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pamphletstoinspire · 6 years

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Sacramentals And Signs, Objects, Actions, And Words, As Avenues for Grace

Part 4

Written by: Regis J. Flaherty

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The Rosary

The most popular private devotion among Catholics may well be the Rosary, which is both a form of prayer and a specific sacramental that aids in prayer.

The physical object that Catholics call a rosary is a looped string of beads. The traditional rosary has five sets of ten beads spaced closely together. Before each set of ten is a single bead set off from the others. At the head of the loop is a short string of four beads with one set off from the other three. A crucifix is at the head of this string.

Praying the Rosary involves recitation of common prayers while meditating on various events, called mysteries, associated with the life of Christ. There are twenty of these mysteries, divided into four sets of five: Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious.

To pray the Rosary, a Catholic starts by reciting the Apostles’ Creed. This statement of belief both affirms the faith of the one praying and sets the background for prayer. The prayer that follows is not aimless; rather, it is focused on the realities expounded in the creedal statement.

The Creed is followed by the recitation of an Our Father, three Hail Mary's, and the Doxology commonly called the Glory Be. These are among the first prayers Catholic parents teach their children.

The Our Father is the prayer taught by Jesus to His disciples (see Mt 6:9–15). This single composition includes several prayers of adoration, contrition, and petition. They provide rich material for meditation and reflection.

The Hail Mary both pays honor to the Mother of God and asks for her intercession. In effect, the repetition of the Hail Mary while meditating on the mysteries is asking Mary to intercede with her Son that the realities of the mysteries would find a home in the life, thoughts, and witness of the person who is praying the Rosary. Scripture says that Mary reflected on the mysteries of the life and mission of her Son, “pondering them in her heart” (Lk 2:19). The Rosary is a means to join Mary in her “pondering,” and by this means we draw closer to the Son of God.

The final prayer of this initial part of the Rosary is the Doxology, which is an utterance of praise to the Trinity.

The initial prayers of the Rosary are often said for the intention of the increase of faith, hope, and love in the life of the individual. This introductory prayer is followed by the praying of the Rosary proper.

In saying the Rosary, we call to mind, one at a time, each of the mysteries as a focus of reflection. The series of prayers for each mystery begins with the recitation of the Our Father, followed by ten Hail Marys, ending with the Glory Be. This series is referred to as a decade because of the ten Hail Marys. After completion of the first decade, another mystery is called to mind, and the process of prayer continues.

The Rosary focuses on key aspects of the Christian faith, especially as seen in the twenty mysteries. The Joyful Mysteries are the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Nativity, the Presentation of the Child Jesus, and the Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple. The Luminous Mysteries comprise Christ’s Baptism, the Wedding at Cana, the Proclamation of the Kingdom, the Transfiguration, and the Institution of the Eucharist. The Sorrowful Mysteries consist of Christ’s Agony in the Garden, the Scourging, the Crowning of Thorns, the Carrying of the Cross, and the Crucifixion. Finally, the Glorious Mysteries include the Resurrection, the Ascension, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Assumption of Mary, and the Coronation of Mary.

These meditations have been called a short course in theology because of the wealth of truth and inspiration they contain. Through meditating on these mysteries we are led to prayers of adoration, contrition, thanksgiving, and petition. It is also an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts and minds as we pray to bring understanding and formation.

Prayer is communication between God and us. As we pray, not only are we turning our hearts, minds, and spirits to God, but God is also communicating His life to us. The length of time required to recite each decade gives us more opportunity for reflection and for intimate communication with God.

Since a group can recite the Rosary together, this form of prayer also has a communal aspect. In a sense, the Rosary can really never be prayed alone, because it joins us with the Blessed Mother in prayer. Mary is always in an attitude of prayer before God in heaven. Through the regular recitation of the Hail Mary in the Rosary, we’re joining Mary in her prayer and asking her assistance.

Finally, the Rosary can be a wonderful prayer of intercession. It can be prayed for a particular intention, such as world peace or the needs of a family member. For this reason, many Catholics pray the Rosary daily as part of their established plan of prayer. This versatile form of prayer can have new meaning each time it is prayed.

History

Where and when the Rosary began is unknown. The use of beads as an aid in prayer has a long history both in the Catholic Church and in other religions. The chain of beads establishes a framework, a setting, a pace for the prayer, and the repetition provides a background for meditation.

Even though the origin of the Rosary is unknown, it is undeniable that its popularity grew significantly through the preaching of Saint Dominic, who died in 1221. Dominic encouraged the Rosary as a remedy to heresy. The meditation on the mysteries developed a foundation of the truths of the faith. This saint also saw the prayer as an antidote to sin. As Dominic and his followers preached throughout Europe, they encouraged the laity to regularly pray the Rosary.

Many popes have also encouraged this devotion. One notable example comes from the reign of Pope Pius V (1566–1572). At that time the Turkish Muslims were actively seeking to conquer Christian Europe and were having significant success in their endeavors. Europe was in real peril.

Pope Pius V asked all the faithful to pray and ask for Mary’s intercession that the Turkish threat would be halted. In particular, Pius encouraged the praying of the Rosary. In the famous Battle of Lepanto on October 7, 1571, the Christian forces defeated the Turkish fleet and effectively ended the threat of conquest by the Muslims.

To acknowledge the effectiveness of praying the Rosary and to thank the Blessed Mother for her intercession, Pius established the Feast of the Holy Rosary to be celebrated each October.

The word rosary comes from the Latin rosarius, which means “garland” or “bouquet of flowers.” It is an apt word for a bouquet of prayers offered to God. The word bead is an Old English term that originally meant “a prayer.”

Use

As with any sacramental, prayer, or devotion, the Rosary can be a tremendous aid in drawing closer to God. However, it can also be misused. The structure and flow of the prayer is meant to aid the individual in meditation. The rhythm of the prayer can quiet the spirit and help a person be more receptive to hearing God, and thus be formed spiritually.

For some, however, the Rosary can become a merely mechanical action, something to be rushed through as a duty. Since the grace of any sacramental is dependent upon the attitude of the person using it, devout and thoughtful use of the Rosary is a prerequisite to enjoying the grace of the devotion.

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strategic-social-media · 3 years

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PREPARING FOR THE UNDERGROUND CHURCH

By Pastor Richard Wurmbrand

Christian pastors must learn what an underground church looks like and what it does. I spoke with a bishop in Britain for an hour or so about underground church work. Finally, he said, "Excuse me, but you speak of my hobby; I am very interested in church architecture. Would you please tell me if the underground churches use Gothic styles in the building of churches?"

The Underground Church is comparatively unknown. We have it right next door, but we are not ready to join it and we are not trained for it. Every Christian pastor must know this because we might pass through tragic circumstances. Even if we do not pass through these tragic circumstances we have a duty to help and to instruct those who do pass through them.

In Muslim nations, in Red China and so on, many believers have become victims. Many have gone into prisons and many have died in prison. We cannot be proud of this. The better thing would have been to be well instructed on how to do underground work and not to be captured. I admire those who know how to work so well that they are not caught. We have to know the underground work.

PREPARING FOR SUFFERING

Suffering cannot be avoided in the Underground Church, whatever measures are taken, but suffering should be reduced to the minimum.

What happens in a country when oppressive powers take over? In some countries the terror starts at once, as in Mozambique and Cambodia. In other places religious liberty follows as never before. And so it begins. Some regimes come to power without having real power. They do not have the people on their side. They have not necessarily organized their police and their staff of the army yet.

In Russia, the Communists gave immediately great liberty to the Protestants in order to destroy the Orthodox. When they had destroyed the Orthodox, the turn came for the Protestants. The initial situation does not last long. During that time they infiltrate the churches, putting their men in leadership. They find out the weaknesses of pastors. Some might be ambitious men; some might be entrapped with the love of money. Another might have a hidden sin somewhere, wherewith he may be blackmailed. They explain that they would make it known and thus put their men in leadership. Then, at a certain moment the great persecution begins. In Romania such a clamp-down happened in one day. All the Catholic bishops went to prison, along with innumerable priests, monks and nuns. Then many Protestant pastors of all denominations were arrested. Many died in prison.

"Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he has done to Thy saints at Jerusalem: But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way; for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will show him how great things he must suffer for My name's sake "-(Acts 9:13, 15 and 16).

Jesus, our Lord, told Ananias: "Meet Saul of Tarsus. He will be My underground pastor, My underground worker." That is what St. Paul was - a pastor of an Underground Church. Jesus started a crash course for this underground pastor. He started it with the words, "I will show (him) how great things he must suffer..."

Preparation for underground work begins by studying sufferology, martyrology. Later, we will look at the technical side of underground work, but first of all there must be a certain spiritual preparation for it.

In a free country, to be a member of a church, it is enough to believe and to be baptized. In the Church underground it is not enough to be a member in it. You can be baptized and you can believe, but you will not be a member of the Underground Church unless you know how to suffer.

You might have the mightiest faith in the world, but if you are not prepared to suffer, then when you are taken by the police, you will get two slaps and you will declare anything. So the preparation for suffering is one of the essentials of the preparation of underground work.

A Christian does not panic if he is put in prison. For the rank and file believer, prison is a new place to witness for Christ. For a pastor, prison is a new parish. It is a parish with no great income but with great opportunities for work. I speak a little of this in my book, With God In Solitary Confinement.

In other books I mention Morse code, which is also part of the training for the Underground Church. You know what this is - a code by which messages are conveyed. Through this code you can preach the Gospel to those who are to your right and left.

Free parishioners look at their watch; "Already he has preached for thirty minutes. Will he never finish?" When arrested, watches are taken away from you; you have the parishioners with you the whole week and can preach to them from morning to night! They have no choice. There have never been, in the history of the Romanian or the Russian Church, so many conversions brought about as there have been in prison. So do not fear prison. Look upon it as just a new assignment given by God.

Men can accept this. But what about the terrible tortures which are inflicted on prisoners? What will we do about these tortures? Will we be able to bear them? If I do not bear them, I put in prison another fifty or sixty men whom I know because that is what the oppressors wish from me, to betray those around me. Hence comes the great need for preparation for suffering, which must start now. It is too difficult to prepare yourself for it when you are already in prison.

TRUTH ABOUT THE TRUTH

How much each one of us can suffer depends on how much he is bound up with a cause, how dear this cause is to him, and how much it means for him.

In this respect we have had in Communist countries very big surprises. There have been gifted preachers and writers of Christian books who have become traitors. The composer of the best hymnal of Romania became the composer of the best communist hymnal of Romania. Everything depends on whether we have remained in the sphere of words or if we are merged with the divine realities.

God is the Truth. The Bible is the truth about the Truth. Theology is the truth about the truth about the Truth. A good sermon is the truth about the truth about the truth, about the Truth It is not the Truth. The Truth is God alone. Around this Truth there is a scaffolding of words, of theologies, and of exposition. None of these is of any help in times of suffering. It is only the Truth Himself Who is of help, and we have to penetrate through sermons, through theological books, through everything which is 'words' and be bound up with the reality of God Himself.

I have told in the West how Christians were tied to crosses for four days and four nights. The crosses were put on the floor and other prisoners were tortured and made to fulfill their bodily necessities upon the faces and the bodies of the crucified ones. I have since been asked: "Which Bible verse helped and strengthened you in those circumstances?" My answer is: "NO Bible verse was of any help." It is sheer cant and religious hypocrisy to say, "This Bible verse strengthens me, or that Bible verse helps me." Bible verses alone are not meant to help.

We knew Psalm 23 - "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want... though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...." When you pass through suffering you realize that it was never meant by God that Psalm 23 should strengthen you. It is the Lord who can strengthen you, not the Psalm which speaks of Him so doing. It is not enough to have the Psalm. You must have the One about whom the Psalm speaks. We also knew the verse: "My Grace is sufficient for thee." But the verse is not sufficient. It is the Grace which is sufficient and not the verse.

Pastors and zealous witnesses who are handling the Word as a calling from God are in danger of giving holy words more value than they really have. Holy words are only the means to arrive at the reality expressed by them. If you are united with the Reality, the Lord Almighty, evil loses its power over you; it cannot break the Lord Almighty. If you only have the words of the Lord Almighty you can be very easily broken.

SPIRITUAL EXERCISES

The preparation for underground work is deep spiritualization. As we peel an onion in preparation for its use, so God must "peel" from us what are mere words, sensations of our enjoyments in religion, in order to arrive at the reality of our faith. Jesus has told us "that whosoever will follow" Him will have to "take up their cross," and He, Himself, showed how heavy this cross can be. We have to be prepared for this.

We have to make the preparation now before we are imprisoned. In prison you lose everything. You are undressed and given a prisoner's suit. No more nice furniture, nice carpets or nice curtains. You do not have a wife or husband any more and you do not have your children. You do not have your library and you never see a flower. Nothing of what makes life pleasant remains. Nobody resists who has not renounced the pleasures of life beforehand.

I personally use an exercise. I live in the United States of America. Can you imagine what an American supermarket looks like? You find there many delicious things. I look at everything and say to myself, "I can go without this thing and that thing; this thing is very nice, but I can go without: this third thing I can go without, too." I visited the whole supermarket and did not spend one dollar. I had the joy of seeing many beautiful things and the second joy to know that I can go without.

DOUBT MAKES TRAITORS

I am Jewish. In Hebrew, the language which Jesus Himself spoke and in which the first revelation has been given, the word "doubt" does not exist. To doubt is as wrong for a man as it would be for him to walk on four legs - he is not meant to walk on four legs. A man walks erect; he is not a beast. To doubt is subhuman.

To every one of us doubts come, but do not allow doubts about essential doctrines of the Bible such as the existence of God, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, or the existence of eternal life to make a nest in your mind. Every theological or philosophical doubt makes you a potential traitor. You can allow yourself doubts while you have a nice study and you prepare sermons, and you eat well - or you write a book. Then you can allow yourself all kinds of daring ideas and doubts. When you are tortured these doubts are changed into treason because you have to decide to live or die for this faith.

One of the most important things about the spiritual preparation of an underground worker is the solution of his doubts. In mathematics, if you do not find the solution you may have made a mistake somewhere, so you continue until you find out. Don't live with doubts, but seek their solution.

TEST OF TORTURE

Now to come to the very moment of torture. Torture is sometimes very painful. Sometimes it is a simple beating. We have all been spanked as children and beating is just another spanking. A simple beating is very easy to take. Jesus has said we should come to Him like children, which is rather like candidates for spanking!

However, with us, Communists did not stop at beatings - they used very refined tortures. Now torture, you must know, can work both ways. It can harden you and strengthen your decision not to tell the police anything. There are thieves who resist any torture and would not betray those with whom they have co-operated in theft. The more you beat them the more obstinate they become. Or, torture can just break your will.

Now I will tell you of one very interesting case which was published by the Czech Communist Press. Novotny, who was the predecessor of Dubcek and who was a Communist dictator, had arrested one of his intimate comrades, a Communist leader, a convinced atheist, and a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party. (Not only Christians, Jews or patriots were in prison. One Communist arrested another and tortured him just as they would do anybody else.) They arrested this Communist leader and put him in a prison cell alone. Electromagnetic rays, which disturb the mind, passed through this cell. A loudspeaker repeated day and night: "Is your name Joseph or not Joseph?" (His name was not Joseph.)

They tried to drive him mad. Day and night. He felt that he would lose his mind. At a certain moment, he got an illumination. "I have now met unmitigated evil. If Communists torture a Christian, it is not absolutely evil because Communists believe that they will construct an earthly paradise. Christians hinder them, so it is right to torture Christians. But when a Communist tortures a Communist, it is torture for torture's sake. There is absolutely no justification for it. But wait a little bit. Every coin has two sides, every electric cable has two poles. If there is an unmitigated evil, against whom does this unmitigated evil fight? There must be an unmitigated good. This is God, and against Him they fight."

When he was called to the interrogator, he entered smiling into the room and told him that he could switch off the loudspeaker now because it had attained its result. "I have become a Christian." The officer asked him, "How did it happen?" He told him the whole story. The officer said, "Wait a little bit." He called a few of his comrades and said, "Please repeat the stop before my comrades." He repeated the story, and the captain told the other police officer, "I told you that this method will not work. You have overdone it."

The Devil is not all mighty and all wise like God. He makes mistakes. Evil torture is an excess which can be used very well spiritually.

MOMENT OF CRISIS

Torture has a moment of explosion, and the torturer waits for this critical moment. Learn how to conquer doubt and to think thoroughly. There is always one moment of crisis when you are ready to write or pronounce the name of your accomplice in the underground work, or to say where the secret printing shop is, or something of that kind. You have been tortured so much nothing counts any more; the fact that I should not have pain also does not count. Draw this last conclusion at the stage at which you have arrived and you will see that you will overcome this one moment of crisis; it gives you an intense inner joy. You feel that Christ has been with you in that decisive moment. Jailers today are now trained and refined, aware that there is a moment of crisis. If they cannot get anything from you in that moment, then they abandon torturing: they know its continuation to be useless.

There are a few more points in connection with torture. It is very important to understand what Jesus said: "Take no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for itself." I have had fourteen years of prison. Brother Hrapov had twenty six, Wong MingDao had twenty-eight. It seems impossible to bear long years of prison. You are not asked to bear it all at once. Do not bear even one day at a time - bear an hour at a time. One hour of pain everybody can bear. We have had a terrible toothache, a car accident - passing, perhaps, through untold anguish. You are not meant to bear pain more than this one present minute.

What amplifies pain is the memory that I have been beaten and tortured so many times and that tomorrow they will take me again, and the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow, I might not be alive - or they might not be alive. Tomorrow, there can be an overthrow, as in Romania. Yesterday beating has passed: tomorrow's torture has not come yet.

LOVE SUPREME

The Bible teaches some words very hard to take: "Whosoever does not hate father, mother, child, brother, sister - cannot be My disciple." These words mean almost nothing in a free country.

You probably know from The Voice of the Martyrs literature that thousands of children had been taken away from their parents in the former Soviet Union because they were taught about Christ. You must love Christ more than your family. There you are before a court and the judge tells you that if you deny Christ you may keep your children. If not, this will be the last time you will see them. Your heart may break, but your answer should be, "I love God."

Nadia Sloboda left her house for four years of prison. Her children were taken from her, but she left her house singing. The children, for whom the police waited with a truck to take them as she left, told their singing mother, "Don't worry about us. Wherever they put us, we will not give up our faith." They did not.

When Jesus was on the cross He not only suffered physically; He had His mother in front of Him, suffering. His mother had the Son suffering. They loved each other, but the glory of God was at stake and here any human sentiment must be secondary. Only if we take this attitude once and for all can we prepare for underground work.

Only Christ, the Great Sufferer, the Man of Sorrows, must live in us. There have been cases in Communist countries when Communist torturers threw away their rubber truncheons with which they beat a Christian and asked, "What is this halo which you have around your head? How is it that your face shines? I cannot beat you anymore." It is said of Stephen in the Bible, that "his face shone." We have known cases of Communist torturers who told the prisoner, "Shout loudly, cry loudly as if I would beat you so that my comrades will know that I torture you. But I cannot beat you." Thus, you would shout without anything happening to you.

There are other cases when prisoners really are tortured, sometimes to death. You have to choose between dying with Christ and for Christ or becoming a traitor. What is the worth of continuing to live when you will be ashamed to look into the mirror, knowing that the mirror will show you the face of a traitor?

LEARN TO BE SILENT

In the Underground Church, silence is one of the first rules. Every superfluous word you speak can put somebody in prison. A friend of mine, a great Christian composer, went to prison because Christians had the habit of saying, "How beautiful is this song composed by Brother _____." They praised him, and for this he got fifteen years of prison. Sing the song, but do not mention the name of the one who has written it.

You cannot learn to be silent the very moment the country is taken over. You have to learn to be silent from the moment of your conversion.

The secretary to Solzhenitsyn was put under such pressure by the Communists (and she had been denounced by Solzhenitsyn's wife) that she finished by hanging herself. If Solzhenitsyn had kept silent, this would not have happened.

Another question which is very important: I thank God for the years which I passed in Solitary confinement. I was, for three years, thirty feet beneath the earth. I never heard a word. I never spoke a word. There were no books. The outward voices ceased. The guards had felt soled shoes; you did not hear their approach. Then, with time, the inner voices ceased.

We were drugged, we were beaten. I forgot my whole theology. I forgot the whole Bible. One day I observed that I had forgotten the "Our Father." I could not say it any more. I knew that it began with "Our Father...," but I did not know the continuation. I just kept happy and said, "Our Father, I have forgotten the prayer, but you surely know it by heart. You hear it so many thousand times a day, so you assign an angel to say it for me, and I will just keep quiet." For a time my prayers were, "Jesus, I love You." And then after a little time again, "Jesus, I love You. Jesus, I love You." Then it became too difficult even to say this because we were doped with drugs which would destroy our minds. We were very hungry. We had one slice of bread a week. There were the beatings, and the tortures, and the lack of light, and other things. It became impossible to concentrate my mind to even say so much as, "Jesus, I love You." I abandoned it because I knew that it was necessary. The highest form of prayer which I know is the quiet beating of a heart which loves Him. Jesus should just hear "tick-a-tock, tick-a-tock", and He would know that every heartbeat is for Him.

When I came out from solitary confinement and was with other prisoners and heard them speaking, I wondered why they spoke! So much of our speech is useless. Today men become acquainted with each other and one will say, "How do you do?" and the other answers, "How do you do?" What is the use of this? Then one will say, "Don't you think that the weather is fine?" and the other thinks, and says, "Yes, I think it is fine." Why do we have to speak on whether the weather is fine? We do not take earnestly the word of Jesus Who says that men will be judged not for every bad word, but for every useless one. So it is written in the Bible.

Useless talking in some countries means prison and death for your brother. A word of praise about your brother, if it is not necessary, may mean catastrophe. For example, somebody comes to visit you and you say, "Oh! I'm sorry you were not here before - brother W. has just left." The visitor could be an informer of the secret police. Now she will know that bro-ther W. is in town! Keep your mouth shut. Learn to do it now.

PERMISSIBLE STRATAGEMS

You cannot do underground work without using stratagems. I know of one case which happened in Russia. The Communists suspected that the Christians were gathering somewhere and they surveyed a street. They knew that the meeting must be there somewhere. They saw a young boy going toward the house where they supposed the meeting would be. They stopped the boy and the police asked him, "Where are you going?" With a sad face, he said, "My oldest brother died, and now we gather the whole family to read his testament." The police officer was so impressed that he patted the boy and said, "Just go." The boy had not told a lie.

We are not obliged to tell an atheist tyrant the truth. We are not obliged to tell him what we are doing. It is indecent for his side to put questions to me, an impertinence.

RESISTING BRAINWASHING

One of the greatest methods is not only physical torture; it is brainwashing. We have to know how to resist brainwashing. Brainwashing exists in the free world, too. The press, radio and television brainwash us. There exists no motive in the world to drink Coca-Cola. You drink it because you are brainwashed. Water is surely better than Coca-Cola. But nobody advertises, "Drink water, drink water." if water were advertised, we would drink water. Some have driven this technique of brainwashing to its extreme. The methods vary, but brainwashing in my Romanian prison consisted essentially of this: we had to sit seventeen hours on a form which gave no possibility to lean, and you were not allowed to close your eyes. For seventeen hours a day we had to hear, "Communism is good, Communism is good, Communism is good, etc.; Christianity is dead, Christianity is dead, Christianity is dead, etc.; Give up, give up, etc." You were bored after one minute of this but you had to hear it the whole seventeen hours for weeks, months, years even, without any interruption.

I can assure you, it is not easy. It is one of the worst tortures. Much worse than physical torture. But Christ has foreseen all things because with Him there is no time. Future, past, present are one and the same: He knows all things from the beginning. Communists invented brainwashing too late! Christ had already invented the opposite to brainwashing - heart washing. He has said: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."

Stephen, the first martyr for Christ, had around him hundreds with big stones in their hands to throw at him. He said: "I see." And the wife of Stephen probably thought he saw the danger he was in and would run away. But he said: "I see JESUS standing at the right hand of God." Perhaps she said (it is not recorded), "Don't you see all the mob around you ready to throw stones at you?" "Oh yes! I see some little ants there below not worth mentioning. I look to JESUS." He did not look to those who wished to kill him. Blessed are the pure in heart.

I had passed through brainwashing for over two years. Now the Communists would have said that my brain was still dirty. In the same rhythm in which they said, "Christianity is dead," I and others repeated to ourselves: "Christ also has been dead, Christ also has been dead." But we knew He rose from the dead. We remembered that we lived in the communion of saints.

OVERCOMING SOLITUDE

One of the greatest problems for an underground fighter is to know how to fill up his solitude. We had absolutely no books. Not only no Bible, but no books, no scrap of paper, and no pencil. We never heard a noise, and there was absolutely nothing to distract our attention. You looked at the walls, that was all. Now normally a mind under such circumstances becomes mad.

I can tell you from my own experience how I avoided becoming mad, but this again has to be prepared by a life of spiritual exercise beforehand. How much can you be alone without the Bible? How much can you bear to be with yourself without switching on the radio, or a record player, etc.?

I, and many other prisoners, did it like this. We never slept during the night. We slept during the day. The whole night we were awake. You know that a Psalm says, "...bless you the Lord,... which by night stand in the house of the Lord." One prayer at night is worth ten prayers during the day.

All great sins and crimes are committed during the night. The great robberies, drunkenness, reveling, adultery - this whole life of sin is a night life. During the day everyone has to work in a factory, college, or somewhere. The demonic forces are forces of the night, and therefore, it is so important to oppose them during the night.

In solitary confinement we awoke when the other prisoners went to bed. We filled our time with a program which was so heavy, we could not fulfill it. We started with a prayer, a prayer in which we traveled through the whole world. We prayed for each country, for where we knew the names of towns and men, and we prayed for great preachers. It took a good hour or two to come back. We prayed for pilots, and for those on the sea, and for those who were in prisons.

After having traveled through the whole world, I read the Bible from memory. To memorize the Bible is very important for an underground worker.

THE JOY OF THE LORD

Just to make us laugh also a little bit, I will tell you one thing which happened. Once while I lay on the few planks which were my bed, I read from memory the Sermon on the Mount, according to Luke. I arrived at the part where it is said, "When you are persecuted... for the Son of man's sake, rejoice you, in that day and leap for joy...." You will remember that it is written like this. I said, "How could I commit such a sin of neglect? Christ has said that we have to do two different things. One to rejoice, I have done. The second, to 'leap for joy,' I have not done." So I jumped. I came down from my bed and I began to jump around.

In prison, the door of a cell has a peep hole through which the warden looks into the cell. He happened to look in while I jumped around. So he believed that I had become mad. They had an order to behave very well with madmen so that their shouting and banging on the wall should not disturb the order of the prison. The guard immediately entered, quieted me down and said, "You will be released; you can see everything will be all right. Just remain quiet. I will bring you something." He brought me a big loaf of bread. Our portion was one slice of bread a week, and now I had a whole loaf, plus cheese. It was white. Never just eat cheese; first of all admire its whiteness. It is beautiful to look upon. He brought me also sugar. He spoke a few nice words again and locked the door and left.

I said, "I will eat these things after having finished my chapter from St. Luke." I lay down again and tried to remember where I had left off. "Yes, at 'when you are persecuted for My Name's sake, rejoice... and leap for joy because great is your reward." I looked at the loaf of bread and the cheese. Really, the reward was great!

So the next task is to think of the Bible and to meditate upon it. Every night, I composed a sermon beginning with "Dear brethren, and sisters" and finishing with "Amen." After I composed it, I delivered it. I put them afterwards in very short rhymes so that I could remember them. My books, With God In Solitary Confinement and If Prison Walls Could Speak, contain some of these sermons. I have memorized three hundred and fifty of them.

Out of bread I made chessmen, some of them whitened with a little bit of chalk and the others gray. I played chess with myself. Never believe that Bob Fisher is the greatest chess master of the world. He won the last match with Spassky. He won eight games and lost two. I, in three years, never lost a game; I always won either with white or gray!

Never allow your mind to become distressed because then the Communists have you entirely in their hands. Your mind must be continually exercised. It must be alert, it must think. It must, everyone according to his abilities, compose different things, etc.

I have told you all these things because they belong to the secrets of the underground worker when he suffers. May God bless you.

Richard Wurmbrand

BACK TO THE TOP OF THE RICHARD WURMBRAND BIOGRAPHY

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mommysmagazineseo · 3 years

Text

Mommy’s Magazine – Ideal Platform to find Popular Baby Names

The name is supposed to play a significant role in shaping the character and personality of a child, as it is believed that the meaning of the name has a role to play in shaping the behaviour and personality of the child. Names also give children a connection to their culture and religion, as every religion has a specific set of names for the people to choose accordingly.

Giving your child a latest and contemporary name is essential, as children with old and traditional names are usually mocked by friends and peers. Thus, to save your child from embarrassment and shame, parents need to choose some meaningful yet popular baby names for boys & girls that will provide them with immediate recognition among peers. If you are struggling to find some best websites for naming your baby you can visit Mommy’s Magazine, which is a perfect platform to find some unique and popular baby names that you will simply love.

151 Unique Baby Names for Boys

Name Meaning Aaryan Ancient, Of Long Ago, Prehistoric, Warrior, Fighter, Speedy, Rapid, Aahan Sunrise, Strength, Morning Glory, First Ray Of Light, Aarav Peaceful, Ray, Beam, Glimmerpeaceful, Music, Hope Aarush Calm, Serene, Equable, Red, Scarlet, Flame, Brilliant, Aayush Stage Of Life, Guy, Blessing, Protection, Benedictionage, Long Lived, Anvit Relation, Connection, Interdependence Of, Leader, Chief Aarsh Bright, Shining, Sparkling, Hero, Honesty, Truthbright Atharv Lord Ganesh, Name Of A Ved, Name Of A Rishi Married To Santi Adyant Unique, Expensive, Unequalled, Unbeaten Akrant Force, Strength, Vigour, Power, Ability Arjun Fair, Impartial, Pure, Brilliant, Gifted Aaaqil Aaaqil One Who Is Wise And Intelligent Arnav Ocean, Sea, Star, Heliosocean, Wave Aayan Gift Of God, The One Who Bhavin Livelihood, Winner, Victor Bhasker Sun, Skilled Person; Bright And Radiant, Bharath Clever, Intelligent, Talented, Bhavesh Lord Of Sentiment, Lord Of Existence, Lord Of The Universe Chethan Intelligence, Intellectual Capacity, Braininess, Perceiption, Vigour Chitransh Artist, Creator, Someone Who Has Immense Talent In Painting Dibyansh Part Of The God, Part Of The Divine Light Danish Merciful, Forgiving, Intelligence Dakshya Cleverness, Intelligence, Precocity, Honesty Devashish Benediction Of God, Pleased By The Gods Daiva By the grace of God. Devak God or divine entity. Divit Someone who has conquered death Eshan Lord Shiva- Hindu Eklavya Student Who Learned Bow By Watching Eshaan Desiring And Wishing Falak The Sky Gagan The Sky, Heaven Gaurav Honor, Integrity, Virtue, Pride Gritik Mountain, Peak, Range, Hill, High Geeth Song, Air, Lay, Poem Garvit Proud, Pleased, Pleasing, Garv Garg Name of a saint, bull Harshit Beautiful, Attractive, Lovely Hitesh Lord Of Goodness-Hindu Lord Venkateshwara Hritik Name Of A Sage, From The Heart Hanshik Swan, Swan; One Of The Many Names Of Lord Shiva Hardik Joy, Happy Ivan Ruler, Leader, Overlord, Royal Ishaan Ruler, Leader, Overlord Ishir Another Name For Agni Ina Hindu Lord Surya Ilesh Hindu Lord Of Earth Jaideep Victory to the light Jaikirti Glory of victory Janesh King Jayant Victorious, Hindu Lord Vishnu Krithvik Joyful, Cheerful, Jubilant, Glad, Pleased Kritik Hindu-Son Of Lord Shiva, Lord Murugan, Well Starred Krishav Hindu-Lord Krishna And Lord Shiva Karthik Hindu-Lord Murugan, One Who Bestows Courage Khavish Hindu-King Of Poets, Other Name Of Lord Ganesh Kunal Lotus, Golden, Gold-Coloured, Kiaan Ancient, king Laksh Aim, Target, Goal, Sign Lokesh King of World Lakshit Distinguished, regarded Lalit Beautiful, Desirable, Voluptuous, Gentle Lucky Shubh Mivaan Sunrays of God Madhav Another name of Lord Krishna, Sweet like Honey Mohit Ensnarled by beauty, Attracted, Infatuated, Bewildered Mika Cool, Sweet, Intelligent Maanav Man, Youth, Relating to Manu, Humankind, Human being, Pearl, Treasure human being Monish Lord of mind, Attractive Mitra Friend or someone who is close to the heart. Nikhil Whole, Perfect, Complete, Entire Nitesh God of law, One well versed in law, Follower of the correct way Nishant The Moon, Dawn, Peace, Pleasant early morning, Daybreak Nirav Quiet, Calm, Without sound, Silent Naadir Fresh, Dear, Rare, Pinnacle Niraj Lotus flower, Pure, Free from attachment Owaisi Muslim-Brave, Gifted talented Omkar The sound of the sacred syllable, One who has the form of Om Omparkash Brightness, Brightness; Radiance Of Divinity; Divine Luminance; Sacred Light Ojas Shine, Full of Light, Body Opesh Support, Pillar OjasviVi Gorous, Powerful, Strong, Brave Parth King, Arjun Priyansh Lovable part of someone Parav Name of a sage Punit Pure or holy Priyanshu First Ray of The Sunlight Pankaj Lotus flower, Another name for Brahma Qaadir Able, Powerful Qamrun The Moon Qamaruddin Moon Of The Religion, Moon Of The Faith Qasif Discover, Find, Run Down Qabir A Grand, Great Man Rohan A river in paradise, Ascending, Blossom, Rising Rachit Invention Rihaan Gods chosen one, Destroyer of enemies Rishav Morality, Superior, Excellent Rohit Red, The Sun, Jewellery, A rainbow Rishabh Morality, Superior, Excellent, A musical note, Bull Rabiah Greenery Reyan Fame Ritesh Lord of seasons, Lord of truth Ravi Delighted, Satisfied, Hope, Expectation, Wish, The Sun Ridhaan Someone who is in search of something Shubham Good, Auspicious Saahil Sea shore, Guide, Shore, Bank Sunil Dark blue, Sapphire, Blue stone Shami Fire, Name of a tree, Work Saatvik Virtuous, Lord Krishna, Worthy, Important, Pure, Good Sonu Gold Shaan Pride, Peaceful Sanchit Collected, Gathered Shlok Song Tej Light, Lustrous, Power, Brilliance Tarun Connection, Young, Youth, Ageless, Gentle Tarik Method, Way, Mode, Manner, Morning star Tanmay Engrossed Taimur Brave strong, A famous king, Iron Tushar Ice, Snow, Fine drops of water Uday To rise, Blue lotus Umang Enthusiasm, Joy, Zeal, Aspiration, Ambition Utkarsh Prosperity or awakening or high quality, Advancement – to rise Ujwal Splendorous, Lit, Brilliant, Attractive Usman Trust worthy friend Umarah Old Arabic name, Habitation Vaibhav Richness, Power, Eminence Viraaj Biggest in universe, The Sun or the king, Resplendent Vibhu All pervading Viyaan Artist, Special knowledge Virat Massive, Very big, Giant proportioned, Majestic Vinay Good manners, Decency, Restraint Wasan Idol, Song of praise Wedant The scriptures, Vedic method of self realization, Knower of the Vedas, Theology, Absolute truth Wasim Graceful, Good looking Waris Heir, Inheritor, Successor Waqaar Self-respect, Majesty, Veneration Wasif Full of qualities, Expansionist, Vast Xitiz Quickly Xolani Peace; Tree Yash Victory, Glory, Success, Celebrity Yuvan Youthful, Young, Healthy, The Moon Yakshit Who is made forever, Permanent, God Yogi Devotee, Ascetic, Meditative, Religious Yaqub Ruby, Precious stone Yogesh God of Yoga Yanchit Glorified Yuhaan Freed salve of Zubair Yasin Famous and Wealthy; Rich; Protector of Fame Yuvraj Prince; A Prince; Heir Apparent; A Prince of World Yashraj King of Fame Yogaraj Lord of Meditation Zaid Growth, Super abundance Zihan Brightness, Whiteness, Drought Zuhair Blooming, Shining, Clear Zishan Person who Stay with style, Peaceful Zubair Counsels, Brings together Zaheer Bright, Shining, Sparkling, Luminous

151 Unique Baby Names for Girls

Name Meaning Aabha Glow, Luster, Shine Aaravi Peace Avni The earth Amisha Beautiful, Without decept, Pure, Truthful Aarushi Dawn, Red Sky in the early morning, First rays of the Sun Ankita Conquered, A signet, Symbol, With auspicious marks Aditi Mother of the gods, Liberty, Perfection, Creativity Anshika Minute particle, Beautiful Ayat Many signs & proofs, Verses in the Quran, Royal Akansha Wish, Desire Asifa Just, Equitable Bhavya Grand, Splendid, Virtuous, Composed, Beautiful, Brilliant Bhavana Affection, Feeling, Imagination, Direct knowledge, Sentiment Bhumika Earth, Base Begum Honorific title, Queen Barkha Rain, Life giving Bindu Drop of water, Point Bipasha A river, Limitless, A river now known as the beas Bhuvika Heaven Bishti Rainfall Chanda The Moon Chaya Shadow, Shade, Reflection Charitha Good, One having a very clean character, Warm hearted Chitra Painting, Picture, A Nakshatra, Brilliant, Illustrious Chavi Reflection Charu Beautiful; Attractive; Pleasing Chahak Lover; Voice of Sweet Bird Deesha Direction Deeksha Initiation, Sacrifice, Preparation for ceremony Divya Divine luster, Charming, Beautiful, Divine Deepali Collection of lamps, Row of lamps Deekshita Initiation, Prepared Deepshikha Flame, Lamp Eshita One who desires, Desired, One who seeks, Desirous Eiliyah The beautiful one to grow in peace and Love with God Eila The Earth; Daughter of Manu; Variant of Evelyn Ektaa Unity; Beauty Evana Queen; Beautiful; Peaceful; God is Gracious Eknoor One Light; Light of God Faiza Victorious, Winner, Gain Fida Redemption or sacrifice Foziah Successful Falaq Break of dawn, The Sky, Breeze Fahima Intelligent Farah Joy, Happiness, Excitement Fozia Forehead, Intelligence Garima Warmth Geeta Holy book of the hindus, Song, Poem, The bhagvad Gita Gauthami River Godavari, One who enlightens, One who removes darkness, Another name for Durga Gauhar Diamond, Precious stone Gulnaz Cute like a flower Gourvi Honour; Proud; Pride; Respect Hema Golden Hamsa Swan Harshi Joyous Hena Mehndi, Fragrance Harsha Joy, Delight, Happiness, Excitement Himanshi Ice Hetal Friendly Ishika An arrow, Dart, One who achieves, Paint brush, Daughter of God Ishita Mastery, Wealth, Superior, Desired, Eminence Iqra Study, Read (Celebrity Name: Sanjay Dutt) Ikshitha Visible, Beheld Induma The Moon Ismita Lover of God, Friend of God Jaanvi Ganga – the river, As precious as your life Jeeva Life, Immortal Jiyana God is gracious, Strength Jahida Abstinent, Helps the vulnerable Julie Vivacious Jahnavi River Ganga Jagriti Vigilance, Awareness Kaavya Poetry in motion, Poem, Laden with sentiment, Worth, Learning Khushee Happiness, Smile, Delight Khaira Charitable, Good Kamya Beautiful, Lovable, Assiduous, Successful Kaashi Pilgrimage Kavya Poetry Kinara River banks Kanika An atom, Small, Girl Kamini Desirable, Beautiful, Affectionate, A beautiful woman Kimaya Miracle, Divine Liza Joy, Devoted to God Lithika Cute and perfect Lakshita Distinguished, Regarded Lavya Renowned for his devotion to his Guru Lavani Grace Lafiza As Deep as a sea Maira Beloved, Favorable, Admirable, Marvellous Madhu Honey, Sweet, Nectar, Charming Madhavi A creeper with beautiful flowers, Springtime Manvi Girl with humanity, One who poses all best qualities Monika Counsel, Advisor, Solitary Meenal Precious gem, Stone Naavya Worth praising, Young, Praiseworthy Nancy Favor, Grace Nainshi Beautiful Like Eyes Naaz Pride, Elegance, Young, Gentle, Coquetry Naziah Companion, Friend Nabhya Central Omaira Star Oshee Divine Oyshee Divine, Rose Oshmi Personality Omana A woman Peehu She is great, Sweet sound, Pea-hen Priyanshi Lovable, Dear, Loving Poorva Earlier, One, Elder, East Priyanka Beautiful, Lovable act, Symbol, Body Pariza Fairy Pakiza Pure, Chaste, Polite, Nice Pariniti Bird Qirat Beautiful recitation Qasima Beautiful woman, Distributor, Divider Qamra Moonlight, Moonlit, Bright Quasar Meteor Riya Rich or from hadria, Gem, Goddess Lakshmi, Graceful, Singer Richa Hymn, The writing of the Vedas, The collected body of the Vedas, Brilliance Rishika Silken, Saintly, Pious, Learned Riddhi Good fortune, Prosperity, Wealth, Success, Superiority Raaida Explorer, Guide, Leader Rushali Bright girl Saachi Beloved, Grace, Truth, Following, Companion, Another name for Agni Saara Princess, Noble lady, Precious, Pure, Excellent, Sweet smelling Saachi Truth Shuchi Pure, Bright, Holy, Worthy Sheena Gods gift, Ankle bells, Brightness, Gaelic Shubhi Good luck, Auspicious Shama Flame, Peaceful, Lamp, An Apsara or celestial nymph Trisha Thirst Tejal Lustrous, Energetic, Gifted, Brilliant Tanisha Fairy queen, Ambition, Goddess of physique Trupti Stiltedness Tabish Heaven, Strong, Brave, Vigorous, Ocean Tahira Chaste, Pure, Pious, Clean, Holy Udita One who has risen Umaiza Bright, Beautiful and soft hearted Unnati Progress, High point, Wealth, Success Upasana Veneration, Worship, Devotion Urvashi A celestial maiden, An Angel, Most beautiful of apsaras Urveen Friend, See also ervin Umrao Noble Urshia One who belongs in the skies Vaani Speech Vihana Early morning Vrushali Success Viyana Wisdom Viti Light Vrusty Rainfall, Heavy rain Vinnie Queen of the universe Vrushika Love of Eye Vaiyushi Loved by everyone and respectful to everyone Wasiqa Confident, Sure, Certain Wafiza Fresh air Wardah Rose Waddia Amicable, Friendly Warqah Petal of a flower Yashi Famous, Successful Yashika Success, Yash ko prapth karne Wali Yaksha Representative of God, A type of a demi God, Protecter of forests Yukthi Trick, Power, Strategy, Solution by logic, By reasoning, Tact, Skill, Argument Yakshita Wonder girl Yaashni Lightning; Successor Yutika Multitude, Flower Zaara In flower, Bright as the dawn, Brilliance, Blossoming flower Zoya Life, Rejoicing Zabeen Fair and beautiful Zanisha Dispeller of ignorance, Ruler of humans Zia Light Zareen Full of expression and smile, Golden Zoe life Zara princess

#Baby Names for Girls #Baby Names for Boys

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interfaithconnect · 7 years

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All mods: what works make up are your religious texts/scriptures?

Mod Jasper:

Though Hellenistic (and most other forms of) polytheism doesn’t have any official scriptures, both the ancient Greeks and Egyptians had several unofficial ‘rulebooks’ on how to lead an ideal, moral life - for the former, we have the Delphic Maxims and the Golden Verses, and for the latter the Negative Confessions. It can be difficult to know how seriously the ancients actually took these, or how widespread the texts themselves were, but they basically boil down to the concepts of arete (virtue/excellence, which is also intertwined with the concepts of eusebia [piety] and xenia [hospitality]) and ma’at (justice/balance), respectively. These concepts were absolutely essential to religious and social life and would have been understood by everyone, even if they were illiterate and/or unaware of the formal texts. Personally I also ascribe to the beliefs of Orphism, a specifically Hellenistic sect which has its own set of taboos and funerary traditions, a hymnal containing a slightly different understanding of the Greek pantheon, and a Theogony which differs from Hesiod’s description of the origins of the gods (the ‘mainstream’ version most of us are probably familiar with).

The myths, of course, while important for teaching us about the nature of the gods and about what constitutes goodness and right action, have many different versions depending on the writer and they’re not exactly standardized scriptures - nor are they meant to be taken literally, in my opinion; they’re parables which impart knowledge and lessons to the reader, but I generally don’t think they happened exactly as described, if at all. Other practitioners may feel differently, of course, and it’s again hard to know how the ancients felt on the matter of literalism. Similarly, the Egyptians had The Book of Coming Forth By Day (also called The Book of the Dead) as well as a number of other funerary and magical texts from at least the time of the New Kingdom which described the afterlife and outlined what a person must do to join the gods in the Duat (underworld). However there’s no single canonical version of it which every person absolutely ascribed to, and throughout the Old and Middle Kingdoms beliefs regarding the gods and the afterlife changed quite drastically (the unification of Egypt in the Early Dynastic Period is the point at which ancient Egyptian religion is described as becoming ‘democratized’, because in earlier generations it was believed that the average person had little chance of travelling to the Duat and an afterlife was guaranteed only for royalty; from the New Kingdom on, though, beliefs changed relatively little).

Ancient texts and understandings of the gods changed over time and place and politics, and we really have no way of knowing whether the version(s) that survived are the ‘true’ or most popular ones. That’s certainly not to say that what has survived is unimportant, but I wouldn’t describe my religion as really having scripture - it’s primarily based upon mythic and historical research, things which can be interpreted differently by different people.

Mod Kira:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints have a few texts that are collectively called Scriptures. These are the standard works of the church.

The Holy Bible:

King James Version, featuring the Old Testament and New Testament.

The Book of Mormon:

Another testament of Jesus Christ.

Doctrine & Covenants:

Contains revelations given to the prophet Joseph Smith in the early years of the restoration of the church. Also contains some additions by later prophets.

Pearl of Great Price:

Further revelations, translations and narrations of the prophet Joseph Smith.

In addition, the words of prophets delivered through the Spirit during General Conference (a worldwide church event where the prophet, apostles and many church leaders address church members to teach, inspire and deliver prophecy) are considered Latter-Day Scripture.

Mod Lydia:

The United Church of Christ considers the Old Testament and the New Testament as its scripture, though are quite liberal when it comes to application. The UCC typically approaches its holy text with the phrase “Take the Bible seriously, not literally.”

Within my family structure, we include various Apocrypha (mostly rejected “Gnostic” writings) as relevant religious texts alongside the canonical Christian scriptures. Personally, my faith mostly derives from the The Gospel of Mary, The Gospel of Thomas, and the Gospel of Philip, respectively.

Mod Sarah:

Hey! Most Protestants consider the Old and New Testaments of the Bible authoritative, as do I, and Anglicans, like Catholics, also include the Apocrypha in the scriptures. I consider those authoritative as well. Like Lydia, I take the Bible “‘seriously but not literally” and think it is good, useful, and true in a broad sense, but I don’t think it’s God’s Official Opinion or a faultless treatise on world history.

Mod Elana:

Hey there! First off, Judaism’s big book is the Torah, or, as it is sometimes called by Christians, the Old Testament. The Torah, which is a part of the Tanakh, is accompanied by the Nevi’im and Ketuvim. The name Mikra, meaning “that which is read,” is another word for the Tanakh.

The Nevi’im consists of the narrative books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings, and the Latter Prophets, the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Twelve Minor Prophets (Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi).

The Ketuvim consists of poetic books, called Sifrei Emet collectively and consisting of the Psalms, Book of Proverbs, and Book of Job, and the five scrolls consisting of the Song of Songs, the Book of Ruth, the Book of Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and the Book of Esther.

There is also a lot of rabbinic literature that has added to our understanding and interpretation of what is written in our texts. The Midrash is the early interpretations and commentaries on the written Torah and Torah as it was orally told. There’s also some commentary on halakha, or Jewish Law. All these different interpretations form a running commentary on specific passages found in the Tanakh.

Similar to the Midrash is the Targumim, which were spoken paraphrases, explanations, and expansions of the Tanakh that a rabbi would give in Aramaic. As translations, they largely reflect midrashic interpretation of the Tanakh.

Now, Halakha is the collection of Jewish laws derived from written and oral Torah, including the 613 mitzvot, Talmundic and rabbinic laws, and the customs and traditions compiled in the Code of Jewish Law. Halakha can be interpreted as by the book or as loosely as possible, which is responsible for some of the divisions in the sects of Judaism. Halakha is not only a guide to religious practices, but to everyday life as well.

The Mishnah was written to teach the oral traditions by example, presenting cases brought to judgment with a debate on the matter and the judgment given by a rabbi based on Halakha, mitzvot, and Torah that guided the final decision. Basically, it’s sort of a legal tool but gives great insight as to how the different teachings can cross over from page to real life.

Mod Neha:

The most importantholy book in Islam is the Qu’ran, which also contains portions ofthe Gospel (al-Injil), Bookof Psalms, (Zabur),and Torah (Tawrat). This is followed in importance by the sayings of the Prophet, the hadith.

Worksthat chronicle the life of the Prophet and explanations of the Quran(called tasfir) areconsidered very important, although not holy in of themselves. There a lot of tasfir, so it depends on who you like!

Additionally,for ShiaMuslims the collectedsermons/sayings of the familyof the Prophet, ahl al-bayt, such as Ali ibn Abi Talib’s Nahj-ulBalāghah or The Peak of Eloquence, and Book of Fatima are central guidelines to faith and theology, more here.

There are many morebooks that are important to the specific beliefs and practices of various Islamic sects –for instance, the Mevlevi Order, based around the works of Rumi wouldnaturally consider Rumi’s works as central to their faith, whilethe Ahmadiyya Muslim community would consider their founder, MirzaGhulam Ahmad’s works central to theirs.

Mod Lily:

There is only one source of scripture for Sikhs, Sri Guru Granth Sahib, which can be shortened to SGGS or just “the Granth” (Granth = book). To call the Granth simply our “scripture” or “holy book” doesn’t quite do it justice. The Granth is treated and revered as if it were a living, breathing person. Every Gurdwara (Sikh temple) is simply anywhere where a copy of the Granth is found. We sit the Guru on a bed, leave flowers and decorations, bow at its “feet” when we meet it, talk to it about our problems and lives, fan it during the day and carry it to bed in its own room at night. We cover our heads, remove our shoes, and wash our hands in its presence as a sign of respect, and we never turn our backs to it. The Granth’s presence sanctifies Sikh ceremonies and rites of passage like birth, marriage, death, and the giving of a child’s name. It’s a lot more than just a holy book, it’s also our Eleventh Eternal Guru, and we respect and care for it the same way Sikhs used to respect the ten human Gurus before the Granth. It’s made of 1,430 pages of hymns (shabads) which are meant to be sung in a devotional style called kirtan in order to bring the reader closer to the Divine through music. Most of the Granth contains the compositions of six of the ten human Gurus, but the latter sections include the writings of some Sikh saints and a number of Hindu and Muslim poets and saints who lived and wrote before the time of the Gurus. Because of the intense respect afforded the Granth and how central it is to every aspect of Sikhi, you can’t just buy a copy of the Granth like you can the Bible or Qur’an, unless you plan to open a Gurdwara of your own in your house (which some Sikhs actually do, if they are able). You can read it online, though, but it’s still best to cover your head before you do and offer even digital renditions of the Granth the same respect as you would a physical copy.

There are a couple ancillary texts which aren’t considered “sacred” but which are important to the Sikh literary canon. The Dasam Granth (“tenth book”) includes the writings of the tenth and final human Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, but it also includes many writings by Hindus and its overall authorship is contested. We don’t consider the Dasam Granth as a whole to be a holy text because of its controversial authorship, but select portions of the Dasam Granth which are known to have been written by Guru Gobind Singh are among the most important Sikh shabads and we recite several such shabads daily. There’s also controversy over certain themes found in the Dasam Granth which are sometimes claimed to be incompatible with Sikh teachings, particularly its references to Hindu polytheism (as opposed to Sikh monotheism) and certain sections which are interpreted by some as sexually explicit. A few Sikhs do still honor and respect the Dasam Granth, however, and in two of the five Takhts (Thrones, important places of Sikh authority) the Dasam Granth is displayed next to Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

The Janam Sakhis (birth stories) are hagiographic stories by various authors which retell the life and history of Guru Nanak and the Gurus who succeeded him, similar in nature to the Muslim Hadiths or the Christian Gospels. They’re extremely ahistorical and again not sacred texts, and contain many contradictions, exaggerations, and factually inaccurate or questionable claims. (The B40 Janam Sakhi, for example, recounts a meeting in Baghdad between Guru Nanak and Sheikh Sharaf, who died centuries before the Guru was even born! It’s still my personal favorite of the Janam Sakhis but that’s for another post.) But they’re still important from a religious and historical perspective in that they inform us what life was probably like for the earliest Sikhs and they form the basis for the cultural mythology surrounding the lives and deeds of the Gurus. There are a handful of other important historical texts, most famously Guru Gobind Singh’s Zafarnama, a letter written to the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb (who had carried out a mass genocide against the Sikhs and nearly eliminated the entire Sikh population).

Finally, the Rehat Maryada (Code of Discipline) is a recent document codified in the 1947 which formalizes the principles of Sikh discipline and code of conduct, especially for Amritdhari (baptized) Sikhs. The Granth is a purely devotional text and doesn’t proscribe any laws or mandates for Sikhs, so the Rehat Maryada was written to formalize what is expected of Sikhs by other Sikhs. Most Sikh sects respect and adhere to the Rehat Maryada, but it’s not a sacred because it was written by ordinary Sikhs, not by any saints or Gurus.

Mod Lakshman:

For most contemporary Hindus, the sacred text is the Bhagavad Gita; it’s widely regarded as the culmination of all spiritual knowledge found in the four Vedas, the first and arguably even more revered texts than the Gita.However, in conjunction with the Gita, I also use the Vedas themselves, and the Upanishads, specifically the Chandogya and Brihadaranyaka Upanishads. These are commentaries on the Vedas. I do also try to incorporate the truths found in other texts as well, such as the Bible and the Qur’an.

#mod jasper #mod kira #mod lydia #mod sarah #mod elana #mod neha #mod lily #mod lakshman

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hotgirlbiz · 7 years

Text

Between the world and me

Theology Of hope

““ If you like someone, wait.  Give lots of compliments, even if you’re shy. Everyone else is too.  

Change. Get a haircut, try new perfume, get new sheets. Become better than you were before.

Eat healthier. Learn to cook something fancy.  Get up earlier and watch the sun come up.  Wear soft clothes, take a bath, drink something warm.  

Meet someone new, even just a friend.  Become closer with your friends and your family. Call your mother. Cry with your best friend. Tell everyone how much you appreciate them.  

Keep your room clean. Buy some candles. Let the natural light in.   Make a list of reasons why you’ll be better off without them. Believe they are true, because they are.   Listen to new music.   Write everything you’re thinking and feeling. Write letters. Write happy letters, sad letters, and angry letters, even if you’re never going to send them.  It’s okay to be sad, but not forever. Sadness is not as beautiful as music makes it seem. Lack of sleep makes your eyes droopy, not deep. Wake up every morning and tell yourself you’re going to have a good day.  Go to the library. Don’t forget to look in the music section.   Remove them from your life. Get rid of the things they gave you if they make you sad. They’re not worth it. You will never be happy if you continue to hold on to the things that make you sad.  Make new memories.  Try to find something to appreciate in everything you do or experience.  Being alone is okay, you don’t have to surround yourself with people.   Become your own best friend. Buy yourself coffee and drink it alone in a cafe. Take your time.   Learn to love every bit of yourself."

““your eyes do not twinkle like stars, nor does your kiss light sparks upon my lips.

your touch doesn’t set my skin ablaze, nor does your hair shine like woven gold.

your words are not like song to my ears, nor does your smile make my knees weak.

but your eyes do look into mine with love, and your kiss makes my heart beat faster.

your touch brings a smile to my lips, and your hair is soft as my fingers run through it.

your words make me smile and sometimes make me blush, and your smile brings me joy, and makes me smile as well.

you may not be perfect, you may not be the angel of my fantasy, but you are the angel of my reality, and i love you.”

“The meanings of a few names that people would typically think are ghetto and meaningless

LAKEISHA: a swahili name meaning “favorite one”

LATEEFAH: a north african name meaning “gentle and pleasant”

LATONIA: a latin name. latonia was the mother of diana in roman mythology

LATISHA: means “happiness”

TAKIYA: a north african name meaning “righteous”

ESHE. African Swahili name meaning “immortal”

KALISHA. Probably from the Galla word kalisha “sorcerer, wizard, witch doctor, magician”

LEENA (لينا). Another spelling of Arabic Lina (q.v.), meaning “softness.” In use in Africa.

MAKENA. African Kikuyu name meaning “the happy one.”

NIA. African Swahili name meaning “intention, life purpose, mind.”

MONIFA. African Yoruba name, meaning “I am luck,” from mo “I,” and ifa “profit, luck.”

NUBIA. Unisex. African. From the name of the country Nubia, meaning “land of gold,” from the Coptic word for gold.

AYANA : Ethiopian female name meaning “beautiful flower.”

SHANIKA. Unisex. African Bantu name, probably meaning “young one from the wilderness.”

SALINA. African. A name in use in Kenya. It may mean “merciful.”

TAMEKA. Another spelling of the African Congo name Tamika (q.v.), meaning “a twin,”

TAMELA. African Zulu name meaning “she who basks in the sun,”

AMARA. f. African. From the Swahili word amara, meaning “urgent business.”  Hindu. name meaning “immortal.” African. Ethiopian. Amharic amari, meaning “agreeable, pleasing.”

CHICHI f Western African, Igbo Diminutive of Igbo names beginning with the element Chi meaning “God”.

IMANI f & m Eastern African, Swahili, African American Means “faith” in Swahili, ultimately of Arabic origin.

AZIZA f means “Respected. Darling.” Muslim,African, Egyptian, Arabic, Somali name meaning “gorgeous.

DALIA/DALILA f means “Gentle.” African, Arabic, American, Egyptian, Spanish, African, Hebrew

BIBI : An East African female name meaning “daughter of a king.” Also a Kiswahili word meaning “lady” or “grandmother.”

ADA : Ibo of Nigeria name for firstborn females.

ZENA : Ethiopian name meaning “news” or “fame.”

JAMILAH f means “Beautiful.” Arabic, Muslim, African

KALIFA f means “Chaste; holy.” African

RASHIDI/RASHIDA f means “Wise.” Egyptian African Swahili name meaning “righteous.”

TAJ means “Crown.” Indian,Sanskrit, African

FATUMA : Popular Swahili and Somali versions of the name Muslim name, FATIMA, meaning “weaned.”

NANA : Ghanaian name meaning “mother of the Earth.”

AJA : High Priestess of Mecca.

ADINA : Amharic of Ethiopia word sometimes used as a female name, meaning “she has saved.”

BALINDA : A Rutooro of Uganda name meaning “patience, endurance, fortitude.” (Balinda is also used as a male name in Uganda.)

FANTA : Guinea and Cote D’Ivoire name meaning “beautiful day.”

KAYA : Ghanaian name meaning “stay and don’t go back.”

LAYLA , LAILA , LEYLA , LEILA : Swahili and Muslim name meaning “born at night.”

SHANI : Swahili name meaning “marvelous.”

ANAYA : Ibo of Eastern Nigeria name meaning “look up to God.”

TANISHA , TANI : Hausa of W. Africa name meaning “born on Monday.”

ZAKIYA : Swahili name meaning “smart, intelligent.”

TITI : Nigerian name meaning “flower.”

SAFIA , SAFIYA , SAFIYEH , SAFIYYAH : Swahili and Arabic name meaning “pure and wise” or “lion’s share.”

LULU : Swahili and Muslim name meaning “pearl” or “precious.”

KADIJA , KHADIJA : Swahili name meaning “born prematurely.”

AMINA : Somali and Muslim female name meaning “trustful, honest” and referring to Muhammed’s mother. This name is popular with the Hausa of West Africa.

Correction on Khadijah it’s actually of Arabic/Islamic origin in relation to Mohammed (peace be upon hims) first wife and also meaning born prematurely. It important to note children born prematurely were often seen as special or ‘golden child’ in many cultures. Correction also on Nana which comes from Akan tradition in Ghana it is used to refer to royalty and give a gender neutral indication of King/queen it’s also used in reference elderly members of the family ie grandparents.

o_O so my best friend’s name means “pure and wise” or “lion’s share”

cool

No name is actually ghetto.

To a white person or a POC with a heavy anti-black complexity due to white supremacy, it is not the actual name of the person or the way it is spelled which they consider ghetto, it is the person themselves whole. What makes the name ghetto is not how it sounds or it place of origin, but the black body it is attached to.

Which also Attributes to why white people can name their children “Haley/Haleigh/Hailey/Halley/Hallie” or “Megan/Meagan/Meghan/Meaghan/Maygan”; even the not so ordinary names like ‘Lakelyn’ ‘Ashlyn’ etc etc without batting an eye, because it is attached to a white woman’s body.

It’s why a black child named ‘Asia’ is considered an extreme, but a white child can be named ‘Montana’, the name of a southern state, it’s perfectly normal.

Where as if this woman was BLACK and her name is “Ashleigh”, people would make commentary often about how ‘unique’ the spelling of her name is or how black people are always making up new names of spellings of words.

Love the names your parents gave you. If someone says it’s “ghetto”, I guess you just found out who is racist and who you won’t need or respect later in life.

If you are foreign to a country, DO NOT take a nickname some lazy, ignorant, bigot white person tries to give you. MAKE THEM learn your name, no names are actually that difficult, it’s the mentality that stops a person from learning the correct pronunciation of a name.

Can we stop using “ghetto” as an adjective, it’s a fucking noun. It’s a PLACE, not a characteristic. “

☺️ All summer in a day ☺️

#me

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urduclassic · 10 years

Text

Shibli Nomani

Shibli Nomani (June 3, 1857 - November 18, 1914, Azamgarh) was a respected scholar of Islam from Indian subcontinent during British Raj.[1] He was born at Bindwal in Azamgarh district of present-day Uttar Pradesh. He is known for the founding the Shibli National College in 1883 and the Darul Mussanifin in Azamgarh. Shibli was a versatile scholar in Arabic, Persian, Hindi, Turkish and Urdu. He was also a poet. He collected much material on the life of Prophet of Islam, Muhammad but could write only first two volumes of the planned work the Sirat-un-Nabi. His disciple, Syed Sulaiman Nadvi, made use of this material and added his own and wrote remaining five volumes of the work, the Sirat-un-Nabi after the death of his mentor.

He was born to Shaikh Habibullah and Moqeema Khatoon. Although his younger brothers went to London for education and later returned as barristers,employed at Allahabad High Court, Shibli received a traditional Islamic education. His teacher was Maulana Muhammad Farooq Chirayakoti, a rationalist scholar. He went to Mecca for the Hajj and there he devoted his time to furthering his studies in Islamic theology, history, philosophy and Sufism from different scholars in Arabia.[2]

In the Middle East

When he returned to India he met Sir Syed Ahmed Khan (1817–1898) who had just established Aligarh Muslim University. Nomani was offered and joined a teaching position at the university on February 1, 1882. He taught Persian and Arabic languages at Aligarh for sixteen years where he met Thomas Arnold and other British scholars from whom he learned first hand modern Western ideas and thoughts. He traveled with Thomas Arnold in 1892 to Syria, Egypt, Turkey and other countries of the Middle East and got direct and practical experience of their societies. His scholarship influenced Thomas Arnold on one hand and on the other he was influenced by Thomas Arnold to a great extent, and this explains the modern touch in his ideas. In Cairo, he met noted Islamic scholar Sheikh Muhammad Abduh.

In Hyderabad and Lucknow

After the death of Sir Syed Ahmed in 1898, he left Aligarh and became an advisor in the Education Department of Hyderabad State. He initiated many reforms in the Hyderabad education system. From his policy, the Osmania University of Hyderabad adopted Urdu as the medium of instruction. Before that no other university of India had adopted any vernacular language as the medium of instruction in higher studies. In 1908 he left Hyderabad and went to Lucknow to become the principal of Nadwat tul-‘Ulum (Nadwa). He introduced reforms in the school's teaching and curriculum. He stayed at the school for five years but the orthodox class of scholars became hostile towards him, and he had to leave Lucknow for his birthplace, Azamgarh, in 1913.

Founding of Darul Mussanifin

Earlier at Nadwa he wanted to establish Darul Musannifin or the House of Writers but there he could not do this. He bequeathed his bungalow and mango orchard and motivated the members of his clan and relatives to do the same and succeeded. He wrote letters to his disciples and other eminent persons and sought their cooperation. Eventually one of his disciples, Syed Sulaiman Nadvi fulfilled his dream and established Darul Musannifin at Azamgarh. The first formal meeting of the institution was held on November 21, 1914, within three days of his death.

Shibli's ideology

Shibli’s genius had its flowering in Aligarh University when he came into contact with Sir Syed Ahmed and British scholars. Both Shibli and Sir Syed Ahmed wished for the welfare of Muslims, and wanted to have Western thinking and style come along with it. However, Sir Syed wanted to save the Muslims from the wrath of the British rulers after their active participation in the War of Independence, called the "Sepoy Mutiny" by the British colonialist rulers, whereas, Shibli wanted to make them self-reliant and self-respecting by regaining their lost heritage and tradition. Shibli was a staunch supporter of Pan-Islamism. He wrote poems and articles decrying the British and other Western powers when Turkey was defeated in the Balkan Wars and he urged the world Muslims to unite. In 1913, when the British Administration in India stormed the Kanpur Mosque, Shibli condemned them.

Aligarh movement

According to some scholars, Shibli was against the Aligarh movement. He opposed the ideology of Sir Syed and that is why he was debarred from the services of MAO College. Kamleshwar wrote a novel ‘Kitne Pakistan’ (How Many Pakistan?) [3] and in that novel he portrays Maulana Shibli Nomani as a narrow minded Muslim theologian. In another book, ‘Ataturk Fi Karbala by Dr. Arif ul Islam ’, the author alleged that Shibli was not happy with Sir Syed’s policies and ideologies and was involved vehemently against Aligarh movement.[4] It is a false propaganda that he was till his last breath closely associated with Aligarh Muslim University.

Aligarh movement

There does not appear to be evidence of any difference of opinion between Shibli and Sir Syed either in the former's writings or correspondence during the life-time of the latter.Shibli's first critical reference is not to Sir Syed but of Hali with reference to "Hayat-i-Javed" which Shibli referred as "sheer hagiography" (sarasar madah sarai). It was only later, i.e. after 1907 that Shibli made many critical references to 'Aligarh College' and occasionally to the founder Sir Syed.

From these writings one is inclined to agree with the reasons assigned by Shaikh Ikram for this change of attitude. These are; (a) Shibli's desire to show that the traditionalist model of Nadwa was superior to that of Nadwa.

(b) Shibli's affection and reliance on Abul Kalam Azad who was allergic to Aligarh and Sir Syed. One of the primary objectives of 'Al Hilal' was "Aligarh ke Aiwan-i-Ghulami ko girana. Shibli and Azad's desire that promoters of the proposed Muslim University should not give up the demand for an all India affiliating jurisdiction.

(c) lack of equation between Shibli and Viqarul Mulk unlike his deep relations with Mohsinul Mulk who had appointed Shibli as the first Secretary of the Anjuman Taraqq-i-Urdu which started as a subsidiary of the All India Muslim Educational Conference.

(d) The effect of pro Congress Muslim families of Bombay on Shibli.

Personal life

Allama Shibli had two daughters, Rabia Khatoon and Fatima Jannutul, and one son, Hamid Hassan Nu'mani. He was born in 1882 and died in 1942. He had a son who died soon after birth, and five daughters who lived their life. They are:

Dr Naseem Jehan, retired director of health, Bangladesh, died in Karachi in 1994. She was married in 1940 to Dr Zafrul Huda of Dhaka University. He died in 1978 at Dhaka. They have one daughter.

Shamim Jehan (died in Karachi in 2005), married in 1940 to Ehtesham Ahmed, who died in 1982. They have eight sons and seven daughters.

Tehseen Jehan, married in 1940 to Shaukat Sultan, principal of Shibli College, Azamgarh. She is living in Karachi Pakistan these days. They have three sons and four daughters.

Mohsina Sultana, married in 1950 to Amanullah Khan, director of industries,Uttar Pradesh, India. They have four sons and one daughter.

Momina Sultan, married in 1952 to Capt. Khan Sohail Sultan. They have four sons.

Works

Shibli was Great Shibli the progress of science and education in the West. He wanted to inspire the Muslims to make similar progress by having recourse to their lost heritage and culture, and warned them against getting lost in Western culture. In keeping with this goal, he wrote the following books;

Sirat-un-Nabi

Sirat an-Nu'man,

Al-Faruq,

Al-Ma’mun,

Al-Ghazali,

Imam Ibn-e-Tamia (Edited by Mohammad Tanzeel-ul-siddiqi al-husaini ),

Mawlana Rumi

Aurangzeb Alamgir Par Ek Nazar

Shiʾr al-ʻAjam, a history of Persian poetry

"Ilm-Kalam", The best book on the history of Muslim theology

Safar Nama e Rome-o-Misr-o-Sham

“Lot of injustice has been done to Shibli. While Maulana Aslam Jairajpuri pointed out errors in “Sher-ul-Ajam”, it was not mentioned that Shibli was the first to write biography of Maulana Rumi. Though differences between Sir Syed and Shibli are highlighted but it has not been pointed out that in spite of Sir Syed’s opposition to the writing of “Al-Farooq”, Shibli never complained about it. He lamented that Shibli’s Persian poetry was never tested on its merit and was wrongly associated with his acquaintance and close friend with an enlightened intellectual lady of the time Madam Atiya Fyzee. He refuted Shaikh Mohammad Ikram’s claim in this regard and subtly highlighted delicacy of Shibli’s thought moulded into his Persian poetry”[5

#Sirat-un-Nabi #Shibli Nomani #Middle East #Lucknow #Islam #India #Azamgarh #Allahabad High Court

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micaramel · 4 years

Link

Artist: Nazim Ünal Yilmaz

Venue: Exile, Vienna

Exhibition Title: Theological Time, Mean Landscape, Circumcision Throne, Burping Bird, Auto-censure, Nose as a Walking Stick, Tare, Nite Smoking, W15, Measuring the Corner, Dolphin with the Woman and The Big Fish, Small Fish.

Date: June 5 – July 11, 2020

Click here to view slideshow

Full gallery of images, press release and link available after the jump.

Images:

Images courtesy of Exile, Vienna

Press Release:

These ambiguities, redundancies, and deficiencies recall those attributed by Dr. Franz Kuhn to a certain Chinese encyclopedia called the Heavenly Emporium of Benevolent Knowledge. In its distant pages it is written that animals are divided into (a) those that belong to the emperor; (b) embalmed ones; (c) those that are trained; (d) suckling pigs; (e) mermaids; (f) fabulous ones; (g) stray dogs; (h) those that are included in this classification; (i) those that tremble as if they were mad; (j) innumerable ones; (k) those drawn with a very fine camel’s-hair brush; (1) etcetera; (m) those that have just broken the flower vase; (n) those that at a distance resemble flies. Jorge Luis Borges: John Wilkins’ Analytical Language1

Organised in lists, departments, compartments, definitions, dictionaries, meanings, boxes, crates, files, folders, encyclopaedias, and memory drives lies everything you’ve ever described, known, felt, and seen. Borges’ nod towards the tautological absurdity of analytical philosophy can be summarised by the serious joke of Wittgenstein’s The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.2 In this vein, one recognises that language is both access to the world as well as a prison.

It is in this spirit that Nazim Ünal Yilmaz paints a sharp critique of the analytical universe, and the awkward moment where it comes into contact with the physical world. The title of the exhibition Theological Time, Mean Landscape, Circumcision Throne, Burping Bird, Auto-censure, Nose as a Walking Stick, Tare, Nite Smoking, W15, Measuring the Corner, Dolphin with the Woman and The Big Fish, Small Fish replaces the absurd encyclopaedic boxes for all the different types of animals quoted above. His subjects and colours, contours and shadowy purple hues continue the lineage of Borges’ magical realism through the narrative construction of painting and installation. A wave of chaotic eruptions, ever-moving evolutionary changes, biological degradation, and the will to break out of the confines of definition give his compositions explosions of colour – a proper parallel to the circular drama of a planetary society that lives from pain, survival, and death.

The whole exhibition is a cinematic construction. The succession of pieces builds a compilation of stories that tie a string from point A to point B. The first room introduces this logical formula through the connection between two large canvases of dolphin and human species. In Big Fish, Small Fish (2019), a chain of dolphins catches increasingly smaller dolphins in mid-air. Leaping from the waves, the dolphins appear choreographed and recall the use of dolphins in aquatic circuses or theme parks. As they catch each other with their sharp teeth, the spectacle becomes a circuit of violence inflicted from the outside on each and every member of this choreography of abuse. The image parallels the structure of our capitalistic society, all of us participants with no option but to grind to the rhythm of exploitation of this dog eat dog world.

Across the way is Dolphin with a Woman (2019). This painting follows the dolphin motif in a similar manner as the creature, itself a victim of exploitation, catches a nude woman in its powerful clutches. The woman, fleshy and full, is revealed to also be a participant in this violent entertainment business. Like the dolphins, it is the properties of her body that give her value to audiences to gape and gawk. This series of paintings reveals the oppressive regimes of physicality, the prisons of our bodies, and the classifications which make some of us uninteresting, and some of us valuable. Although at first glance both canvases are rife with violence, they also emit the coming of a new era, one of inter-species solidarity between the oppressed, the rejection of the label and the show, and the acceptance of the other. An insurrection is rising.

Unique in this selection of paintings is the absence of Yilmaz’s typical self-portraits. He is staunchly opposed to representing the other and normally insists on the gesture of self-portrait. In this room however, he is present in other forms. A pink carpet and a casual clothing line represent the stereotypically feminine labour of the interior. He creates gestures of the domestic space and transversal identification with his subjects. The critique of spectacle rests on the pillars of feminism, animal rights, and queer theory all of which demand an end to the exploitation of bodies and express a common lack of freedom.

While the ground floor introduces the intersection between gender and species-based exploitation, the exhibition as a whole has the form of an expanded film. While criticising the spectacle, Yilmaz is conscious of the history of painting with its loaded implications and its role as image-making.

One of painting’s most painful associations for him is that to the Catholic church. Religious organizations have been at the forefront of persecution of otherness for centuries, but the Catholic church also gave rise to the most famous compositions and artists whose legacy in painting is undeniable. How to confront this inner contradiction to denounce exploitation through a medium which has benefitted from its implementation?

Moving up the stairs, a minimal room presents the painting Theological Time (2014), one of the namesake pieces of the exhibition’s title. Yilmaz describes of this painting as a symbol of the crossroads between truth, reality, religion, fiction, and the cycle of life. It reveals the depth of each canvas which traverses the social structures from today back to the dawn of time. The painting shows the still hands of a clock stuck in time.

In the time of the Ancient Egyptians, time was believed to be kept by the destruction of energy. Time based on the oscillation between night and day, digestion, life, and death, came from theological principles and became science. As a result of the industrial revolution, capitalist time took on a strikingly similar meaning described as secular wear and tear.3

Today, seconds are based on the vibration frequency of the cesium atom in the construction of an atomic clock. Here, Yilmaz sees a reversal of thought processes in which science comes first, and Christian and Muslim theologies try to prove the existence of God through scientific fact. The silent clock hands in Theological Time neither create nor destroy energy. They are frozen on Duchamp’s staircase in reference to his nude which recurs in Yilmaz’s symbolic reservoir. These stairs go neither up nor down. For Yilmaz, it is a symbol of stoppage and flow, the coexistence of heaven and hell, the cycle of life and death. In this painting, all life happens at once without any trace of linear progress.

The relation of theology to everyday life is consistent in all of Yilmaz’s works, and it is from where this void emerges. Although it is said we live in a secular world, traces of theology remain rooted all around us, and Yilmaz dissects and questions this lineage that still surrounds our everyday.

The final room presents a series of canvases arranged like stills of a film. Hung tightly together, the installation incentivizes a narrative reading to the chosen selection. Each painting acts like a short story within a compendium of tales. Here, recurring signifiers in Yilmaz’s work collide off each other.

The rapid succession of wild drooping paint sets the film reel in motion. The compendium simultaneously compresses and expands each individual short story into a contemporary Decameron 4 or Canterbury Tales 5.6

The title of the exhibition is a simple list but the content of the paintings expands its meaning into the boundless possibilities of short narration. If the compression of time into a constant and the strange coexistence between queer theory, popular culture, and the Catholic Church, existed within one person, it could well reside in the camera-holding, film-making, tableau-vivant of Pier Paolo Pasolini.7 A thinker too complex to define in any straightforward way. Delicate philosophical criticism and an eye for raw aesthetics of popular life proliferate his cinematic sequences, as do the short stories of Borges. Full of contradictions and interspersed with jokes, these are stories that speak of the true qualities of poetry – creating not the simplicity of dry analysis, but the infinite complexity of life’s imagination.

If the title of the exhibition is a replacement of the absurdity of categories, it is then the singularity of painting which ends this exhibition in the form of the brilliant sunset of the apocalypse. All the boxes explode into one. Art has become the religion of modern times. The very medium of painting, in its art historical uniqueness, as the pinnacle of what is called Art and enmeshed in its dramas of image-making and power is the format chosen in which the broken human and animal marionettes of the individual tumble. Broken and unhealed, they plummet towards the audience.

Àngels Miralda, The Brown Mountain, 2020

1 Jorge Louis Borges “The Analytical Language of John Wilkins” 1952 (https://www.crockford.com/wilkins.html)

2 Ludwig Wittgenstein, Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, 1921.

3 In a long passage quoting Lardner, Marx discusses the progress of time on the constant capital of machinery this section introduces the need of maintenance and, complementary, additional labour power. There is a striking similarity with the ancient Egyptian understanding of the “destruction of energy” and their quest to build monuments that could last into eternity. Karl Marx, Capital: Volume II, Penguin Classics. (pg. 260)

4 Boccaccio, The Decameron, 1353. 5 Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, 1392.

6 In an exhibition I curated in January 2020, I set up the metaphor of curator as compiler. Based around the figure of Pier Paolo Pasolini and his series of films under the title The Trilogy of Life. The Sea Monster, The Bear, (Jüri Arrak, Nadia Barkate, Vytenis Burokas, Beth Collar) lítost, Prague. January – March 2020. (https://litost.gallery/en/ programme/smb/)

7 Pasolini’s profile has persistently puzzled academics, as a queer communist, he was awarded by the Vatican for his filmic interpretation of the Gospel according to Saint Matthew – regardless of the fact that the Church had officially excommunicated all communist sympathisers. He created for himself an awkward yet forceful position both antagonising and recognising the Catholic church for its sins and for its cultural importance.

Link: Nazim Ünal Yilmaz at Exile

from Contemporary Art Daily https://bit.ly/3igqkmV

#micaramel

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richardadamron · 3 years

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Reasoning: Relating and Serving Humanity and God November 11, 2020

Here is an overview of my perspective of the different ways we serve each other and God causing a disunion and interfering with sharing the bounties of life between good people and providing a sword for the ill willed. The ill willed tend to take our differences and turn them into war while claiming our good.

For a moment, this will take us to the subject of money and specifically taxes in America. The so called conservative right of religion believes in military but not social services like social security, food security, medicare/medicaid, etc. The liberal left do not believe in the use of military force to invoke change and do believe in and support social services like social security, food security, medicare/medicaid, etc.

Many conservatives would rather address the shortcomings of Humanity solely with chapter and verse of the Bible which is often taken out of context and definitely taken from a time passed. Conservatives seem to believe it is alright to collect money in donation and tithe to help one another but do not believe in social services like social security, food security, medicare/medicaid, etc. which serves a much broader population, everyone and anyone who needs it. It makes absolutely no sense at all to tithe 10% but refuse aid through government to those in need. Particularly a government based on rights of men given by God. The Bible alone will not further God's Kingdom nor will the charity derived from it. God's Kingdom must be implemented with the knowledge and acceptance of all good people on Earth who are in God's image, reflections of God, and their gifts. To exclude people for religion, sex, origin, idea, etc. is to exclude more than a majority of God's Human Creation.

Your conflict or crusade will continue forever because God is not going to change the Spirit(s) of Humanity. There will always be blacks, gays, and Muslims born in my opinion, and with differing views. We should help them all; together, through government. If you and our nation continue this way, you, like our nation, will be serving more people with less money. You are working your way out of society and the World and doing more harm than good. Tax exemptions were given because these organizations help people but they are old and abused; though I am not advocating their abolishment at this time. In fact, I am saying expand your services through government and stand with those who wish to serve people no matter their race, religion, sex, or origin like our Founding Fathers intended.

Conservatives seem also to believe in a strong military to maintain their constitution/beliefs. So do I, but it will not come without change on both sides of the differing/warring parties. I have stood with conservatives on this issue more than I would have liked to have to. Once again, acceptance and support of good people while eliminating threats to their lives and livelihoods is all that is necessary.

These differences, in honesty and good will, did, in my opinion, start long ago. In our history, we have recorded it as Humanism/Naturalism and Religion. I believe Humanism dominated first with Religion of sacrifices, rights of passage, repentance, etc. But it is the Religious Right that has taken up arms and fought for Humanity's Freedoms by God long ago and they still do. They do so while the left paint, photograph, and write about the ills of Humanity. The Religious Right has in fact preserved the left, in my opinion. These things started long ago and the best example is the wars of the Middle East and the collection and discussion of ideas around the Mediterranean.

Moreover, in my opinion, the Religious Right should be recognized for and realize their own history of building of schools and teaching everyone about the World, about the Laws of God including sciences and the like. And they built grand beautiful churches as well also adorned with the beauty of art. We have somehow fought our way to freedom while gazing at and reading about it in the work of leftists liberals and their depictions of Heaven on Earth while they pick flowers from the field to bring home and study and teach the very life knowledge collected by Religious people of the past that include Theologies.

This I believe is a natural design of God's Humanity. But the conservative must come to Spiritually accept the liberal and the liberal must come to Spiritually accept the conservative and they must decide on our future. It is now a time of great decision making, reckoning. The Far Right or White Supremacists or terrorists must not be allowed to interfere in a gathering and coming together of differing roles and approaches to life in a society as we must do so now, becoming more alike than not.

I have lumped all conservatives in one description and all liberals in another like is occasion to do so to speak in this overview though we all know this is not true. I consider myself a conservative liberal and I know of liberal conservatives. I stand with the military, policeman and intelligence but I work for the liberal and women and children. Let us not allow extremists to create swords with our words and use guns against our bodies and works.

I hope and believe America has chosen good people to serve them in government this election whether republican or liberal. I would vote for either as I have in the past. And let us protect our values and paths in a way that includes all good views on life and it's return of love, beauty, and prosperity for all in the World.

As I have written I believe we are in what I call the Unspoken Holy World War where the United States of America has become the primary target once again since the attack on September 11. However, this time they have planned to control our government and society in an effort to destroy it from within. And my gravest concern that our military/security and intelligence agencies have been or will be compromised is occurring. But honestly, if my theory is correct, I hope they exhaust all avenues of doing so, so that we can get on with our lives. They have created a division from which there is little return which is normally how it goes when one goes against good and right.

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ibnsiqillioccident-blog · 7 years

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In Licit Magic: The Life and Letters of al-Ṣāḥib b. ʿAbbād (d. 385/995) Maurice A. Pomerantz explores the biography and literary output of a major tenth-century Muslim statesman, literary patron, and intellectual. His nearly two decade reign as vizier on behalf of two Buyid amirs was an important period for the flowering of Arabic letters, Muʿtazilī theology and Shīʿism in Western Iran. Making use of Ibn ʿAbbād’s large corpus of letters (rasāʾil), Pomerantz explores the role that eloquence played in the conduct of administration, the maintenance of social networks of elites, and persuasion. Licit Magic argues that the eloquent persuasion that Ibn ʿAbbād displayed in his letters was central to his exercise of power.

#Books #Islam #Islamic History #Iran #Iraq #History

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kim26chiu · 7 years

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The London Review of Books Is Required Reading

People often ask me how they can follow my career path into urbanism writing. I generally discourage that. But for those who are interested, it involves reading – lots and lots and reading. And not just on urbanism but not a wide range of topics. I can only make many of the connections I do because I’m tapped in a wide of range of things, most of which are like the parts of the iceberg underwater you never see.

As it happens, some folks also ask me what they should read or what I read.

One thing of course is to sign up for my exclusive monthly newsletter, where I include my hand-selected list of some of the best links I read that month.

One periodical that most people don’t read but should is the London Review of Books. Virtually all newspapers and periodicals are fungible at some level. They cover the same stories with the same slants and frames. But the London Review of Books is different.

The LRB does review books, but is unlike a typical book review. They often get the best or one of the best people in the world on the subject at hand to write the review. This sometimes backfires because of a de facto rivalry with the book author. But generally it works great. They also provide such in-depth summaries of the books in question that your rarely need to actually read them, non-fiction at least. This is important because realistically nobody can come close to reading all the books out there.

They also have longform essays on a wide range of other topics that bring perspectives you are unlikely to get elsewhere. Some of their articles are directly relevant to urbanism, such as this James Meek piece about a Cadbury factory that relocated from England to Poland.

The online version is subscriber only, but a number of articles are generally available for free. I want to share a selection of these free pieces from the current issue to give you a flavor of what you’ll get.

Malise Ruthven takes a look inside Saudi Arabia, its royal family, and its wealth.

The faith tradition that holds the Saudi system together – for now – is Wahhabi Islam, the iconoclastic creed of the 18th-century Islamic reformer Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, whose pact with the Al Saud family led to the creation of the modern kingdom in 1932. Al-Wahhab’s stormtroopers, the Ikhwan, enabled Ibn Saud’s rise to power. They killed unarmed villagers regarded as apostates, thought nothing of slaughtering women and children, and routinely slit the throats of male captives. Contemporary accounts describe the horrors afflicted on the city of Taif in 1924, when the Ikhwan murdered hundreds of civilians, in a massacre similar to the violence committed by Islamic State or al-Qaida today. As an Arab witness wrote, Ibn Saud’s forces ‘normally give no quarter, sparing neither boys nor old men, veritable messengers of death from whose grasp no one escapes’. Some 400,000 people are reported to have been massacred by the Ikhwan during the early days of the Saudi state. The Wahhabi understanding of tawhid, the theology of monotheism or divine unicity, which forbids the veneration of any person or object other than Allah, is still used today to justify the ban on all forms of non-Muslim public worship in the kingdom, as well as the confiscation of non-Wahhabi textual sources such as Quranic commentaries brought in by pilgrims from South Asia, who have had them removed by the religious police while attending the Hajj. But tawhid, a theology that claims to be fundamentally opposed to polytheism, has an unexpected consequence. It mines the Islamic discourse to sustain a totalitarian outlook whose actual purpose is the preservation and enrichment of the tribal dynasty that owns and governs this enormous country in its exclusive interest.

Novelist Colm Tóibín takes a brief look at Barcelona, Joan Miró, Las Ramblas, terrorism, and tourism.

At that time the Ramblas was still the place where locals strolled in the evening. It had begun as a small stream whose channel was used in the dry season as a roadway. In the 18th century the stream was diverted and the Ramblas became a place to walk, with plane trees offering shelter. It is about the width of a four-lane street, with kiosks selling newspapers, flowers and (these days) ice cream, and some outdoor tables for bars, with two narrow lanes on either side, like an afterthought, for traffic. Although the pedestrian section is slightly raised, there is no real barrier between the lanes for cars and the boulevard for walkers.

Miró’s tiles were put down in an almost-circle at Plaça d’Os, just above the Liceu Opera House, near the Boqueria Market. Miró loved the idea that people would actually walk on his tiles, made in his customary colours – blue, yellow, red, black – and using some of his customary iconography. This was the first sign of a new spirit in Barcelona, which would use culture, civic pride and the idea of vivid street life to reimagine the city, giving rise, in turn, to the development of mass tourism.

Amia Srinivasan takes a fascinating and creepy look at octopuses.

Octopuses do not have any stable colour or texture, changing at will to match their surroundings: a camouflaged octopus can be invisible from just a few feet away. Like humans, they have centralised nervous systems, but in their case there is no clear distinction between brain and body. An octopus’s neurons are dispersed throughout its body, and two-thirds of them are in its arms: each arm can act intelligently on its own, grasping, manipulating and hunting. (Octopuses have arms, not tentacles: tentacles have suckers only at their tips. Squid and cuttlefish have a combination of arms and tentacles.) In evolutionary terms, the intelligence of octopuses is an anomaly. The last common ancestor between octopuses on the one hand, and humans and other intelligent animals (monkeys, dolphins, dogs, crows) on the other, was probably a primitive, blind worm-like creature that existed six hundred million years ago. Other creatures that are so evolutionarily distant from humans – lobsters, snails, slugs, clams – rate pretty low on the cognitive scale. But octopuses – and to some extent their cephalopod cousins, cuttlefish and squid – frustrate the neat evolutionary division between clever vertebrates and simple-minded invertebrates. They are sophisticated problem solvers; they learn, and can use tools; and they show a capacity for mimicry, deception and, some think, humour. Just how refined their abilities are is a matter of scientific debate: their very strangeness makes octopuses hard to study. Their intelligence is like ours, and utterly unlike ours. Octopuses are the closest we can come, on earth, to knowing what it might be like to encounter intelligent aliens.

The LRB often takes a look at parochial topics like some king from way back in the day, or some debate in contemporary London, that may or may not be of interest to you. If not, you can easily skip them. (As with the New Yorker, it’s difficult to keep up with the LRB, even though the latter is deceptively thin and only comes out every 2-3 weeks. So some skipping is generally needed).

Here’s one of those British pieces, a look at the life of Prince Charles.

At the age of 23 Prince Charles embarked with no great enthusiasm on a six-week training course at the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth. The course had been reduced from the usual three months for him, but it was long enough for Charles to realise that seafaring was yet another area in which he and his father had nothing in common. Prince Philip had a distinguished naval career. His son struggled with navigation, which he found confusing, and he didn’t much like the rough and tumble of life onboard ship. One exercise involved performing an ‘underwater escape from a submarine’: a not inapt image for a life spent trapped in a role he didn’t choose doing things he doesn’t like for people who don’t much appreciate them. That at least has often been his own view. He has made no secret of his difficulties or of the fact that his childhood was unhappy in many ways. An awkward boy who didn’t take after either his bluff father or his pragmatic, dutiful but distant mother, by the age of eight he was already worried about doing the right thing. Once, at lunch with the Mountbattens, Edwina Mountbatten explained to him that he shouldn’t take the stalks out of his strawberries because he could pick them up by the stems and dip them in the sugar. His cousin Pamela Hicks noticed a few minutes later that ‘the poor child was trying to put all the stems back on. That was so sad.’ ‘Sad’ is a word that has often been applied to the Prince of Wales, with every shade of intonation from empathy to contempt. It recurs here in books which are interesting more for what they reveal about the continuing narrative of the royal family and its symbiotic relationship with the media than for anything new in the way of facts.

Not everything is perfect, of course. The LRB has some definite biases that render their takes on various issues suspect. Israel-Palestine is one of them. You’ll quickly find out most of the rest yourself and adjust accordingly. (Hint: one of them is illustrated in the Barcelona piece).

However, I find the LRB consistently the best and most illuminating periodical I read. And no, they didn’t pay me to say this. In fact, I pay them to subscribe. If you want one reading suggestion from me that you’re not likely to get from others, it’s the London Review of Books.

from Aaron M. Renn http://www.urbanophile.com/2017/09/01/the-london-review-of-books-is-required-reading/

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barb31clem · 7 years

Text

The London Review of Books Is Required Reading

As it happens, some folks also ask me what they should read or what I read.

One thing of course is to sign up for my exclusive monthly newsletter, where I include my hand-selected list of some of the best links I read that month.

Malise Ruthven takes a look inside Saudi Arabia, its royal family, and its wealth.

Novelist Colm Tóibín takes a brief look at Barcelona, Joan Miró, Las Ramblas, terrorism, and tourism.

Amia Srinivasan takes a fascinating and creepy look at octopuses.

Here’s one of those British pieces, a look at the life of Prince Charles.

from Aaron M. Renn http://www.urbanophile.com/2017/09/01/the-london-review-of-books-is-required-reading/

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ramrodd · 7 years

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youtube

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aIQ-qAojjo)

COMMENTARY:

Bruce, you know I love you and there are areas of disconnect between you and I in regards to Jesus. If Mike Mulvaney didn't exist, this may not be as pertinent in your ministry as you should now. This is what the overwhealming majority of white Evangelicals voted for. In the mind of someone as intimately, and appropriately, linked to over a generation of white Christian high school students,. You and James White seem to share the same opinion of recent presidential history. James White avoided a principled stand either for Clinton or Trump, but went Independent, instead. This was morally insufficient. It was like Martin Luther King refusing to ride with the Freedom.

I just want to make myself clear. I owe you a great deal, just in providing the intellectual rock against which to clarify my thinking with or without Mike Mulvaney in the mix. What I realized just this last week from one of your lectures was that I employ process theology, but not like anything you understand as "PROCESS theology", if you get my point. For me, Epitemology IS PROCESS theology" as Kurt Lewin defines "PROCESS". If you don't agree with his definition, or don't understand it, or refuse to accept it as the definition I employ when I say "PROCESS theology", communication pretty well fails.

"PROCESS theology" is natural law. Wicca is almost entirely natural law and the only thing missing is what Jesus does. How does that work? What is the content He brings to the table that focuses SOMETHING SPIRITUAL outside Himself and His patient/target. The Holy Spirit is one SOMETHING SPIRITUAL, but it appears from something I learned from N.T.Wright's course on Romans was that Paul believe EVIL was SOMETHING PHYSICAL. I think Paul is correct about there being SOMETHING PHYSICAL and I think Jesus uses that in His miracle work and the pericopes in Mark about the two step miracle with the blind man who saw trees and the man who never could hear and needed oral surgery to repair his palate in some way, What He does with all the spitting and clapping and what not is setting up the "PROCESS theology, not unlike putting the paddles on before commanding "CLEAR!" and then "WHAM" something happens, Well, I think He pulls the trigger somehow on a jolt of this SOMETHING PHYSICAL, which I associate with the Spirit of God that God unleashed to create an ecology perfect for sustaining life in various ways until The ONE finally stumbled upon Homo Sapien, where The ONE completes the CREATION STORY with the Cross and it is now up to us.

The difference between PROCESS and CONTENT is the difference with the actual chewing motion and whatever is being chewed, The Bible is intellectual chewing gun in the process of reading. The Gospel of Mark captures all the PROCESS Jesus uses to squirt a little Spirit of God. This is the LIVING SPIRIT I thing Paul observes as evil. The LIVING SPIRIT is blood thirsty and undomesticated. It was the LIVING SPIRIT sent to kill Moses. It shows up everywhere blood is connected with malevolent ritual, that being rituals carried out to envoke a collective emotional response. However, the Spirit of God also comes to Messiah sing-alongs and probably the Muslim ritual, praying as a renewable resource. All prayers and meditation is a renewable resource. It is PROCESS theology for method and hope. Hope is not a Method, but METHOD without Hope tends to generate Idolotry and Fascism.

And this is possibly the biggest difference between Mark and the other Synoptics, but the most in common with John, Their processes. In terms of PROCESS, Romans and Luke/Acts need to be understood in brace: they are pulling the same load. Matthew is written for a larger process associated with Islam and 19, but is based on the PROCESS in Mark which surfaced the CONTENT that Matthew connects with contemporary Jewish theology cited in both Hewbrew and Greek texts.

One of the things I have been fascinated since 1990 is the PROCESS employed to put Mark together from a Roman centurion's point of view. If the Gospel of Mark was missing Mark 16:9 - 20, it would be the final report from Cornelius, a centurion in Caesarea during the reign of Caligula, "Little Boots" as you are wont to say, beating it into your student's conscousness in a gentle way that engages an exemplary model of classroom teaching in any educational system currently employed. This looks like a nice, white Christian charter school in Seattle. I didn't understand teachers or education until I got into college, so I look back at my high school teachers in a bit of wonder, because, in spite of being an ESTP, I now have a Masters in Organization Development and have a sketch book for a Ph.D. dissertation that I'll email you.

Kurt Lewin is very important to me. Reading his Kriegslandshaft the first time was like being back, sitting on a muddy trail in the Central Highlands in Vietnam. He is writting with the authority of experience which I share with him and virtually all combat vets. It's a been there, done that kind of thing. We weren't just sharing a walk with someone you know and like in a National Park somewhere.

We were walking throught the Valley of the Shadow of Death in response to Romans 11:22 in a military manner and it's an eternal experience: it’s a justification by compliance. The centurion in Matthew, Luke and Acts 10 recognized that in response to authority in Jesus and didn't need an operational manual to do His magic. And he, that centurion, described it in Mark and when both the odd ending of Mark and somewhere in John it is mentioned that there were many more pericopes they could have added from their intelligence dossier on Jesus, but they winnowed out the sort of repition you get in the Hadiths and then narrowed it down to essentials beginning with the Cross and working backwards and now we have the report to the Praetorium Guard and, when John Mark added the last editors note, it became the Gospel we now call Mark. Dan Wallace says somewhere that we have Christian manuscripts that reach almost a mile high. Look how tall a complete stack of the most reliable Hadith stands and that wasn't winnowed but it is narrowly focused on Mohammad, My guess is that the Q source was the original authograph and they had a stack of loose leaf spy reports from that period over a mile high to draw from, And they winnowen out and narrowed down to the Gospel of Mark. And sent it up the chain of command,

That's where Matthew starts, but Matthew (and it is, in fact, the very same publican Levi from Mark) has a different mission, where his PROCESS is to arrange CONTENT to make sense to contemporary Jews. Judaizing isn't an issue: it's the point.

But in terms of process THEOLOGY, The One has another PROCESS beginnig to flower around an unexpected PROPHET, Malala Yousafzai, It has to do with Sura 74:30 "Above it is 19" and Sura Maryham 19:1 - 33 aimed directly at Mary, Mother of Jesus as Co-Redemptrix. This is part of The One's SPIRITUAL process, that has been Khadiji's legacy for Muslim women unrealized until recently and the message is Come to JESUS just the way you are and come through the Co-Redemptrix and throught the gates of the 19th Amendment and that's what process THEOLOGY has revealed to me. Jesus uses a SPIRITUAL process to accomplish His miracles and it's like "USE THE FORCE, LUKE". But a cost of this knowledge will be to reveal the total moral fraud of the so-called budget Mike Dulvaney is presenting.

A place I part company with Besty DeVos is PROCESS: she believes her Creationist version of Jesus is the reason she is so rich, but it is the PROCESS of AmWay's networking marking that brings in the bucks. It is all natural law.

How do I know? The bible told me so.

Let me say this: President Trump may actually be engaged in a historic civics lesson courtsey of Trump University but Mike Mulvaney just pushes it beyond the realm of possibilty. If, on his 100th day, President Trump announces his Making America Great Agin American First Infrastructure Restoration Act and signs it for delivery to Congress, then gets up, goes to a barber chair in the middle of the Oval Office and gets his head shaved bald and promises keep it bald until America puts a Children's Hospital on the moon by 2025, and says "By the way, the last 99 days? it was all in quotation marks", then I'll become a believer.

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