other Religions.” The people they chose to write articles for this limited-time-only page are noted thinkers with varied opinions — everyone from Jon Meacham (editor at Newsweek and a religion buff) to Tony Blair to the Grand Mufti of Egypt.

The Web edition accompanies last week’s issue of Newsweek, which featured Muslims in America. While I admit I wasn’t too excited about the cover story (not much you haven’t heard before), I was impressed with the varied voices they were able to obtain. And I find the accompanying Web page on On Faith to be an even greater resource for learning more about the various perspectives and issues pertaining to Islam at this time in history.

The live talks online are over, but the articles are still up. Be sure to check it out before they change the page!

Filed under: Islam | No Comments »