Interfaith Dialogue

New Community!

2008-05-23T20:58:16Z

I've started an LJ Community: milpagans for Pagan members of the military, their families, veterans and any other interested parties. Pagans of all peaceful paths and traditions, Pagan-Friendly, Pagan-Curious, and others are welcome.

I have no idea what I am doing with an LJ Community, so I expect a rocky start. Still, stop by, join the community, make a post, and provide me with some external validation. Thanks!

New Exploring Paths Community

2007-12-24T14:43:36Z

Hello Everyone,

I have started a new community called exploringpaths

This community is for those for whom existing religions do not quite fit and are looking for new paths to explore spirituality. Whether you come from an existing path (Christianity, Paganism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Shinto, Taoism, Judaism, Islam, etc.) or no path at all (atheism or agnosticism), all are welcomed.

I am not sure exactly in which direction this community will go, but I hope it will be interesting and thought provoking.

To the moderator: if this post is not allowed by the community rules, please feel to delete it and please accept my sincere apologies if this should cause any trouble.

Take care,
John

Did anyone see this last night?

2007-12-24T14:41:08Z

Did any one see this program on CBS last night?:

In God's Name

The interviewed 12 different religious leaders from different religions. It was really fascinating. They had the Dalai Lama, the Pope, the head of the Grand Ise Shrine (Shinto) a Hindu religious leader, a cheif Rabbi and a couple of differnt Muslim and Christian leaders. I just happened to stumble on it last night. If I could find a place to order it online, I would.

Any body else catch it?

Questions about marrying someone of Islam faith

2007-12-02T05:23:51Z

I am American and not religious, though I do hold spiritual beliefs. My fiance is Muslim and from Iraq. We are planning to marry next summer.

My fiance's aunt talked to him about my lack of religious beliefs. Though hr says he doesn't care what I believe, his aunt told him it would be bad for him if I didn't believe in some sort of monotheistic religion. I told him it would never happen. I do believe in an omnipresent power. I do believe that death is not the end of the road. I also believe if you are a good person, something good will happen and the opposite if you are a bad person. It might not be the same as any particular religion, but they're just my beliefs. Every time he talks to his family (specifically his aunt) these things come up. It was the same with the Nikah Mutah talks a few months back.

I have tried studying his beliefs. There are some things that I agree with and some I don't. However, I would not falsely adopt a religion for anyone. It's just not who I am.

What is his aunt referring to and what can I do to appease both sides?

Race and Right Choices

2007-10-13T00:25:53Z

A high school inner-city student my wife teaches wrote this essay with unusual insight (Unedited, the student did use a spell checker):

I am a black African American 17 year old teenager, and im starting to fell like there is never going to be a change in the area of racism because things are not getting better with the black race itself.

We are getting more of use killed and locked up everyday we can try and blame it all on another race but the truth is in everyone's face into we start acting like we all have some since things are going to continue to go down hill everyday.

All im saying is how are we going to make a difference in everything we are fighting so hard to change when we have one half of are black people that don't care, one half that say that they will never change, and then we have that small portion of black African American's that do care and do want to make change. I have found out that the only person that I can change is me, and by me changing and knowing that I have people who look up to me I would hope that they make the choice to do right and to continue to make the right choices as they move through everyday life.

Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip - Letter from God

2007-09-19T20:10:14Z

I know it's not exactly interfaith-related, but it's well worth watching, in my opinion.

interfaith @ 2007-09-01T16:26:00

2007-09-01T20:27:55Z

Not too long ago I was listening to NPR and there was an interview with a Ph.D.-holding voodoo priest; I kid you not. As he and the interviewer discussed what I had assumed was a motley collection of superstitions I recognized profound truth in his words. From what is on the surface a polytheistic tradition, he spoke of God being utterly neutral, completely unaffected by good and evil; he could have been reading straight from Hindu or Buddhist scripture. He explained how his religious tradition had always held that everything in the world is composed of energy (as modern physics indeed tells us it is), described the divine as a mirror in which one sees one's own face, and told of his experience treating completely illiterate half-starved stick-hut-dwelling Negroes as gurus, explaining that though he had a Ph.D. and they could not even read, it was they who truly had knowledge. I finally understood the unity at the core of all legitimate religious tradition; all people can and must improve their situations only through their own efforts. I see this emphasis on universal potential and personal responsibility in the core of Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and the list goes on. Perhaps I should change the name of this journal to get_religion, as I see it as good advice for everyone, especially in the sense expressed in, among others, the book Jesus for the Non-Religious.

ThePriestSays: The Holocaust & US Groupthink Blindspots ThePriestSays: The Holocaust & US Groupthin

2007-08-10T01:52:32Z

As evil as the holocaust was, you have to remember it was a top secret operation, "for national security purposes". Yes there were whispers amoung the German citizenry, but since the government never confirmed this in the media, or through its own impressive Propaganda machine, it kind of fell in the category of a groupthink blindspot.

Don't think this is only an issue with German society. In our own country we have our own collection of the same, where issues people don't want to think about, and frankly don't want to know fall it. Anyone that points out that there IS something in these blind spots is shunned, labeled a nut case. In old testament times these people where called Prophets. They not only pointed out these denied issues, but also what the consequences to society would be based on society's own choices in regards to these things. Lastly, they could see the underlying spiritual darkness that gave birth to these issues in the first place.

Our own modern collection includes such conventional groupthought as: There are no UFOs, There is no God (science), Trust officials, just because they say trust us, That in general any family arrangement is just as good as a married hetrosexual couple raising children, That in general, homosexuals have just as good or better lifestyles in terms of mental, physical, or spiritual health as hextrosexuals, That in general the way, frequency and casualness of how homosexuals have sex doesn't have costs and dangers to general society and to themselves, The US dosn't torture or ship people "out of sight" for torture and imprisionment, That the laws and executive orders in regards to "the war on terror" do not breech our national charters, That "Excutive Privilage" trumps all laws, that the three WTC buildings collapsing within their own footprint was an accident, in general blacks and nonblacks are just as smart in school (IQ), That blacks and nonblacks have no real difference of criminality and antisocial attitudes, That blacks are less raciest than whites, In public schools (no child left behind) the measurement standards (MAP, graduation rates) are actually valid, that higher graduation rates means that relatively speaking more graduates can read and do math at a 12th grade level, abortion as a form of birth control doesn't have consequences in the whole (physical, mental, spiritual) to society or its victims, etc.

What groupthink blind spots do you see, what unspoken darkness do you sense?

Rethinking Muslims

2007-08-04T17:24:43Z

The writer in the KC Star for "Faith Matters" commented on the recent cover story on Newsweek http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19915445/site/newsweek/ . He said it was: "foolish for us to say "Muslims think this" or "Muslims do that,"'.

I say: Having lived in several islamic contries and having had several Islamic neighbors here in the US, while I can not say my experience covers ALL followers of Islam, I can say just as I can say MOST christians think like this or most Christians do that, that I have a pretty good idea of how followers of Islam think and do commonly. This does give me a basis of comparison, and there are many things for Christians to learn from this.

First, most followers of Islam are law abiding, respect their nieghbors and treat them like they are going to live with them for the long run. A normal functional Islamic society is a safe and secure one. With the exceptions of nations the US was at conflict with under the "war against terror", I never had to worry about being mugged, stolen from, and felt that the others were looking after my back. Their hospitality, curtousy, politeness made any trip to the store or market or cafe a pleasure. It is clear that they take family far, far, more important than most christians which tend to think of job, money, and social life first and the kids get the left overs if there are any.

They have a socity of high morals, they don't drink, they look after their children very well, their kids tend to have less permaritial sex, and frankly actually live the 10 commandments better than most Christians I know. They tend to be more of a God-respecting people, and generally have a much more active prayer life and their spiritual life tends to be much better intergated with the rest of their life.

As a christian cleric I think it would be nice if Christianity in general could/would do these things.

Any thoughts or comments?

How to pray?

2007-07-29T18:10:49Z

Dear community,

I have come to a happy understanding that all religions have something to offer, none have got it all right, and none have got it all wrong. I don't go to church anymore, but i enjoy watching "Heaven and Earth" on a Sunday morning which is a current affairs discussion show, with an emphasis on faith of all religions. This is all very good, and i am happy to be in this place, spiritually.

The only trouble is, when i pray, i don't know who to pray to. I mean, i don't really know how to begin my prayer, who to address when i am speaking. I think i believe more in a universal spirit than a God of any sort, but i'm really not sure how to address this universal life-force in prayer. Can anyone understand what i mean? Have you any suggestions for me?

By the way, i read a lovely quote recently:

When you ask Me for counsel, you are asking yourself. Asking Me is not looking to outside influence. It is as inner as you can get.

So What Is Your Question?
www.heavenletters.org
July 14, 2007

Americans for the demise of Islam

2007-06-22T18:08:36Z

I recently came across a Web site (http://www.saneworks.us/) that openly declares its hatred for all of Islam, one that says on this page (http://www.saneworks.us/Islam--Terrorism-category-1.htm) that "We stand for Islam's demise as an enemy of America unabashedly." The group calls itself the Society of Americans for National Existence, or SANE.

Throughout my many travels for University and Uncle Sam, I have had the privilege to live in a neighborhood of the followers of Islam, and to have lived and worked with them in Islamic countries, rich and poor.

A few things I noticed was family and education was much more important, they didn't disturb the peace, curse, get drunk or high, hospitality was religion in itself, they took care of their property, didn't shoplift, and by American standards lived a high standard of morality with modesty and without being better than thou.

One thing I have learned that while good intentions and righteous beliefs are good, how well you actually personally live with self/others/God is golden.

ThePriestSays: Non-straight Preferences-Why? The Nitty-Gritty

2007-05-03T19:18:49Z

I noticed this in the KCStar Religion section: http://billtammeus.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/04/april_2829_2007.html#comments "So how would YOU respond,... if your three-year-old insisted that he was really a little girl? Or if your little girl insisted, from the time she was small, that she loved women and planned to marry one? And made traditionally male choices in looks and attire?"

My response is it is true that there are issues here deeper than biology as we understand it today. That what we have done in our current prebirth existence, our former lives, has tremendous influence in the settings, challenges and lessons we must learn now.

I know this is really hard to grasp, but we were born as Spirits like God our creator, neither male nor female, but complete with full and balanced dynamic spectrum of all of the gender qualities, yin and yang, passion and passive, assertive and serving, i.e. opposition AND balance in all things.

We are given male or female bodies, not by accident, not by a Mean and Nasty God, but by our own choices that leads us to today. Everything that happens in our lives happens for a reason, and has consequences that both follows us and leads us into the future. And the root of them all is spiritual, because after all, that is who we are.

Many people have cursed God for their race, there addictions, their physical and mental disabilities, their families, parents, and yes certainly gender. The really funny and at the same time sad part of this is that they are just condemning themselves. While I have heard many "crossgendered" persons use the argument that morality has NOTHING to do with sexual preference, and based it on the question WHO would ever chose to be gay/transvestite/etc. I would say the answers are simple:

1. Morality and its spiritual foundations have EVERYTHING to do with it.
2. YOU did.

The are many true and valid reasons to choose to be in the body of one gender but not liking it...For example, you may have chosen too many successive sojourns in one gender and have "lost touch" with the qualities of the other that balances the soul, and so the imbalance can only be corrected by experience in the missing gender to relearn those important qualities necessary for spiritual wholeness.

You may previously intently hurt or killed someone that had "butch" or "effeminate" qualities.

You may have oppressed the other gender, as a sexually manipulative, contemptuous and/or selfish wife\mistress\gf\prostitute\Mother, or as an abusive and/or insensitive husband/bf/Trick/Father, etc.

You may have sexually used-abused your son/daughter, neighbor boy/girl, slave M/F, niece/nephew, seduced/raped your neighbors wife/husband, an innocent stranger etc.

You may have been involved in S&M relationships harmful to the other gender, even if "he/she wanted it".

In all sexual relationships including homosexual ones, there one the dominant, the other the submissive, once in while you may be a switcher, but in all sexual relationships it is necessary to gender roleplay. Person that have had too many sojourns as sexual dominants to the point using sex to punish or hurt or control, or too many sojourns as submissives sexually to the point of being codependent, resulting in the harmful unbalancing of the yin and yang.

Females that have used their reproductive gift in deceit to entrap men, prostitute themselves in marriage or any other sexual relationship to get what they selfishly want by withholding sex, falsely accuse of rape, etc. Or males doing the same thing, i.e.. forced marriage, withholding sex, falsely accusing a girl of being promiscuous or nonvirgin.

Sexual addictions, treating the opposite sex as objects, less than human, etc.

Having secret homosexual desires and using one's position to hurt punish homosexuals...

The list is endless...

And so because of our choices we may have to face extremely difficult situations is necessary to learn the hard lessons that we need. And souls with homosexual/transexual issues living now must learn by their own experiences and actions or repeat the lesson endlessly until they do. Those souls in that situation didn't just set the natural consequences in motion, they specifically agreed, with agreement of the other participants in that souls now sojourn to enter therein.

So gay/lesbian/transexual issues are not just not for the individuals lesson, but for the family as well, if not clan, tribe, nation.

Of course it will be very hard if you have homosexual tendencies not to engage in them, exactly as hard as it for any person not to engage in their greatest spiritual/moral/ethical vice/addictive weakness. But as it is written God will give no soul more temptation than what he/she can bear. Not what you think you can bear, but what with full heart, mind, body and strength with the Lord's help you can bear. God loves all souls and wants as any parent their children to grow in light and grace. God wants us to return to him and be HIS children, the Children of God. He never gives up on us, he never stops loving us, regardless of how badly we screw things up.

For some children, appropriate gender roles and identification does not come easily, that doesn't mean they can't be taught, and that doesn't mean they can't learn. The responsibilities of socialization are on the parents for sexual as well as all other social behaviors. I know lots of persons in heterosexual relationships that have not a clue how to have a stable and lasting relationship with the opposite sex. Like everything else, we parents set the example. If we want our children to live within the safety of living in harmony with God's Universal Laws, we have to do the same: For we all have sexual temptations and weaknesses.

I am not going to pretend that there is a "medical/psych cure" for crossgender sexual tendencies, any more than there is a such a cure for alcoholism tendencies, or any addictive personality weaknesses. Generally, setting up a fence from it, with help from family and friends to reenforce it when you feel you are failing works.

Homosexuality is trying to fill a void, or kill the pain of deeper issues that ache and hurt within the soul. There may be underlaying physical and mental health problems that go untreated. And engaging in it like any compulsion is not going fix anything in the long run, in fact, in makes things worse, because it escalates as it cycles. And many more people are hurt. You can know the nature of something by the fruit of which it bears. Rainbow ribbon and pink triangle volks may not want to admit this, but them that engage in the gay lifestyle, have exponentially more sexual encounters with more partners, and it tends to be much more impersonal, and much more selfish towards self, and objectification of others. They have more mental illness, more physical (nonSTD) illness, more accidents, tend to have more extreme domestic violence, poor self image, more STDs, more likely to have substance abuse addictions, and a way higher percent of having progressive addictive personality disorders. I would say the term "gay" lifestyle was a misnomer like "Greenland". Yes, some the hardships of a gay lifestyle is caused by hate and bully attitudes of others. But the heart of the hurt comes from self. It is not of God.

Like every difficulty in life parents and the child can choose to make crosswise gender issues a stepping stone or a stumbling block.

ThePriestSays: Sudan Disinvestment

2007-05-03T18:22:28Z

I saw this article in the KC Star: http://billtammeus.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/05/may_3_2007.html#comments It includes the following:

The Union of Reform Judaism has adopted a divestment resolution that promises to unload investments in businesses "currently supporting the Sudanese government" and that asks Jewish congregations around the country to do the same.

Clearly the government of Sudan is behind the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and the chaos that has continued for several years in Darfur -- chaos now leaking across the border into Chad. The international community has not done enough to stop it.

Because Jews have themselves been the victims of genocide, they often are among the first to recognize it when it happens and to stand up against it. This resolution is in that spirit.

My response is Devestment is certainly appropriate there. The way things work with the Sudan Government is if you want to do bussiness with them you have to pay them their personal cut first. This is done above board by simply having person to person contact with the right people, the parties agree on a price (including the cut which is factored in as a premium), if you examined the Corperations paperwork that does biz in Sudan, everything looks legit, and they would say they meet the letter of the law. The Sudanese biz enties may have mundane ordinary names, but they are just frount orgs for the organized (government) criminals behind them. The graft amounts to a very large % of the national income. The money is then used to fund hell in Sudan, and now, Chad as well. The Sudanese government http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ar&u=http://www.sudan.gov.sd/&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=5&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dofficial%2Bwebsite%2Bof%2BSudan%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26sa%3DX is not just bent sociopathically on expanding Islam in Africa by sword, but also as meglomanics expanding their criminal enterprises as well (Gov Graft & Taxes). The bottom line: US Corporate dealings with Sudan is just sick, sick, sick, devestment is a no-brainer. What do you think?

Muslims Forced To Change The Way They Dress

2007-04-05T19:57:39Z

Muslims dressed in traditional clothing have repeatedly suffered discrimination in every aspect of their life. A Muslim man with a beard, long flowing garments, and a head covering is strip searched at every possible opportunity, as he is suspected of being a terrorist. A Muslim man with no beard, a three-piece suit, and a briefcase is also subject to these searches, as he could be a terrorist in disguise.

In order to combat such stereotypes, the Center for American Islamic Relations, Muslims Against Terrorism, and the National Society of Islam in America have requested that all Muslims begin wearing a new style of dress. They suggest that this spring Muslims get out there in a new sort of common garb, bunny costumes. As there is legislation to prevent Muslim women from being completely covered in numerous European countries, women will have a less concealing rabbit outfit.

Here is the reaction from Muslims participating in this new Muslim style:

"As A Muslim woman, I feel that the new Muslim outfit will prevent any claim that I am being oppressed or exploited by men."
- Rana Jawad

"This is a great step towards furthering Muslim-Christian relationships. Christian children used to run away from me, as they thought that I had a bomb, now they run up to me and beg for candy."
- Ishmael Popaja

"Can't a black man simply dress up as a bunny to support hip-hop music? The fact that I am Muslim is merely a coincidence"
- Rasheed Jones

"It is kind of itchy, but it beats a cavity search."
- Hassan O'Reilly

Explanation of Human Suffering

2007-02-06T06:14:59Z

Following a discussion with an atheist friend of mine, I got to thinking about explanations for human suffering (not that I personally need any, but because I wonder what theories are out there), thus eventually coming up with this post of mine. You don't have to read it, it's quite long.

But I would like to hear from others why they think human suffering exists in this world. I.e. the typical atheist question of, "How does a Good God allow so much evil in this world?".

(cross-posted from 3faithdialogue)

Nazi Buddha?

2006-12-13T03:01:25Z

Can someone explain this to me? I was shopping the other day in a Chinese store and I saw a seated Buddha with a swastika on his chest.

(This is not the one I saw, I googled it)

Now I highly doubt that this has any connections with the Nazis but I am curious as to why this Buddha statue had this symbol on it.

Does anybody know?

interfaith @ 2006-10-10T18:22:00

2006-10-10T23:24:14Z

I hope this is allowed here. Feel free to delete it if it isn't.

I have started a prayer request network for people of all faiths, religions, and spiritual paths. It promotes diversity, acceptance, and respect. It's goal is to help people connect to things outside themselves and help others in need through something as simple as a prayer. Follow up stories are also encouraged. Click on the banner to check it out.

interfaith @ 2006-10-09T05:10:00

2006-10-09T05:10:27Z

miss world: did i tell you about the paperclip project that we're going to do at the taekwondo school?
**********: don't think so
miss world: in 1998 at the whitwell middle school in tennessee they were learning about the holocaust and about the 6 million jews that died at the hands of the nazis
miss world: when you think about it... what is 6 million? it's too big, too abstract
miss world: so they got together and decided to collect 6 million paperclips so they could visualize that number
miss world: they wrote to family members, friends, movie stars, everybody they could think of and the response over several years with the help of the media was so phenomenal that they were able to build a memorial
miss world: they put 11 million clips (one for each of the 6 million jews and 5 million other holocaust victims including homosexuals, persons with disabilities and many other social groupings) in one of the very cattle cars they used to take people to the furnaces in
miss world: and it is now standing in front of the school
miss world: ...
miss world: now, i am not recreating their project
miss world: because it is one of a kind
miss world: i am, however going to having my taekwondo students collect clips, one for each member of their families, friends, etc... real people that they know that will make an effort to stand for freedom for EVERY individual
miss world: and we'll write each contributor's name in a big book that we'll keep in the lobby
miss world: if your clip is in the pile you've signed an agreement at my school to treat everyone fairly
miss world: i'm also going to put something online and on our school's website... i would love for people from around the world to contribute so the kids can get a sense of the desire for unity in other places as well
miss world: btw
miss world: the reason the kids at the tennessee school chose paperclips was because paperclips were used as a symbol of resistance to the nazis during WW2. "people wore them in their lapels to denote solidarity and unity when other signs of resistance were forbidden" (wikipedia)
miss world: i learned of all of this via a documentary i saw a few weeks ago and thought "how can i use that message and teach kids about tolerance, fairness, acceptance, equality?"
miss world: we're working on developing other ideas as well, some sort of "clip project day" where the kids wear one to school on their collar or sleeve in support of equality
miss world: we also are starting a project called "community clips" where each of my students must design a community service project that the other students can participate in before they can test for their black belt
**********: wow!

if any of the people on my friendslist would like to help us build the pile, you may send a paperclip contribution to:

East Mountain TaeKwonDo Academy
138 Buckboard Rd
Tijeras, NM 87059
USA

you don't have to put your address or any personal information on the mail in which you send the clip, but it is very important that everyone put their name and general location (state, country, something) on it so i can enter you into the book. please also remember that this is a family/friends/work/everyone project. if you want to send one for every member in your family, every friend you visited this weekend, every person on your friendslist, that's awesome... please make sure to tell each person that you're sending one on their behalf, as the entire point of the project is to get the message of equality for every person: race, creed, color, national origin, sex or sexual preference, political affiliation, belief, etc out there.

and please, spread the word as far and wide as you can... just remember that there has to be one name in the book and one person working for diversity and acceptance for each clip.

i'm also planning to photodocument the project as it grows so my taekwondo students can see how it grew over time, so check back here for that as it gets moving. it will also be on my website http://www.eastmountaintaekwondo.com as i get the page together. also, if you'd like to take this message and spread it across livejournal, myspace, the universe, please do! :)

thank you!!

Something of interest?

2006-09-28T19:02:18Z

I hope no one takes offense at this. :) I'd just like to share a little project I've been working on. It's a day planner type calendar for 2007, with an interfaith theme.

The calendar contains roughly 900+ feasts and holidays from nearly 30 different religions - these include Asatru, Kemetism, Gnosticism, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Baha'i, Rastafari, Sikhism, Voudun, Paganism, Wicca, Shintoism, Celticism, Thiodisk Gelôbo, Taoism, Religio Romana, Canaanite & Slavic Religion, Judaism, Hellenismos, Islam, Zoroastrianism, Santeria, WoT Paganism, and Middle Eastern Paganism. ^^ All of them are explained, and there are plenty of other goodies thrown in.

You can find buy the day planner calendars here. :) Enjoy!

First Freedom First Petition

2006-09-14T17:47:41Z

I found this on interfaith_talk at the topic Religious Liberty and "Rosie"-colored glasses.

The web site is www.firstfreedomfirst.org. They are very concerned about maintaining the separation of church and state (between which over the last few years the line has become more and more blurred). Separation of church and state is a topic that is very near and dear to my heart.

The have a petition on their web site that if you are so inclined you can sign. You can see it at http://www.firstfreedomfirst.org/files/FFF petition pad - 8-7-06.pdf

I firmly believe that if you don't protect your rights someone will come along and take them from you. Please have a look at this and, if it suits your conscience, please sign it.

If you want to get involved here it the chapters list:
http://www.au.org/site/PageServer?pagename=fld_chapters_list

If you are in Texas like me you can contact them via the information below:

Central Texas Chapter centexau@yahoo.com
Greater Houston Area Chapter HoustonAU@flash.net www.houstonau.org
P.O. Box 55526 • Houston, TX 77255-5526

Take care,
John Hidalgo.
www.texasshinto.org

Interfaith arts & crafts comm is up

2006-08-28T14:24:22Z

ritual_art is now in existence. Anyone who's interested in discussing arts and crafts related to religious and spiritual purposes, do come along. A co-moderator or two would be very welcome.

Urban Monks audio documentary..

2006-08-27T23:38:17Z

Hey everybody,

I've just completed an audio documentary for my senior thesis project at DePaul University and I thought you guys would be interested in checking it out:

urban monk
This is an audio documentary that traces the lives of two Chicago brahmachari (celibate student monks) in the Hare Krishna religious tradition. Themes explored include the division between the spiritual and the material as understood by members of the Hare Krishna Movement, the monastic ideals of celibacy and renouncement, and the profaneness of urban life.

You can listen to it here.

First Entry

2006-08-22T02:04:47Z

I've decided to do somthing special for my first entry.

Dear Reader,

I love you. Regardless of whether or not you like my message or hate it, think I'm crazy or rational, think I'm smart or stupid, have a heart full of love or hatred - it is my decision to love you, purely by choice. I can not see you, hear you, smell you, or touch you (besides, I'm talking about mental love), but I believe you are out there, and that is good enough. I can sense you, and therefore you are a part of me and I'm part of you, whether we like it or not - whether you believe it or not. Like Morpheus said after Deadbolt told him not everyone believes what you do, "my beliefs do not require you to".

New Texas Shinto LJ Community

2006-08-06T13:26:36Z

I have just created a new Live Journal community for Texans who are interested in Shinto. Please have a look and join if you are interested. All are welcome as long as everyone plays nice.

texasshinto Texas Shinto

Take care,
John Hidalgo
www.texasshinto
www.roundrockbujinkan.com

interfaith @ 2006-07-30T22:25:00

2006-07-31T02:28:59Z

Is there any principle comparable to "you shall not murder" in Islam?