Last Post

With my last post, I will address the topic that most interests me: religious acceptance across the nation. With all the complaints against how Obama has started his presidency, there is one area where I cannot help but support Obama: reaching out to bring religions closer to one another.

One recent White House event was the dinner held in honor of the Ramadan fasting period. With all the controversy going on the recent dinner crashing couple, people seemed to have overlooked what occurred at this event. Not only was this a dinner held primarily for Muslims, perhaps the most scrutinized group in America, but it also extended an invitation to Jewish leaders. That for me personally, is appalling. Not only has Obama invited the "American enemy" but he has brought together leaders of two warring nations.

Why is there no media over this now? President Clinton earned huge acclaim for conducting a meeting between Muslim and Jewish leaders at Camp David. And yet, all people can focus on is how Obama may be a secret Muslim, how he is asking for more soldiers, and how is making American look weak by bowing in front of the Japanese emperor. I'll end with one piece of advice: Wake up Americans and see the courage and audacity of our President. He has tackled the issue that has created the most conflict in the history of mankind: Religion.

Job Hirings based on Religion

George W Bush, often criticized for his over emphasis on Christianity during his presidency, had implemented a program that allowed faith-based groups to hire only Christians. Essentially a Christian program such as CAC, can turn away more qualified applicants on the basis that they aren't Christian.

What is perhaps most stunning is that President Obama has decided to keep the program. Knowing the policies of Obama, we know that he has called for religious tolerance and acceptance. He has reached out to the middle east and explicitly stated that the United States is not attempting to persecute Muslims. He has also tried to alleviate the tensions between Israel and Palestine. So with so much work done for religious quality, why has he kept this blatantly discriminating program?

That is what the people are arguing. They are trying to appeal to the president to repeal the act. One question that is probably grazing their minds is how Christianity can hold such power in a country founded on "separation of church and state".

The little known Golden Temple

If anyone hasn't gone to the Golden Temple in Amritsar, it is a place I highly recommend people visit it. This is the most revered location in the Sikh faith, which is thought to be built on a lake with healing properties.
Considering that Sikhs are a very small minority in India, what is it exactly that has drawn so much attention to this beautiful temple? The answer is politics. Sikhism was created by Guru Nanak, in an attempt to take the best of both the Hindu and Muslim faiths. It was also created in an attempt to get away from the two mega- Indian faiths.
One political event forever changed how the temple was viewed is the invasion by Indian troops in 1984. Because Indira Gandhi had taken up alliances with a fundamentalist Sikh leader, she was nearly powerless when he took refuge with his armed men in the holy Sikh temple. Indira Gandhi then made the extremely controversial choice of sending in armed soldiers and tanks. When the attack occurred, all Sikhs were dismayed, and some wanted revenge. This was obviously the mindset of Gandhi's Sikh bodyguards as they assassinated her a few days later.
What is unfortunate is that this holy Sikh site is most remembered for the political conflict that embroiled it in controversy.

Benedict XVI trying to improve relations

Over the last three years of his papacy, Benedict XVI admits that he has made some mistakes when addressing other religions. He has referred to Islam as a religion based on old concepts attempting to spread in a new way: by violence. Quite ironic he should make reference to violent conversion when Christianity has had crusades and mass conversion camps.
What is encouraging though, is that the Pope is trying to call a meeting with Muslim, Jewish, and Hindu leaders. This falls in place of growing dialogue that the Catholic Church has supported for the last 20 or so years.
The view of the Catholic Church is that dialogue with other religions is necessary and helpful. Pope John II was well known for his advice to Catholics that they must be ready for conversion when taking part in dialogue. That just goes to show that he truly held that other religions could also hold truth.
Benedict could probably take a page out of John II's book. Perhaps with this step, there is a much brighter future for possible camaraderie between the Abrahamic religions and the Eastern religions.

President Obama and now Bobby Jindal

President Obama, despite repetitively claiming that he is a Christian, is still accused of being a Muslim. People intermittently still look at old interviews of Obama trying to find slip-ups and lies that would uncover his hidden Muslim faith. You would think after people couldn't find much evidence, they would leave the topic alone, but these people never do. Perhaps they still haven't understood that we now have a black President.

In a different part of the nation, another ethnic minority is being heavily scrutinized for claiming to be a Catholic. Ironically it is another political figure, Bobby Jindal. Despite conversion many years ago, Jindal still draws the routine Hindu accusations and even occasional Muslim one. What is it with people? Why must political figures so actively go out and prove their faith?

Have we forgotten how recently not just Christians, but Christian priests have been found guilty of being unfaithful to Christian principles? Have we forgotten that Christians have been accused of exhorting the poor people through the use of televangelism? It is time for Christians to stop looking for public figures to affirm their faith and focus on cleaning up their own religion.

Are Christian Perceptions Changing?

Throughout most of the 20th century, the Christian view of other religions has been that they are false, and all non-Christians are condemned to hell. Through time however, views have either expanded or reverted to older ideas.
The first different view is that other religions have some truth in them, but Jesus is the savior, and through his grace, all the moral people in THE WORLD will be saved. So Christianity still > other religions.
The second view is that Christianity is on par with other religions. That means that other religions are true and have God in them as well. Additionally, these people can reach salvation within their own faiths, although that salvation will be lower than the Christian heaven. Essentially, all the truth cannot be held in one religion alone, and that makes other religions valuable as well.
The final view includes the acceptance of all other religions. This view calls for increased dialogue between faiths and warns Christians that they must be ready in case conversion occurs. Here salvation is equal and achievable in all faiths.

One example of the second view, known as the mutuality model, is Newark Mayor Corey Booker. While taking a look around his office, one would see he has not just a bible, but the Koran, Bhagvad-Gita, and Torah as well. His reasoning? No one religion can capture the infinite.
It just goes to show you that even hundreds of years of precedent cannot stop people from expanding their religious boundaries.

Why are Atheists so Politically Strong?

Atheists are gaining in number, as proven by the fact that atheism is the third most popular "religion" in the world. They put out books in large numbers and gain media time at regular intervals. So what is it about atheists and atheism that attracts people and the media?

1. Atheism is an outlet for those religious people that are strictly fed up. These people see atrocities in the world and experience them in their personal lives. After years of pleas to God, these people are looking for alternatives. Atheism provides that alternative with the thinking that perhaps the world is not oriented around a higher being. Perhaps the world is oriented around the human being and the idea that people are the highest in the social ladder.

2. Atheists are well educated and spoken. This presents a disadvantage to religious people in a debate, because the grounds of the debate are based upon worldly activities and issues. Religions are conversely based upon spirituality, places and beings not evident to the human eye, and usually blind faith. So it is understandable that people are drawn to arguments based on tangibles.

To give you proof of a well spoken and educated atheist, here is the link to none other than the renowned Christopher Hitchens.

Diversity in Atheism

One would think that an Atheist denies any existence of God. That isn't the case however. There are supposedly three different waves of Atheism. The first wave was the one we are all familiar with, declaring that there is no God. The second wave actually took a vastly different approach, claiming that there is no doubt that God exists. What caused them to lost faith was the fact that God's existence didn't lead to an end in the world's suffering. The third and current wave claims that there is no God, but perhaps there is value to religion.
I want to address that third group's stance. Taking out the concept of God, what is religion? Quite frankly it becomes just another organization or group, comparable to the government or the boy scouts. God is what makes religion. Without that higher being, religion is merely a social gathering. Without God, there is no weight to any religious text, nor religious rituals. Without God, there is no religious diversity and nor is there religious approaches to living life.
For me personally, the third wave of atheists are riding a nonexistent wave. Because without God, there is no religion.
Of course another point is arguable here. Why do we need religion? Well religion does many of the same things that other social organizations do: 1. it gives a sense of community 2. it builds relationships 3. It provides a social network to fall back upon. But it also does more than that. Religion provides meaning, or purpose in life. Atheists have no belief in God, so what are their aims in life? Money, fame, knowledge? These are aspects that are whimsical, and can be lost as quickly as they are gained. Faith in a higher being and an afterlife however, has driven people through entire lifetimes. Perhaps more importantly, it has given satisfaction. What can atheists say to that?

Televangelists Finally Being Exposed

I had seen televangelists perform on television many years ago. Not being a Christian, I gave little thought to them. But in my Politics and Religion class, i was exposed to the ways in which televangelists take advantage of poor Americans in the name of Jesus. With so many televangelists, you would think that one of these guys is for real. But there is strong proof against that claim, because so many of these people are multi-millionaires.
Now how exactly do these people become so rich when they are preaching for God, and asking for money for good causes such as charities? Truth is that many are taking part of this incoming money and using it for personal desires. So what exactly are these people buying? Planes? Boats? Rolls-Royces? Houses? Yes to all of the above. Their spending is so ludicrous, that its a wonder these people have not been jailed for mass extortion. One man has at least stepped up to the plate. Mr. Chuck Grassley has started to meticulously monitor these televangelists under the pretense of tax evasion. There is legitimacy to this claim, because the government outlaws religious authorities earning or receiving copious amounts of money.
Until further developments can be made, we will just have to hope people begin making their own investigations, and exposing these frauds.

Sarah Palin Part of Christian Right?

Having recently heard of the Christian Right, I came across an article that talked about Sarah Palin's new book Going Rogue suggesting her candidacy to not only join the organization, but to lead it. With Palin being the vice president candidate runner up with John McCain, this book brings up to different thoughts.
The first is: What in the world was a Christian Fundamentalist, the type of people that constitute the Christian Right, doing running for the second most influential position in American politics? If anything, this is further proof that Americans are too dependent on "Christian Morals", rather than personal qualifications.
The second thought is that why didn't Sarah Palin run with George Bush? The match would have put together extremely devout Christians, and the people could have had the most fundamental Christian duo of American history. In that sense, the Christian Right would have been happy, the American people would have been happy, and the Vatican would have been happy. It would have been a win-win situation for everyone. Well perhaps everyone except the millions of Hindus, Muslims, Jains, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Atheists. At least it would neatly solve the question : Is America a Christian Nation?

Christian Power in Europe

Just recently, Switzerland banned Muslims from building minarets on their mosques. It seems that there is little reasoning behind the decision. This is without a doubt discrimination against the minority Swiss Muslims, numbering around 400,000. The ban seems to make little sense, since only four mosques actually have minarets. These spire like structures are used to call Muslims to prayer. Perhaps of some ironic nature, is the fact that the religious majority there is Christian.

The situation in Europe strongly mirrors a situation I blogged about earlier, on the Hindu mandir in Chino Hills. Just as the minaret situation, the mandir faces opposition on placing spires above the imposed 42 foot city height limit.

One point should be remembered however. That this is not a post to blast Christianity. I'm sure minority religions have problems practicing their faith in religious dominated societies. The point is then, that religious tolerance isn't enough. Rather, countries need to incorporate religious acceptance.

Islam only extreme?

Islam is a religion of terrorism. That seems to be the outlook of many Americans at least. But if Islam is looked at from a macro perspective, it is easy to see that acts of terror, violence, and intolerance are regulated to a small portion of the population. Other Muslims take no part in crimes or violence.
So what really should Americans be targeting? Fundamentalism. That is the root of religious dissension. Fundamentalists, which come from all religions, never accept tolerance and go to extreme means to get religious objectives completed. They are the cause of strife and the current mindset that religions cannot live harmoniously with one another.
What is important here, is to remember that not only Muslims are fundamentalist. Christians (Religious Right, Family, KKK), Hindus (VJP), Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs will always have their own fundamentals. But that doesn't mean that they should ruin the image of followers as a whole.
Some key similarities of fundamentalists are
1. Strong Basis on Texts
2. Taking the texts literally- meaning they are not open to interpretation
3. Intolerance of other religions
4. Divinity of religious leaders
5. Secularism causes problems

Obama's show of faith

As I have noted in a recent post, Obama has not been scared to show that he is a man of faith. Now that does not mean he goes to the level of FORMER PRESIDENT G. Bush, but just that he lets Americans know he is religious. He even actively used his Christian background to appeal to voters during the elections.
So the question is, do President's, or politicians in general, live their lives as religiously as they publicly advertise? There have been numerous examples where President Obama has been caught in small lies about being present in church or actively being Christian. So what really are the chances that all of our Presidents have being abiding Christians? Could they have just fooled the Christian crazed American people into voting them into office? Could they just be attending memorials, services, and rituals to keep selling their product?

For most Americans, this is a definite possibility. Sadly, with so much emphasis on religion during elections, it is likely that other qualified men and women who are either part of minorty religions or atheists, never get a chance to change America for the better. How do we know that Christian leaders have the best interests of the country in mind? How do we know that an atheist cannot lead America forward? Quite frankly, we don't.

Atheism accepts intelligent design

Atheism is officially the third largest "religion" in the world. That is frankly surprising, and as a religious person, perhaps a bit frightening. And yet, even though people make think that Atheists and Theists must be absolutely opposed on every issue, that isn't the case. The proof is provided by the recent study that some atheists don't discount the intelligent design theory offered by mainly Christians. The theory goes along the lines of, if you pick up a watch and open it up, you see that there are many integral parts that lead to the watch being able to keep time. Essentially, there has to be a creator for the watch. That example is drawn in parallel to the world. The world has so many facets that work together and create the existence we are a part of today. So theists argue, that like a watch, there must have been a creator for the world. There is no way that the world can function so seamlessly as it does, without having been set in motion by a greater being.

But my purpose for this blog isn't necessarily to discuss this acceptance. Rather its to move on to what moves people to become atheists. Here are a list of personal thoughts on why it happens.
1. Calamities/ Life changing experiences- Holocaust, WWII, Hiroshima bombing, Rwanda Genocide
2. Religious intolerance, acts of violence, and fraud around the world
3. Ego (either wanting to take credit for accomplishments, or feeling so minuscule in relation to a divine being and countless galaxies.
4. Attempt to do away with faith (although every decision we make is based on faith)
Let me hear your reasons or disputations.

Celibacy in religions

This blog isn't in reference to Catholic laity being allowed to marry, but rather the priests. There has recently been limited acceptance of Anglican married men as priests. But there still remains strong resistance to the idea, and even now very few married men will be ordained. Which brings up the question of why should married men be ordained? What is there then to separate him from the laity?
The purpose of celibacy is for purification of mind and actions. Those that follow rules of celibacy should abide by them meticulously, according to the levels prescribed by the particular religion. What shouldn't happen, as it already has in Catholicism, are incidents of rape and sodomy of any person by the ordained. If you are truly committed to celibacy, then there should be no lapses. Why there is such controversy in Catholicism is confusing as well? Since when have the celibacy rules been overly strict? Opponents of the rules of celibacy are merely selling short the willpower of the human mind. They are more than likely those people weak in mind and actions.

If you want to hear of true celibacy, look at the santos of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha. Here, the Hindu monks cannot even look at, think of, or touch women. That strictness puts to shame the celibacy set for priests in Catholicism. And yet, there are no reports of child rape. Perhaps if Christianity cannot get a proper handle on its "celibate" priests, it should do away with the celibacy rules altogether.

Christians reject Mormon

Mitt Romney is a Christian. He is as Christian as any Mormon can be. Unfortunately, that isn't enough for some. According to the amount of votes Romney received in 2008, he should be the prime candidate to receive the Christian nomination in 2012. Sadly, 18 percent of the Republican party has already stated that it could never vote for a Mormon president. That is, for me at least, a very poor reason not to vote for an otherwise worthy candidate.
So my question is why does religion play such a big role in deciding the president? Since when did the presidency become a theological position? There is a separation of church and state for a reason, primarily so that there is no religious persecution. Ironically, every single president to date, (perhaps excluding Barack Obama) has been Christian. I can't help but wonder what connects peoples ideas of morality to Christianity. Is Christianity moral for having priests that have individually raped 100s of boys and girls? Is Christianity moral in calling for a modern crusade on Islam? Is Christianity moral for actively supressing women from being ordained without any religious dogma supporting that view?
What exactly has made Christianity the standard for other religions? The fact that it preaches universal love and almost never practices it? The fact that its the oldest religion in its own warped Adam and Eve conception of the universe? Nothing that I can see.

Christians Say No

Having lived in California my entire life, I must say that the most ignorant and stubborn religious group I have encountered is Christianity. Not only have I been stopped frequently to be preached to, but I have also been approached with comments such as "are you a terrorist?", "your going to hell", and "why is there a gunshot in your forehead". Sadly, I can only ponder what Southern California would be like if people only pushed themselves to learn of other cultures and religions.

This religious stubbornness hasn't just led to personal harassment however. It has also led to Buddhist, Hindus, and Jains having a difficult time constructing places of worship. One example is the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, which is a Hindu sect of Vaishnavism. This religious group has been attempting to build a mandir in Chino Hills since the late 1990s. Unfortunately for them, Chino Hills is predominately Christian. That means that constant hindrances will be present and they definitely have been. One knock that the city, under the vehement protest of Asian and Caucasion Christians, has tried to use against the mandir is the 40 foot height limit zoning regulation. That is ironic considering there are numerous buildings (including a Christian church) that far exceed this amount. More of the dispute can be read here.

Evolution vs. Creationism

A classic battle in American politics has always been between the creation or evolution of the world.
Since the Scopes trial, the religious right (Christian fundamentalist movement), has had its hands full in trying to implement Creationism also being taught in schools. Whether for better or worse, there has been no success with the Supreme Court in this plan.
The reasons for American rejection of Darwin's evolution theory are many. It has always been part of American understanding that God and evolution just cannot coexist. Some are starting to combine the two, with the stance that perhaps God started everything and then took a laissez-faire policy.
Perhaps for there to really be peace between science and religion, people need to realize that science is not always a threat. Personally, I see scientists as rationalists with poor reasoning. They claim to want concrete proof without the presence of faith. Unfortunately they would be hard pressed to find any decision or action taken without the involvement of faith. Whether that be faith in a diving being or personal motto, is besides the point. Faith is an integral part of everyone's life.
Another point is that science and religion both need one another. Science can provide the proof for how things work. For example, Issac Newton could say the apple fell on his head, but he could never say why. And that is frankly what religion does. It answers the question of why? And it answers is with God.

Religious Animal Slaughter

The use of animals for sacrifice is well documented in numerous religions. Hinduism was once a participant of animal sacrifices up to the 1800s, until Lord Swaminarayan helped end violent sacrifices. They are of course widely mentioned in the Jewish Bible as the most common means to make up for personal sins.
Religions today still take part in the act, something that causes dismay for animal right activists. One religion in Nepal which pledges allegiance to the goddess Gadhimai, slaughters up to 200,000 animals yearly.
The issue here has become a global one. PETA and other organizations are lobbying hard to put an end to these near savage rituals. What is perhaps even more confounding is that the rituals are performed for materialistic gains. Unfortunately, animal activist groups can hope to achieved very little because the persecution of religious beliefs is difficult in many countries.
So just as in America where televangelist "Christians" can pretend to spread the message of Jesus and steal the few dollars of their avid followers without being persecuted, so can this religion in Nepal. Sadly, religion seems to have been given priority of human rights.

Are Muslims a Target?

Throughout American history, violent acts committed by a Muslim have put the rest of the American Muslim population in danger of scrutiny and persecution. Some examples are 9/11, the Fort Hood shootings, and the publicized reporter beheadings. What some people say however, is that Islam has moments of unexplainable violence just as the religions in the world.
The case can of course be made for Christianity, which is reported to have a following of over 1.75 billion people. Many were without a doubt made through coercion, torture, cajoling, and brainwashing. Especially including in this are those is South America and Africa. On top of that are the Christian crusades that occurred in the middle ages, that were aimed at Muslims, pagans, and other Christians.
The case can be made certainly for Judaism, albeit perhaps with self-defense in mind initially. The violence with which Jews attacked Muslims on the day of the creation of Israel is mind boggling.
The case for Hinduism is a delicate situation. One claim is that Hinduism has acted violently to Muslims in India. Here is defense against that claim: Hindus have given Muslims their own Islamic state in Pakistan and yet the third highest amount of Muslims continue to live in India. Another claim is that Hindus have shown violence against inhabiting Christians. Well my defense of this is as follows: which religion in the world would not react against a foreign religion not only entering into their country, but cajoling and buying off Hindus with gifts of money, education, and homes. Which religion wouldn't be angry if churches were built every two thousand feet in small towns? Which religion wouldn't take a stance against another religion trying to incite hatred? This is the delicate situation with Hinduism, which has by far shown the most restraint. Need the world be reminded of the destruction of thousands of Hindu temples under Moghul role? Does the world need to be reminded of the British's ransacking of Indian wealth? If anything the rest of the world religion's could learn a thing or two from Hinduism.

Christian Nation?

A widely debated fact has been whether or not the Constitution and our founding fathers were Christian. Looking at the laws, it would be safe to say no.
But then there are certain facts, such as the need for a Scopes Trial that definitely bring questions to mind.
1 Question that came to me is : How are there so many more Christian schools than a school for any other faith? I am 100% certain that if a Muslim community wanted to build an Islamic school in America, the idea would be shot down quickly.
Yet how is it that Christian schools get the green light all the time. To give a hint, it isn't coincidence. It is because Christianity is given a subjective advantage over other religions.
Evidence of this is present even today, with a recent example being an attempt to make singing of Christmas songs, including those pertaining to Christianity, to be mandatory in schools. The odds of the measure being passed are very long, but nonetheless, the fact that some support for such a preposterous idea exists shows Christian dominance.
This is an obvious violation of the Constitution and an alarm to Americans across the country: Those Christian Psychos are still out there.

President Obama

By now, everyone either hates or loves President Obama. Because of these trying times, and the unprecedented actions taken by the President, most of the country has become polarized.
The actions I am talking about doesn't necessarily have to do with politics. In my opinion, politics is a poor excuse to argue and form prejudices. The actions I am talking about are the ones Obama has taken pertaining to the human race. No matter if people hate or love Obama, they cannot deny that he has tried to reconcile with old enemies and extended hands of friendship to all kinds of people.

Some examples are Obama's participation in the Indian festival of Diwali, speech calling for peace with Middle Eastern countries and respect of Muslims, and bow to the Japanese emperor.
Of course Americans had something to say about the last one.
Some problems that Americans have is that it makes it seem as if America is subservient to Japan. Instead America should give off feelings of pride, strength, and decisiveness.
Sadly, it seems as if Americans need to get off their imaginary pedestal and see that no longer is America the strongest country in the world. Since when did the most powerful nation boast a muti-trillion dollar debt? Since when did the strongest nation have more than ten percent unemployment? Since when did the greatest nation have currency equivalent to less than half a Euro?

Its time that Americans woke up and saw that any status that America has enjoyed for the last couple of centuries is gone. It seems as if President Obama is one of the few who realizes this, and is thus trying to dispel that old image and reach out to other countries.
At least someone is awake.

Fort Hood

As everyone must know by now, there was a recent tragedy in Texas involving the murder of 13 soldiers by, wait for it, another soldier. Perhaps even more ironic is that the soldier was Muslim. Guess what the newspapers are say? "Surprise, Surprise". More on the incident can be found here.
The purpose of discussion here is not the event but rather the fallout.
The first thing that Americans look to as the motive is Islam. The shooter, Nidal Malik Hasan, is a staunch Muslim that was quoted as saying he was more faithful to his religion than America.
Why in the world is that such a big issue? All religious people would say the same thing, whether Christian, Jewish, Hindu, or Sikh. Since when has a country taken priority over belief in the supernatural?
To throw a real wrench into the American Brain Trust, there have been no emails or written letters that suggest any plan of action in correspondence with other Muslim leaders. So what is really going on here? A guy that performed insane acts isn't being persecuted as an insane man, but rather a Muslim one.

Christianity tries a new tactic

As seen from prior posts, Christians have tried a number of different tactics in getting people from around the world to proselytize. When they first encountered the Native Americans there were copious forms of torture and brainwashing. In Central and South America there was also coercion and violence. In India, there was bribes to the poor with promises of homes and appliances. All of these are well documented. It seems that Christians in Malaysia have tried an alternative method to indoctrinate Muslims. They actually resorted to handing out Bibles with the word "Allah" inserted instead of God. Muslim leaders caught wind of this and quickly took the bibles away. More on the story can be read here.
The theme of this blog then is means Christians have in trying to convert people. Why Muslims and Christians are at such odds with each other is puzzling. Muslims and Christians both draw their origins back to Abraham, albeit to his two different sons. Both believe in the divinity of Jesus as a prophet. Both share a number of holy sites in Jerusalem. Yet, both sides attempt to take followers from one another. In reality this squabble seems foolish and unnecessary. Perhaps both religions should take a leaf out Hinduism. Never have Hindus attempted to convert others. Perhaps what is most compelling about Hinduism is that it doesn't tolerate. Yeah, that's write Hinduism does not tolerate. Rather, it accepts.

Sikhs Were the Odd Ones Out

For those that truly think politics and religion have no connections, probably have not heard of the events leading to Indira Gandhi's assassination in 1984. Gandhi had been suspected of corruption and was used to ruling with something of an iron fist. She was also known to have sided with a Sikh extremist in helping win the position of president. Unfortunately that plane backfired on her when the extremist and his group holed themselves up in the holiest of Sikh locations, the Golden Temple. Gandhi responded by sending in troops and firing on the extremist group within the temple. Obviously Sikhs did not take kindly to this, and a while later Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh body guards. Hindus retaliated with violence aimed at Sikhs throughout Northern India. The tale of one survivor, Harmeet Shah Singh, tells of his experience. He literally had to pull out of schools and be sent to his relatives dressed as a girl to assure safety.
However, as the saying goes "Time heals all". That is the case here. Today the highest individual position in India is held by none other than a Sikh. The second highest position is held by a women. Who is to say now that America is the most tolerant and accepting. Since when has American had a president that was not Christian? Since when has an independent party won an election? Since when has a women held even a top tier position? If India were really so BEHIND America, I would assume its not such a bad place to be.

The Violent Image of Islam

For all that don't know of the very recent shootout in Fort Hood, Texas, 13 soldiers were killed and several others wounded by what seems to be another soldier. The man's name is Nidal Malik Hasan. He served as a psychiatrist at the base and would often listen to the traumatizing experiences of was veterans. Whatever the reason, he opened fire and was shot in the crossfire four times. Somehow, he survived and is in stable condition. More on the event can be FOUND HERE. The topic here isn't about the actual event however, but moreso about the shooter's name. The fact that it could be Muslim, presents a threat to Muslim Americans all over the country.
Muslims have never had an image of being tolerant and peaceful. They are the group that attacked the World Trade Center. They are the group that rioted violentally when the Danish newspapers published simple cartoons of Muhammed. They are the group that kidnapped a US reporter and made a video of his head getting sawed off. There are many reasons as to why Americas hatred of Muslims is warranted. The one thing that Americans must remember however is that the media portrays only a small portion of Muslims. Many condemn extremist actions or violence of any kind. It is these Muslims that need to be extremely cautious the next couple of weeks. Americans, as noted in the past, do not like to be bullied. Nor do they like having fellow Americans, and especially American soldiers killed. They will more than likely be looking for any opportunity to present itself in carrying out revenge.
So the message here, is simply that whether Mr. Hasan was Muslim or not, not many Americans will care to find out, and that in itself should make Muslims Americans all the more wary.

Islam on the Rise

There seems to be a changing of the dominant religion in the World. For the last 1700 years, Christianity has held a significant position in the religious world. It has by far been the most dominant in Europe, parts of Asia, and Central and North America. America boasts a 78% Christian rate for all Americans. Granted, of those the number of true Christians would be much smaller, there is no religion even close to matching those numbers.
According to a CNN article however, it seems that Islam is quickly gaining on Christianity. In fact there seem to be at least 10 countries in the Middle East and Africa with more than 30 million Muslims in each. India actually houses the third largest amount of Muslims, although they comprise just 13% of the population.
Statistics also show that nearly one of four people in the world is Muslim. That is a very staggering number. That puts us at about 1.5 billion Muslims world wide. The question we have to ask is why is Islam growing so rapidly? There could be a number of reasons. One could be family size. The Quran does not outlaw having multiple wives and nor does it say anything against having many children. Muslim family size is proven to be quite larger than normal European or American households. Another reason could be forced conversions. Many countries such as Egypt and Morocco provide no separation of State and Religion. Thus, the government is Islamic, schools teach Islam, and society becomes Islamic. One cannot hope to stay in these countries as part of another faith without persecution.

Sikh allowed to retain turban in army

For those of you who know know anything about men in the army, you know that they are to have a shaved head and face. That stipulation is something of a problem for Sikhs that may want to enroll. It is a condition of the Sikh religion to never cut hair on the head or face, and to wear a turban. Sadly because the ignorance of American people, Sikhs have been persecuted for years for appearing to look like the Al-Quada. If Americans ever took out time to learn some new information and put their white supremest notions away, they would learn that Sikhs are a peaceful people that don't advocate violence unless in self defense.
Fortunately, there are some positive signs of greater acceptance. Recently the army allowed a Sikh man, Kamaljit Singh Kalsi, to keep his turban and facial hair as long as it was kept clean. The entire article can be found HERE. This is a major step in enticing more Sikhs to the army. In the past Sikhs would have to remove their turbans and facial hair to enroll.
So, hopefully this serves as a predecessor for others who have religious based adornments, such as Jews, Hindus, etc.

Conversion Causes Problems

I had posted an earlier blog about the teenager from Ohio getting perceived threats from her father because of conversion from Islam to Christianity. There was a similar case that occurred much closer to home. The article can be FOUND HERE.
A woman known as Gilda Ghanipour was constantly on the run because she feared deportation to her mother country of Iran. She was born as a Muslim, but had never truly been devout. She had lived with her husband in for a number of years in Germany, but was accused of being a spy upon returning to Iran. This experience caused her to fear her mother country and the imposing nature of Islam. After divorcing her husband, she would constantly visit her relatives in California. It was her where she had a life changing experience.
During a stay in California, an evangelical Christian knocked at her door and talked to her about Christianity. Gilda felt that this was what she had been long searching for, and was baptized in 2000. Unfortunately, her family did not take to the conversion as readily. They in fact alienated her and made her fearful of deportation. Apparently, converts from Islam can be put to death in Iran. It's no wonder Gilda was constantly on the run to avoid deportation. She would stay at the homes of fellow Christians and leave after just a few days. Unfortunately although she has been granted asylum, nobody knows where she is.
The questions stemming from this story are:
1. Why is Islam so stringent in keeping people within the faith. It is the only religion that provides for death of converts and non-believers. Muslims seem to really have an elitist perception of themselves.
2. Why is it that Christians seek converts by any means possible? Leave people alone and concentrate more on making current Christians more religious. How many Christians even follow the ten commandments or regularly read the bible? More importantly, how many people are converted by underhanded means? Examples of this are in the past of course, with Central and South Americans, as well as in the present, with South India.

The Power of Vegetarian

With America the leader in producing obese people, one question has to be circulating in the minds of Americans: What needs to stop? THE answer should be the consumption of meat. Today roughly 30 percent of Americans are obese. Over 60 percent are overweight. These numbers are mind blowing. In comparison, Gujurat, a state in India comprised mostly of Hindus, boasts a rate of only 16 percent obese and overweight combined. What is the difference? Hindus don't eat meat for the most part.
There are of course other reasons to stop or at least cut down severely on the consumption of meat. Sickness has been abundant because of uncooked food or presence of bacteria. One such example is the Jack in the Box E.Coli outbreak in 1993. If the animal had been in any way sick, there is a high chance that cooking the meat won't eliminate the threat. Hamburgers are specifically being targeted because of their susceptibility to E. Coli. More on this can be READ HERE.
So the questions remains: Of what purpose is meat to humanity?
Religions such as Hinduism, Jainism, and partially Buddhism advocate the importance of being vegetarian. They do so for reasons that stem from scriptures and ethics. Americans on the other hand are being asked to save their lives.
What will the choice be?

Atheism Strong and Thriving in New York

The New York subway system is the busiest in the world. With over a billion people using the subway system in 2008, subway stations provide an ideal place for advertisements. And that is exactly what eight Atheist organizations want to do: advertise. They will post posters in 12 of the busiest subway stations, all of them with the same message: A million New Yorkers are good without God. Are you?.
It has already been stated by a representative that the posters are not there to belittle religion or to offend religious people. They are merely there to provide an option for people who feel the same way as established atheists. The entire article can be Read Here.
Personally, I believe these people have the right to post their messages on public domain. American Society is constantly exposed to messages of Love and Acceptance of Jesus from Christianity. There are crosses and images of Jesus throughout New York and other large cities such as Los Angeles. So who is to say that nonbelievers can't post their own message?

President Diversity

President Barack Obama took part in a lighting of wicks at the White House to mark the Indian New Year known as Diwali. The event took place on the 14th and shows at least one good trait that Obama has: the willingness to reach out to people of all races, religions, and cultures. The ceremony also included a special message from the president, which included a few words spoken in Hindi. The video can be SEEN HERE.
This in turn came after President Obama's address to the Middle Eastern countries for peace and correspondence. At the very least it seems as if Obama is at least attempting to rach out to ALL of the citizens in America rather than the whit majority.
My questions are frankly why has Obama made such an effort to reach out to others? Could it very well be that we comes from minority background and therefore appreciates the smaller groups around America?

His political policies aside, Obama has ventured into creating nationwide cohesion farther than any other prior president. This of course marks a positive growth of our country. Changing from the protocal of a white, elder, Christian president has proved extremely successful in one facet at least. Change has brought progession. Imagine that!

Forced Conversion in India

As is common knowledge, it is well known that religious groups who proselytize tend to venture to foreign countries. I have personally seen a large number of Christians in South India. Having talked to locals, I have heard that Christian missionaries have often given monetary aid to South Indians who have converted to Christianity. Apparently, there are a number of riots going on between Christians and Hindus in New Delhi and South India. An article giving more details on the situation can be FOUND HERE.
The issues of discussion here, are whether Christianity has a right to occupy foreign companies and use the method of bribes to convert poor South Indians. Don't missionaries have the duty to spread doctrine and leave it to their belief and faith for the religion to spread? Never have Hindus attempted to force Americans to convert to Hinduism. Nor have they gone out to vilify Christianity nor disgrace it.
So, what right do these Christian missionaries have to coerce people to convert? What right do they have to build churches in such abundance in South India? And more importantly, what right do they have in publicly condemning Hinduism?

The Swastika Not Retired

Just recently in Massachusetts, some vandals put a fear striking message on a local golf course. To view the message take a look at this video from CNN. The implications of such a message are many. This could very well be considered a threat to the president.
The swastika, an image stolen from Hinduism, is most popularly associated with Hitler and the Nazis. This was the symbol they hoisted on flags during Hitler's failed quest to conquer the world.
The symbol is still worn today by fascists that have endeared Hitler's dream of Aryan supremacy.
These are mainly whites who still believe themselves to be superior physically, mentally, ethnically, and racially.
So the topics of this blog are : 1. Why is it that these hateful, deviant, perpetrators are still able to fester in America?
2. How is it that the swastika has received such a poor image?
As I previously stated, the swastika is a Hindu symbol. It symbolizes good fortune and auspiciousness. It is often used in a house warming and drawn above the front door. A Hindu Swastika can be seen above on the right. Yet Nazi fanatics have turned it into a symbol that is feared and abhorred. The Nazi Symbol can be see above on the left. Are there other symbols throughout history that have suffered the same fate? Perhaps the rainbow is one example. In the old testament the rainbow was a covenant between God and the people that there would be no more earth covering floods in the future. Today that symbol may be associated with homosexuals.

Let me hear your thoughts

Islamic Fundamentalists: Suicide Bombings Anyone?

So as American people, we should have an awareness as to what depths religious fanatics will go to back up their views. One prime example is the numerous car bombings that have occurred in Iraq. Whether successful or not, these attacks show just how religion is of utmost importance and how these people have no regard for human life.
My point here is not to bash Muslims. And my reason for that is not because I know Muslim people or have Muslim friends. It is simply because I do not know enough of the religion and therefore cannot say that the religion calls for killing or such. That is one question I want to pose. Is there any reference in the Quran to the treatment of non-believers?
I pose this question because of an event that occurred not too long ago in Africa. A leader with ties to the Al-Qaeda had bombs exploded in a high level meeting between peacemakers which led to 21 killed and many more injured. A statement by a sheikh, or Islamic assembly leader, said the attack was to protect Islam. The entire article can be READ HERE.
So again, are there references in the Quran of mistreating nonbelievers? Can this reading be taken in different way? Can this meaning be taken metaphorically?

Equal Media Coverage?

A breaking story centered around religious conflict has just come up surrounding a Muslim girl in Ohio converting to Christianity. Suspicions are that her father has threatened to perform a "honor killing" and kill her for her decision. She has thus fled from her home to Florida where she has been in contact with an Evangelical priest. A video of the story can be found here.

Another issue I want to discuss regarding this story is the coverage of Christianity in the media. There could possibly have been numerous cases where children face conflict in the family because of differing religious views. Yet, when a girl turns to Christianity, it becomes headline news across the nation.

The opinion I come to here is simple. Although the first amendment calls for a separation of Church and State, in actuality there are numerous examples where that line is blurred or even crossed. It is well known that the United States is overwhelmingly Christian, around 78%. Now without going into how many are true Christians, it is understandable that would there be more churches in America than any other religious structure. But, since when did a Christian school apply as separation? Since when did having to read and memorize the bible become part of a school curriculum? Since when did having to swear on the Bible in court become an attestation to veracity? Since when did it become nearly written law that a non- Christian man or woman could not even harbor a thought of becoming president?

This is the reality that we live in today whether we want to admit it or not. So my point here is not to say that the girl has not suffered an ordeal that the nation shouldn't know about. My point is that there have more than likely been many cases like this and they have not been reported. More importantly, my point is that seeing America as a democracy is merely a pipe dream. We are a theocracy. We are a Christian nation.

Let me hear questions, lamentations, outraged outcries, or perhaps agreements.

The Ultra Orthodox

No matter where you are, educated people tend to have the largest influence on a country. What if however, religious orthodoxy was keeping kids from learning general subjects such as math, science, and language?
That seems to be the case in Israel. The ultra-orthodox, known as the Haredim, keep general education to a minimum in elementary schools, and offer none at yeshivas, or religiously focused high schools. This in turn affects the workforce later on, due to the fact that not only are kids less educated, but also because the majority of the Haredim do not work. They are supported by state funds and therefore have little motivation to work. You can read more about the article HERE
What are your thoughts on ultra-orthodox or fundamentalists?
We have them to a degree in the United States as well, a group known as the Religious Right. They are the Christian fundamentalist group that still pushes back ideas of evolution and sex education. And they are not just a small group. The Religious Right has a big influence on politics and influences nearly 15% of the electorate vote. Also, this group has methods of accumulating vast funds, equaling to hundreds of millions of dollars. So, should groups like these really have such a foothold in country politics and economics? What stops us from weeding these groups out?

Christian Influence

To be honest with you, I have heard very little of the Manson murders. I read up on the case just recently this year. I was struck with perhaps the same question that all Americans are : What could Charles Manson have done to convince these normal women to commit such heinous crimes? That question will most likely never be answered. However, with the recent death of Susan Atkins, perhaps the blogs need to start up again.
One point of interest here, is that Atkins converted to Christianity while in prison. What is more note worthy, is the fact that prison staff and clergy workers attempted to earn her parole. You can read more of the article HERE.
The subject of this blog, is whether there would have been attempts to earn Susan Atkins parole if she had not converted to Christianity. Imagine the story that would have bloomed out of that.
Christianity Helps to Reform Psycho Killer!
The Christian faith comes through again!
Was Atkins conversion a realization on her part that this was her only chance to get out? Was this an opportunity that the church saw to gain more publicity and a positive light in the media?

The Condition of Muslims in India

Contrary to common beliefs, 150 million Muslims currently reside in India, a number which is greater than that of Pakistan and other Arab countries. It is of course plausible that Hindus and Muslims would be at odds considering their differing religious beliefs and more importantly, the fact Muslims continue to choose to live in India despite the fact that Pakistan was created as a Muslim state. One opinion of how Muslims are being treated is discussed in this article.
The questions posed in this blog are:
1. What specifically is your take on treatment of Indian Muslims? (It must be kept in mind that this article is an opinion of a practicing Muslim. There is of course going to be, even minimally, some sort of bias for Muslims. Secondly, this is just one source. This article fails to mention anything of how Hindus may be treating in Muslim dominant countries such as Pakistan)
2. Looking back in history, Muslim rule is said to have destroyed thousands of Hindu temples in North India alone. Could this maltreatment of Muslims today, perhaps be retribution for past Muslim acts?
3. How is it possible to overturn this perception of Muslims that people from all over the world have been fed by the media. There is a common perception that pervades the world, whether it is accurate or not. That image is that Muslims are religiously driven to be hostile and aggressive, and to turn to fanatical methods to achieve religious objectives. How is it that India gets attacked for this perspective when hundreds of countries, including the US, hold it?

Religious Symbols on Public Land

If anyone has seen or heard of a religious court case between Salazar vs. Buono, you know that a controversy has stemmed from a cross used at a memorial in the Mojave Desert for WWI solidiers. This is factually, public (government owned) property. Here is some more information http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-drazin5-2009oct05,0,4784320.story.

My questions for the purpose of this blog are:
1. Is this cross really a secular symbol in this particular example? Obviously it can be taken either way, but if it is religious, should it be allowed on government property?
2. Where does the freedom of expression/ speech play in this dilemma?
3. If this controversy revolved around another religion, per say Hinduism or Islam, would the reaction of the public and media be different? Would it be looked at more critically?