Happy Passover 2019

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This article was first Published on April 18, 2019 at – : https://centerforpluralism.com/happy-passover-2019/

Passover is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the story of the Exodus when Jews were freed from slavery in Egypt.  It is celebrated for seven or eight days and one of the most widely observed Jewish holidays. The highlight is the Seder meal, held in each family’s home at the beginning of the festival, when the story of their deliverance is recounted, as narrated in the Haggadah (the Telling, or the Story). Matzah, (unleavened bread) is eaten throughout the festival, as are other foods that contain no leaven (yeast). There is a significant spring cleaning in the home shortly before the festival to ensure that no trace of leaven is left in the house during Pesach. Coconut pyramids and matza balls (which are put in soups) are foods that might be eaten at this time.

Passover in 2019 will start on Saturday, the 20th of April (20/4/2019) and will continue for 7 days until Friday, the 26th of April, and for Orthodox, Hasidic and most conservative Jews, it will end on April 27.

Festivals of the world is a series written by Dr. Mike Ghouse for the last 25 years – the idea is for each one of us to learn about each other’s celebrations and commemorations.  I have made an effort to write the essence of every festivity and commemoration from Atheist to Zoroastrians and everyone in between, including Native American and native African and European traditions.

A Passover Seder Haggadah Supplement

As we move forward in perfecting our union, we have to come together more often and on more occasions. The more we see each other, the more we learn and fewer myths will be left to guess about each other. The Passover Seder is being held in different places throughout the country; just call a synagogue near you, or even a Mosque, as there are a lot of joint events being held. It is a rich experience to be there and to know fellow Americans.

At Center for Pluralism, we will be posting a few more articles on Seder, just log on to www.CenterforPluralism.com and go to the tab Pluralism News or simply log in www.PluralismNews.com

Here is some information.

The Roots of Surprising Passover Seder Traditions From Around the World – http://time.com/4729836/passover-2017-history-foods/

By Rabbi Michael Lerner

For Ethically Sensitive Jews and our non-Jewish allies.

(You don’t have to be Jewish to create or attend a seder — or to adopt the approach to spiritual reality embodied in this text).

This text is not meant to be a replacement for but a supplement to the traditional Haggadah. Feel free to make copies of this to use at any seder you attend, or to transform this in ways that work best for you!\

AS WE SIT AT THE SEDER TABLE:

Seventy-eight percent of American Jews voted for Barack Obama in 2008, and a majority of non-Jewish Americans joined them.

The message was clear:
• End the war in Iraq and let our troops come home
• End the war on the poor and the environment
• Stop favoring the rich and corporate interests.

Our Seder celebrates the first liberation struggle of our people, overcoming slavery and proclaiming to the world that the “way things are” is not the only way things can be. In the face of oppression, we proclaimed to the Pharoah’s empire that there is a God (YHVH) who is the Force of Healing and Transformation in the world — the force that makes possible the transformation from “what is” to “what ought to be.”

At our Seder tonight we celebrate the steps we’ve taken toward liberation. We look at where we are as a people and as human beings in our struggle to build a world of freedom and peace for all.

We rejoice together at the election of an African American as President!

But we are concerned about the outcome of the global meltdown of our economic and political system. We are now experiencing the results of decades of materialism and selfishness. Too many Americans closed their eyes to the suffering of those who have been living in poverty, even in the midst of American affluence. Now the suffering is spreading to the rest of us.

The American economic system can create prosperity, but also cultivates greed, fraud, and a selfish “looking-out- for-number-one” mentality. This offends Jewish values and has hurt our souls — even if we ignored these spiritual and psychic costs while the system was providing material goodies for many of us.

The media, corporations, and their friends in government urged us to translate our spiritual and intimacy needs into consumption. This worked for some but produced alienation, loneliness, widespread emotional depression and huge global anger at our society from others around the world. With individualism tearing down communities and teaching the ethos of “looking out for number one,” some people even turned to various religious fundamentalisms as a way to resist the global ethos of capitalism. These fundamentalisms cannot be defeated by our insistence on the value of democracy and human rights—not unless we simultaneously recognize and address what has been appealing in these old-time religions: their insistence that there is a hunger for meaning and purpose in life that cannot be achieved by material accumulation or endless new technologies, and that people hunger for loving community and connection to the mystery and majesty of the universe as much as for money or power or sexual conquests.

We do not want a return to the economic arrangements of the past few decades. The false equation of “progress” with the accumulation of material goods and endless new technologies produced a global environmental crisis as an orgy of consumption destroyed much of the life support system of the planet. Only a fundamental transformation of the ethical and spiritual foundation of our economic and political order can save humanity and the planet in the 21st century. Developing this new vision is the task for spiritual progressives from every religious background.

Many progressive Jews are finding the ethical and spiritual foundation for this transformation in the Jewish tradition. Jewish values support generosity, caring for others, and loving the stranger while rejecting the extreme individualism, alienation, and loneliness that accompanies the dominant ethos of American society.

At our Seder tonight we challenge Western societies to adopt specific economic programs that flow from these Jewish values:

  • A National Bank that gives loans without charging interest
  • A legal system based on the “obligation to care” for each other, not just look out for “number one”
  • An economy that prescribes a sabbatical year for everyone (the same year—the whole society taking off one year to not produce, but instead to focus on what we as a human race want to accomplish in the next six years)
  • A Global Marshall Plan as an extension of the Torah’s notion of a tithe
  • Single payer universal health care
  • Unrestricted immigration
  • Protection of workers’ rights.

Unfortunately, we as Jews also have to face a rather troubling reality. Within our own community, these wonderful Jewish ethical values have too often been ignored. Too many prominent Jews have followed the narrow path of self-interest.

Similarly, Israel, which describes itself as “the State of the Jewish people,” has failed to embody the highest values of the Jewish tradition in the way that it treats our brothers and sisters the Palestinians. The human rights violations and the slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza, the seizing of Arab lands, the imprisonment of thousands of Palestinians without trial and the revelations by Israeli soldiers themselves of acts of brutality in Gaza and the West Bank are not
isolated incidents. They are not the product of evil soldiers. They are the inevitable consequence of imposing and enforcing the occupation.

We are not Jews who reject Israel or think it is the worst human rights violator on the planet! The U.S. role in Iraq, the genocide in Darfur, the repression of Buddhism in Tibet, and the extremes of repression in Iran and several Arab states are moral outrages of equal or greater proportion. Nor do we excuse the human rights violations and terrorism perpetrated by Hamas. Every act of violence against civilians must be vehemently opposed.

Tonight at our seder table, and again on the High Holidays, we affirm that our special responsibility as Jews is to look critically at our own individual and communal behavior. It would be hypocritical to celebrate the freedom achieved from slavery while ignoring the ways that we as Americans and/or as Jews and/or as supporters of the state of Israel have been acting as Pharaoh to the Palestinian people.

We must not let our long history as victims of oppression or our anger at God for not having saved us from the Holocaust become the foundation for adopting the religion of our enemies: the religion that says that we can only trust in our power, our army, our ability to wipe out our enemies. This false God, parading under the title of “being realistic,” stands in stark contrast to the traditional voice of Jewish compassion, generosity, and caring for others. The whole point of surviving as Jews is to challenge that religion of violence and domination and affirm instead the possibility of a world ruled by the logic of love and generosity. When we were utterly degraded as slaves, we experienced God as the power that was there redeeming us into freedom and sacred service. Now it is we who are powerful, and when our Jewish community aligns with the use of power in heartless and cruel ways against other people we feel deep grief. Our Torah says: “When you come into your land, do not oppress the stranger. Remember that you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” The Torah commands us positively: “Thou shalt love the stranger.”

We must use our seder to begin a conversation about how to create a broad social movement for peace, justice, and ecological sanity. President Obama needs to hear from those who are not trapped in the “inside-the-beltway” logic that dominates the national media and our national political leadership. If we do not make fundamental changes in our economic system and in our approach to foreign policy, we may find ourselves in deeper despair this time
next year.

Tonight at our seder we will tell heroic stories of the past, but we must never imagine our past suffering gives us a moral pass to ignore the ethical distortions of the present moment. Our Seder must help us plan a way to transform the present. But we must do so with a strong dose of compassion, both for our own people and for the Palestinian people. We have co-created the current mess. We have both suffered from so much post-traumatic stress that sometimes people on both sides of this struggle fail to recognize the humanity of the other.

As Jews, we must challenge our own people’s distorted vision and blend that challenge with deep love and caring, not just chastisements.

Americans of every faith can make a huge contribution to this process by challenging the dominant vision in the West about how to achieve “homeland security”—namely through domination and power over others. Our Torah and almost every other major religious and spiritual tradition teaches a different message: that security can best be achieved through generosity, caring for others, and love. This revolutionary message must be given teeth, which is why we at Tikkun Magazine and Beyt Tikkun Synagogue in the Bay Area have formed the interfaith Network of Spiritual Progressives and launched a campaign for a Global Marshall Plan that would have the U.S. and other advanced industrial societies dedicate between 2-5% of our Gross Domestic Product each year for the next twenty to once and for all end global poverty, homelessness, hunger, inadequate education, and inadequate health care, and to repair the global environment (details on this plan and on how to join us are at www.spiritualprogressives.org). Rather than attempt to rebuild an economic system that has been destroying the environment and encouraging an ethos of selfishness, our goal as spiritual progressives is to build a new global economy based on ancient spiritual values of love, kindness, generosity and caring equally for the well-being of everyone on the planet. That this kind of miracle can happen, that what everybody thought was impossible can suddenly become possible, because there is a power in the universe that is the power of love and transformation, this is what we experienced in Egypt and what we are seeking to enliven within ourselves by creating this seder. We see that beyond the self, beyond family and country, we are part of the unfolding and evolution of consciousness in the universe, and we celebrate and recommit ourselves to that Force of Healing and Transformation.

So let’s now close our eyes. Can you see the universe and your place in it? Affirm now your role as a partner with God in the healing and transformation of all that is. The Seder can also be a time to do “Tikkun” (to heal and transform parts of ourselves and our society).

KIDDUSH

We are gathered here tonight to affirm our continuity with the generations of Jews who kept alive the vision of freedom in the Passover story. For thousands of years, Jews (and our non-Jewish allies) have affirmed this vision by participating in the Passover Seder. We not only remember the Exodus but actually relive it, bringing its transformative power into our own lives.

The Hebrew word for Egypt, mitzrayim, means “narrow straits.” Traditionally, mitzrayim has been understood to mean a spiritual state, the “narrow place” of confusion, fragmentation, and spiritual disconnection. Liberation requires us to embrace that which we have been taught to scorn within ourselves and others, including the split-off parts from our own consciousness that we find intolerable and that we project onto some “evil Other.” The Seder can also be a
time to reflect on those parts of ourselves.

Israel, according to the Torah, left Egypt with “a mixed multitude.” The Jewish people began as a multicultural mélange of people attracted to a vision of social transformation. What makes us Jews is not some biological fact, but our willingness to proclaim the message of those ancient slaves: (Say Together) The world can be changed, we can be healed.

Blessing over the first cup of wine.

KARPAS

The salt water on our table traditionally represents the tears of the Israelite slaves. The green vegetables we dip in the water suggest the possibility of growth and renewal even in the midst of grief.

The greens on the table also remind us of our commitment to protect the planet from ecological destruction. Instead of focusing narrowly on what we may “realistically” accomplish in today’s world, we must refocus the conversation on what the planet needs in order to survive and flourish. We must get out of the narrow place in our thinking and look at the world not as a resource, but as a focus for awe, wonder, and amazement. We must reject the societal story that identifies success and progress with endless growth and accumulation of things. Instead, we will focus on acknowledging that we already have enough; we need to stop exploiting our resources and instead care for the earth.

Dip the greens in saltwater and say your own personal blessings for the earth.

FOUR QUESTIONS: THE ADULT VERSION

Discuss as a group or in pairs at the Seder table:

1. Egypt, mitzrayim in Hebrew, comes from the word tzar: the “narrow place,” the constricted place. In what way are you personally still constricted? Are you able to see yourself as part of the unity of all being, a manifestation of God’s love on earth? Are you able to overcome the ego issues that separate us from each other? Can you see the big picture, or do you get so caught in the narrow places and limited struggles of your own life that it’s hard to see beyond your personal struggles? What concrete steps could you take to change that?

2. Do you believe that we can eventually eradicate wars, poverty, and starvation? Or do you believe that no one really cares about anyone but themselves and that we will always be stuck in some version of the current mess? Or do you think that such a belief is itself part of what keeps us in this mess? If so, how would you suggest we spread a more hopeful message and deal with the cynicism and self-doubt that always accompanies us when we start talking about
changing the world?

3. What experiences have you had that give you hope? Tell about some struggle to change something — a struggle that you personally were involved in—that worked. What did you learn from that?

4. When the Israelites approached the Sea of Reeds, the waters did not split. It took a few brave souls to jump into the water. Even then, the waters rose up to their very noses, and only then, when these brave souls showed that they really believed in the Force of Healing and Transformation (YHVH), did the waters split and the Israelites walk through them. Would you be willing to jump into those waters today — for example by becoming an advocate for nonviolence or for the strategy of generosity and the Global Marshall Plan? Would you go to speak about this to your elected representatives? To your neighbors? To your coworkers? To your family?

MAGEED (TELL THE STORY):

Tell the story of the Exodus, and identify the Pharaohs in your life today.

Blessing over the second cup of wine.

We are descended from slaves who staged the first successful slave rebellion in recorded history. Ever since, our people have kept alive the story of liberation, and the consciousness that cruelty and oppression are not inevitable “facts of life,” but conditions that can be changed. Because God makes possible the Tikkun (healing and transformation) of the world, the reality is enough. Dayenu — it is enough.

THREE SYMBOLS OF PASSOVER

PESACH (the Bone or for vegetarians, the Pascal Beet): Our Seder plate includes a symbol of the ancient Passover sacrifice, which was brought each year to the Temple in Jerusalem. The Hebrew word for sacrifice is korban, which comes from the root meaning “near” or “close.” What could bring you closer to your highest spiritual self?

MATZAH: The Torah tells us that the Israelites had to take the uncooked dough with them, “For they had prepared no provisions for the way.” Symbolically, the matzah reminds us that when the opportunity for liberation comes, we must seize it, even if we do not feel fully prepared-indeed, if we wait until we feel prepared, we may never act at all. If you had to jump into such a struggle tomorrow morning, what would you have to leave behind? The current global economic meltdown may be precisely such a moment. Are you ready to leave the slavery of our current economic system?

The matzah also stands in contrast to chametz (Hebrew for the expansive yeast that makes bread rise), which symbolizes false pride, absorption in our individual egos, and grandiosity.

MARROR (the Bitter Herbs): The suffering of the Jews in Egypt has been matched by thousands of years in which we were oppressed as a people. Our insistence on telling the story of liberation and proclaiming that the world could be and should be fundamentally different has angered ruling elites. These elites often tried to channel against the Jews the anger that ordinary people were feeling about the oppression in their own lives. But Jews are not the only ones to have suffered oppression and violence. We think of the genocide against native peoples all around the world, including in the United States. We think of the enslavement of Africans, and the oppression of Armenians, homosexuals, women, immigrants and many others. Yet, tonight it is appropriate for us to focus also on the suffering of the Jewish people, and to affirm our solidarity with victims of anti-Semitism through the ages. Anti-Semitism still persists in our own time in the use of double standards in the judgment of Jews, in acts of violence against Jews, and in refusing to acknowledge the history of Jewish suffering as equal to the suffering of other victims of oppressive social regimes in Christian, Muslim, and some secular societies, as well. Meanwhile, we Jews need to acknowledge the ways that such suffering has at times distorted our consciousness and made it hard to fully grasp the pain others feel. We must evolve A GLOBAL JUDAISM that compassionately embraces the Jewish people and all other peoples.

THE MEAL

The Haggadah says, “Let all who are hungry come and eat.” Traditionally, this is understood to mean not only literally feeding the hungry but also offering spiritual sustenance to those in need. Both must go hand in hand. We live in a society of unprecedented wealth, yet we turn our backs on the hungry. Even the supposedly liberal and progressive political leaders are unwilling to champion any program to seriously address world hunger and homelessness.

There is also a deep spiritual hunger that must be fed. Though the cynical proclaim that “those who accumulate the most toys win,” our tradition teaches that money, power, and fame cannot sustain us. Our spiritual tradition teaches us to be present to each moment; to rejoice in all that we are and all that we have been given; to experience the world with awe, wonder, and radical amazement; and to recognize that we already have enough and are enough.

Not just during the Seder, but also at every meal, it is incumbent upon us — the Jewish tradition teaches — to talk words of Torah, to study some section of our holy books, or to in other ways make God feel present at our table. Try this every night as you eat: bring God and God’s message of love, generosity, peace, social justice, ecological sanity, and caring for others into every meal that you eat.

Enjoy the meal. Following the meal, say a blessing expressing thanks to God for the food and by expressing a commitment to do what you can to redistribute food on this planet so that everyone will have enough. Drink the third cup of wine.

WELCOMING THE POSSIBILITY OF THE MESSIANIC AGE

We open the door for Elijah — the prophet who heralds the coming of the Messiah and a world in which all peoples will coexist peacefully — acknowledging the Image of God in one another. To deny the possibility of fundamental transformation, to be stuck in the pain of past oppression, or to build our religion around memories of the Holocaust and other forms of suffering is to give the ultimate victory to those who oppressed us. To testify to God’s presence in the world is to insist on shifting our focus from pain to hope, and to dedicate our energies to transforming this world and ourselves. (All together recite): We still believe in a world based on love, generosity, and openheartedness. We continue to affirm the Unity of All Being.

Now let us build together a communal vision of what messianic redemption would look like.

Close your eyes and let some pictures of this appear in your minds. Then, open your eyes and share with others your picture of the world we want to build together.

Blessing over the fourth cup of wine.

Sing songs of liberation!

Want to be part of a Judaism that shares the values articulated in this Haggadah supplement? You can:

1. JOIN Beyt Tikkun Synagogue. Come to our annual retreat and/or High Holiday services. There may even be a few remaining seats at our (2nd night) Passover Seder April 9 at the Noe Valley Ministry in S.F. if you join as members. Details at www.BeytTikkun.org. 415-575-1432

2. Come to our course, GLOBAL JUDAISM: A re-introduction to a Judaism of Love and Generosity. Taught by Rabbi Michael Lerner. Fri. evening May 1 to Sun. afternoon May 3. Details at www.beyttikkun.org

3. Subscribe to Tikkun Magazine at www.tikkun.org If you are not Jewish but wish to bring these values into your Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, or other spiritual communities, or if you are a (spiritual but not religious) atheist please join our interfaith Network of Spiritual Progressives at www.spiritualprogressives.org
Tikkun Magazine & Beyt Tikkun SynagogueFollow Rabbi Michael Lerner on Twitter:www.twitter.com/rabbilerner

Happy Easter 2019

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This article was first Published on April 18, 2019 at – : https://centerforpluralism.com/happy-easter-2019/

A Muslim Celebrates Easter

As a Muslim, I was baptized in the river Jordan where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. It was an incredible experience of freedom and celebration of Easter; I am pleased to include a few pictures.

The first response from a few Muslims would be “no, no and no!” Muslims cannot celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus did not die, he and his message lives on!

Whether Jesus was buried and resurrected, or taken up by God, faith in him is shared by more than half of the world inclusive of Muslims and Christians. Whether you believe in Jesus or not, his message of loving thy enemy, love thy neighbor and forgive the other will help us build cohesive societies and sets us to live freely. Can we celebrate that message?

To this Muslim, Easter represents the resurrection of Jesus through his message, and Easter is a symbolic day to celebrate that message.

Festivals of the world is a series written by Dr. Mike Ghouse for the last 25 years – the idea is for each one of us to learn about each other’s celebrations and commemorations.  I have made an effort to write the essence of every festivity and commemoration from Atheist to Zoroastrians and everyone in between, including Native American and native African and European traditions.

A Muslim Celebrates Easter

To this Muslim, Easter represents the resurrection of Jesus through his message, and Easter is a symbolic day to celebrate that message.

For Christians, Wiki writes,

Easter is a Christian festival and holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion at Calvary as described in the New Testament. Easter is the culmination of the Passion of Christ, preceded by Lent, a forty-day period of fasting, prayer, and penance. The last week of Lent is called Holy Week, and it contains the days of the Easter Triduum, including Maundy Thursday (also known as Holy Thursday), commemorating the Last Supper and its preceding foot washing, as well as Good Friday, commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus. Easter is followed by a fifty-day period called Eastertide or the Easter Season, ending with Pentecost Sunday.

The resurrection of Jesus is the Christian belief that Jesus Christ miraculously returned to life on the Sunday following the Friday on which he was executed by crucifixion. It is the central tenet of Christian faith and theology and part of the Nicene Creed: “On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures.”

Apostle Paul claims that belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus is central to salvation that, “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.”

Jesus is one of my mentors, along with Prophet Muhammad and a few others. Honoring them gives me the greatest sense of peace and gratitude.

A Muslim at Jesus’ Grave

One thing the Muslims do well at burial sites is to pray for peace and blessings for the soul of the deceased. As a Muslim, I believe he lives on continually transmitting his message of love. A few years ago, I was in Jerusalem and was blessed to sit by the place where he was supposedly buried at the Church of Holy Sepulcher.

I expressed my gratitude to God and Jesus for bringing the blessed message of love and forgiveness to humanity to create a better society for all of us to live.

On my way to Al-Aqsa Mosque early in the morning, after the Ramadan morning meal (suhoor) at Imam Bukhari’s great great grandson’s house, who lives on Via Dolorosa, we walked. I saw a man carry a big cross on his shoulder; it was the same path Jesus had walked some 2,000 years ago. I could not resist stopping and feeling the awesome feeling with goosebumps all over me. I cherish that moment!

As a Muslim and a pluralist, I want to make a point here: Jesus and his message belong to the whole humanity, just as the message of all the spiritual masters including Buddha, Muhammad, Krishna, Zoroaster, Nanak, and others, who are a blessing to humanity.

Baptizing a Muslim

Many Christians don white cloth symbolizing purification. Indeed, Muslims do the same when they go to Mecca for the Hajj pilgrimage.

Jesus donned one piece of white cloth when he was baptized, and to this day the tradition is followed at the Yardenit. I was dunked at the same baptismal spot in River Jordan, a symbolic gesture of transformation and following Jesus.

Thank God, the Baptist Minister agreed to customize the invocation for me. He recited, “in the name of God, and to honor Jesus, I baptize you today at this holy site.” Indeed, two Dutch imams felt comfortable with the recitation and followed the suit. One of them was a convert from Judaism, and the other from Christianity.

Perhaps I may be the first Muslim to be baptized. It was an enriching experience to me in particular, feeling the symbolic transformation of the feeling of love towards all of God’s creation. Muslims feel the same upon the performance of Hajj Pilgrimage; we become child-like with love for all of God’s creation; life and matter. The Hindus cherish an identical feeling when they take a dip at the Sangam in River Ganges, particularly during the Kumbh Mela.

(More Baptismal pictures here.)

Observance of Lent

Every faith is composed of a set of unique rituals to bring discipline and peace to human life. Fasting is one of the key elements of observing Lent.

The spirit and intent of Lent lie in a human transformation in a forty days long inner spiritual journey of finding oneself in tune with spirituality.

As a token of solidarity, I joined my Christian friends and gave up drinking soda to honor their practice. I made that announcement on Sean Hannity’s show (he is a Catholic) on Fox News. I have made the effort to follow it as diligently as I could.

Years ago, my daughter observed Lent, and I am glad she did: She got out of the addiction of Dr. Pepper, what a good thing it was! People give up smoking and this period of 40 days is renewal in every sense, whether you are Christian or not, you can join in the process of reflection and purifying and being in tune with fellow beings.

Lent reminds me of the 30 days of Islam’s Ramadan, seven days of Paryushan of Jains, eight days of Jewish Passover and nine days of Hindu Navaratri. The essence of all these events is the renewal of the soul and reflection on life. I am happy that these actions are designed to make better humans out of us.

Some of you may not be aware that Jesus is revered by Muslims, believe in him as a prophet is a requisition. There is a full chapter on Mary in the Quran and Prophet Muhammad said there are three women who need to be looked up to as role models: Mary, Asia (the one who raised Moses) and Fatima (Prophet’s daughter) and none of the women were traditional, they stood up against odds and changed the course of history. The Hijab many Muslim women wear has origins in Mother Mary’s Hijab.

Jesus is my mentor, a true pluralist who had no barriers between him and humanity, as a Muslim I reiterate the affirmation of that thought; of being boundless.

I salute Pope Francis for all the right things he has done so far, and he has many more things to accomplish in his lifetime, including mitigating conflicts between Jews and Christians, Christians and Muslims and Christians and others. I am willing to jump for him for the sake of creating peace for every human being.

Dr. Mike Ghouse is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. His new book, the “American Muslim Agenda” is about everything you wanted to know about Muslims. The book is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Kindle. Mike is a public speaker, author, interfaith wedding officiant, a newsmaker and the executive director of the Center for Pluralism in Washington, DC. More about him in three formats at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeghouse/

Boosting Jewish Muslim Relations

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This article was first Published on April 19, 2019 at – : https://centerforpluralism.com/boosting-jewish-muslim-relations/

Boosting Jewish Muslim Relations

By Mike Ghouse

Both Muslims and Jews are driven by social justice and take their obligation seriously to restore harmony in the society, Tikkun Olam is common to both of them.

The insular men and women have made deliberate attempts to place wedges between the two communities including mistranslations of a few verses in the Quran to foster ill-will between the two. However, the Jews and Muslims have enjoyed good relations in the first 1300 years of their joint history and went apart in the last 100 years around the time Israel came into being. The relationship is rebuilding and time to give a boosting shot. They have too much at stake and a whole lot in common, and together they can repair the world.

A few verses in the Quran have been deliberately mistranslated by the right-wing Muslims (Hilali Khan Translation), and exploited by right-wing Jews for political purposes. The following three verses have been deliberately misinterpreted to foster ill-will between Jews and Muslims; 1) Jews who were turned into Apes, 2) Don’t make friends with Jews and 3) Those who have earned God’s anger like Jews. The Quran said that those who do not take rest on the Sabbath would act like apes due to lack of rest (No mention of Jews in that verse), Don’t seek counsel on religious matters from Jews as they are not aware of it and those who have earned God’s anger like Jews. (Again, the word Jews in inserted by the right wing Muslim Hilali Khan, it is not in Arabic).  It is a criminal act to mess with the Quran, and Hilali Khan got away with it. Not anymore, we will fix them all. The fact that you are reading this is a sign of change. The mistranslations have been a source of anguish. We need to correct them. One of the mistranslations was fixed in 2014, and others are still in the works. The full story is in the book American Muslim Agenda including an apology to Jews, Christians, and Hindus.

There are many organizations in Washington, DC, committed to repairing the relationship. They are Jewish Islamic Dialogue Society, Jews, and Muslims and Allies Acting Together, Washington Area Jews for Jewish Muslim Understanding, Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, Interfaith Council of Metropolitan Washington, Adams Center, the Muslim Community Center and the Center for Pluralism among others.  We need to beef up the relationship and continue to contribute our services to create a cohesive world where each one of us can live securely with our faith, race, ethnicity, sexual and political orientations.  We have a lot to serve the world, and God willing we will do our share.

Pope Frances can make a difference, and he is a true God’s man and mercy to humankind. He can appoint a commission to address the Jewish-Christian conflict which is based on misinformation and the source of Anti-Semitism. The Jewish-Muslim strife is based on similar misinformation about Banu Qurayza tribe, and a wedge issue for Israeli right-wing politicians. The Christian Muslim conflict, a real thing based on the different status of Christ in the Bible and the Quran. Then the conflict between Hindus, and Christians based on forced conversions. We have been shamelessly passing the buck to each successive generation, and it is time to accept the reality and move forward with goodwill.

Throughout the history of Jewish people, they have made every effort to be an integral part of the societies they lived in, and they did all the right things, yet, they were betrayed in 1492 by Criminal Ferdinand of Spain. Then they rebuild their sense of home in Germany, and they were robbed of their home once more, the evil man Hitler was hell-bent on killing them all, thank God, he failed. The long-term security of Jews hinges and justice to the Palestinians, one will not happen without the other.

Given the constant insecurities levied on the Jewish people, the only place they can feel secure is a homeland for them.  It is the duty of the people of the world in general and Muslims, in particular, to officially recognize Israel and build relationships, it will lead to Justice and a homeland for the Palestinians. The axis Prince Salman is seeking with Israel will not last as it is based on evil designs.

Everyone is holding their horses; someone has to take the first step to change the equation.  It will help Israel become a law-abiding member of the community of nations when the Jews can drop their guard and move about freely anywhere in the world with a sense of security. The relationships have to be built with the people and not the politicians who come and go. We can do it if we fill our hearts with love for all of God’s creation and be a mercy to the Aalameen (entire cosmos) as the Quran calls it and the Prophet was an example of it.

Mike Ghouse is an author and a speaker committed to building cohesive societies and is available to speak and discuss the book American Muslim Agenda.

Why Integrated societies are good for America

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This article was first Published on April 21, 2019 at – : https://centerforpluralism.com/why-integrated-societies-are-good-for-america/

Why are Integrated Neighborhoods good for America? I have chosen to live in the predominantly Black community and I am pleased to share my experience.

Over the years, I have lived amongst many people, at least fifty different nationalities.  It was time for me to choose to live amidst the African American Community and I debated about this over a period of one year, and It is a new experience, and I am cherishing it.

I was even elected as a Neighborhood Commissioner by default, as I voted in myself for the vacant seat, but I yielded to another person due to my health at that time.   My zip code is 20032, ward 8 of Washington, DC.

My idea of America is shaped by the vision of our founding fathers, President Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr,  President Obama, and the Quran.  I am committed to building a cohesive America where each one of the 323 million of us feels secure about his/her faith, race, ethnicity, cultural, political and sexual orientation. The pledge of one nation under God with liberty and Justice for all resonates with me.

Most of the conflicts and phobias cloud us, and one way to get out of it is to know each other. The Quran’s wisdom in 49:13 is central to my research and activism. God says that he has deliberately created us into different communities, nations, races, and by extension different religions. Each one of us is unique with our own thumbprint, eyeprint, DNA, tastebuds, clothes buds, and philosophical buds.  Then HE says, that uniqueness is likely to create conflicts, and the best ones among you are those who learn about each other. As we learn to respect the otherness of the other (my definition of Pluralism) and accept the God given uniqueness of each one of us, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge. Much of this you will find in the book American Muslim Agenda available at Amazon, Google, and the bookstores.

Knowing each other is not a noble idea, or a God-pleasing act, it is the right thing to do; to live freely without fears, after all, our land is the land of the brave and the free.

How do we learn about each other and bust the myths if we don’t live as neighbors?

There was a time in the eighties in Dallas, Texas, my hometown when white folks were running away from their neighborhoods to escape from the African American ‘invasion’ of their communities. My question to them was, and remains, how far and how long will you keep running?

Each one of us seeks freedom and wants to live without fear, but what do we do instead? We double down on our neuroses. White folks run away from neighborhoods when blacks make the entry, and the black people give up on living with all others and go back to their flock where they are comfortable. The apprehensions never end. This is not good for anyone or America’s future.

We keep piling myths upon myths about the other deepening the chasm between each other. The only way to dissipate fears is to know each other first-hand. Knowledge leads to understanding, and understanding to acceptance of each other.

I wanted to experience being around people of different faiths, races, and cultures, the only community I was not around was the black community, now that I live here, I feel home. I am comfortable with everyone around me. Personally, this is an achievement for me to live with all of God’s creation. You feel the fullness and genuine spirituality of being one with all. I am thankful to my friend for offering me this place to live.

Spirituality is not wearing long robes or colorful clothes or reciting the name of God and placing yourselves up above others. You cannot be an authentic spiritual person if you think you are better than others or have achieved spirituality,  Any attempt to separate yourselves from the ‘crowds’ is arrogance.  Spirituality and arrogance are inversely proportional to each other, i.e., the lesser the arrogance, the greater the spirituality in you and vice-versa.

Imagine a child raised with ill will towards Blacks, Whites, Latinos, Jews, Arabs, Chinese, Somalis  or others. I have closely monitored the results with Indian kids raised to hate Pakistani kids and vice-versa. The idiotic parents poison their kids without realizing the damage they do to their children.

When that child grows up to be an adult and has to work with the other who is not to be trusted and stayed away from, then you can guess the anguish that person endures. when he/she actually works with them.  There is an unwanted battle he/she is encountering on a daily basis causing him distress to work with “those” people.

As an owner of the business, do you welcome these inner battles between employees, don’t they cut down the productiveness of your firm?

You would want an employee who gets along with all and focuses on delivering quality products and services to your customers.  You also want him/her to go home with no baggage from work and give 100% of himself or herself to the family. A happy person is productive for his/her family, your firm and the nation.

Besides the individuals, even the City Governments are struggling with the issue of discrimination. They need to see the goodness that comes to all with integrated societies.

Way back around 2005, I was on the government relations committee at the board of Greater Dallas Home Builder’s Association. We were appalled with the attitude of the Planning and Zoning Committees members of the City of Plano; they were opposed to zoning-in apartments in the town as they wanted to keep the people with low income (Black people) out of the city.  Our question was where the people who work at 7/11 should live? Near their workplace or way out someplace in Garland and further draining their income on transportation?  Finally, they listened, and affordable apartments were zoned into the cityscape.

Grand Homes flagship community at Bent Tree Hills in North Dallas took over an abandoned neighborhood due to protests by the rich folks for building low-income (meaning Black) housing next door. I was assigned to turn things around and appealed to the humble beginnings of each one of us, and it worked, most of them realized that everyone needs a break. It went on to become a profitable community for those who believed in doing the right thing.

In 1985, I faced the wrath of homeowners in Rowlett, Texas. My homeowner friends became foes overnight because we contracted to build a new Ryland home to Jim & Mike, a gay couple in the Peninsula neighborhood in Rowlett, Texas. Eventually, the acceptance came through education, and it always works, and they all came back and resumed the friendship.

Over the years, I have learned never to push people into boxes. Regretfully, I have used the dehumanizing terms like right-wingers and other words with red body parts as most people do,  I repent and as a part of repentance, I will continue to build relationships with those who differ with others in creating a cohesive America that is good for all Americans without exception.  Mother Teresa is in my life on a daily basis, she said, if you want to make peace with your enemies, go talk with them. To that, I add, gossiping among friends won’t change the equation unless you talk with the ones you have problems with.

Now, I am enjoying my life with the Black community. There is not a single non-Black person on the busses I have been riding. I walk in into the Senior living centers; again, I am the only one. In the Greenline Metro, all the white folks get off at the Navy Yard, and only me and my black friends are left on the train towards Congress Heights. I shop at Giants,  and I am the only one.  Each one of my neighbors has made me feel one of them, and I feel home with them. Living with almost all communities, I do not feel any difference living here, not a bit. I have taken several pictures in the bus – a black father holding his baby girl close, a black mother telling her son to behave, husband looking surprised when he could not calm his baby, but calmed by the mother in a jiffy.  I see the sameness in the grocery stores. It takes time to know people, and prejudice instilled by parents, friends, clergy, and politicians is the only thing that messes with you. I thank my parents for raising us with a bias towards none.

Take a look at the Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Christian, white, black and brown and other community’s full-time day schools, what are we doing to our children? How are they going to learn about each other, how comfortable are they with different children? Public Schools offer the necessary interactions with different people. I hope private schools recruit children from different faiths, races, ethnicities, and cultures, so our children would be comfortable when they go to work with them as adults with the least tensions. We have to take the responsiblity to shape America, that we want.

Integrated living produces secure societies, and you don’t have to run from place to place in search of security. Would you raise your children free from prejudices? Your children have at least 70 years to live, why do you want to poison them?  Let them be free from your racial, ethnic, religious, economic and cultural prejudices, let them live without fear.

The Center for Pluralism conducts workshops to turn your employees to give 100% of their heart, mind, and soul not only to the place of work but to their family as well making them productive employees.

Dr. Mike Ghouse is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. His new book, the “American Muslim Agenda” is about everything you wanted to know about Muslims. The book is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Kindle. Mike is a public speaker, author, interfaith wedding officiant, a newsmaker and the executive director of the Center for Pluralism in Washington, DC. More about him in three formats at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeghouse/

Hindus and Muslims Together

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This article was first Published on April 22, 2019 at – : https://centerforpluralism.com/hindus-and-muslims-together/

Saturday, April 20, 2019 – Silver Spring, Maryland. Hindus and Muslims gathered to talk about building bridges between the communities. There were ten from each group and carried on a purposeful discussion, followed by enlightening conversation.

Mr. Bhaya Hari and Mr. Abdul Majeed presented the attributes/names of God in Vaishnava and Islamic traditions. I learned several new points and values from their presentations.

We appreciate Anutama and Rukmini Dasa for hosting this discussion in their home and providing a delicious meal. We also thank each participant for contributing his or her goodwill to the discussion.

In my view, if we strip the rituals from the religion for the sake of understanding the purpose of faith, we will find the same wisdom emanating from the same source of the universe to create safe and secure societies.  God has created everything in harmony, and if our individualistic insecurities cause us to grab more than our share, and act as if we have more privileges than the other, conflicts erupt, and adharma takes over.  Instead of mitigating the conflicts, the human tendency is to double down on it and start the wars of getting even.

The ‘un-stated’ purpose of religion, any religion is to create societies where the invincible and vulnerable can live freely without fear of the other and to create orderly societies where people can focus on life, liberty, and pursuit of their happiness by building each other and not tearing down the other.

Dr. Sayyid Syeed shared the compelling examples of how those initial apprehensions with Jews and Christians led him to find solutions by forming relationships and understanding each other’s perspectives.  The alliance between Muslim and Jewish communities have produced incredible results in restoring relationships. He cited one of the most successful campaigns called Shoulder-to-Shoulder entirely funded by Christians to build a relationship with Muslims and standing up for Muslims. Now this year, and this Ramadan, through their efforts iftaars are being organized in over 100 churches across the nation.   He made an impassioned appeal to Hindus and Muslims to form alliances and restore trust and good relationships that we all enjoyed for a long time.

The thought of Unity has been on my mind for several years, and this appeal gives a boost to the idea, as it will be supported by the man who has made a tremendous difference in American society.

Each one of the 20 people shared their stories of the glory days when we were friends with each other, religion was never a wall and we believed Mazhab Nahin sikhata aapas may bair rakhna – religion does not teach one to have ill-will towards the other. In the last few years, the bridge of goodwill is gradually collapsing, and as Lord Krishna says, we have to restore the dharma, the righteousness back again to live without apprehensions and tensions. Everyone deserves to live freely.

I am almost tempted to write poetry based on an old Indian song by Talat Mahmood.

Mera Hindustan Mujhe louta do,
My nafraton say ulajh gaya hoon,
koi hamien jina sikhlado.

I am a part of Jewish-Muslim dialogue society, part of Christian Muslim groups and hope to see the Hindu-Muslim and Muslim-Sikh gatherings. The more we are together, the happier we would be. We all have conflicts based on myths as well as facts, we need to separate the chaff from the grain, acknowledge the facts and bust the myths.

At the Center for Pluralism, we conduct workshops on Atheism to Zoroastrianism so that we can learn about each other.  We also write the essence of all major festivals of all religions, so we know the celebrations and commemorations of our fellow humans. Our mission is to build cohesive societies where each one of us can feel secure about our faith, race, ethnicity, culture, sexual and political orientations.

God bless the world and guide us all who know not and learn to know each other. Knowledge leads to understanding and understanding to acceptance and appreciation of the otherness of the other.

Dr. Mike Ghouse is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. His book, the “American Muslim Agenda” is about Muslim earning their respectable space in the society. The book is available at Amazon, Xlibris, Google, Barnes and Noble, and Kindle. Mike’s mission is to open people’s hearts, minds, and souls towards each other. He believes that the ultimate purpose of humans is to live freely and be comfortable with their culture, race, religion, ethnicity, sexuality, and individuality. Mike is a public speaker, author, interfaith wedding officiant, a newsmaker and the executive director of the Center for Pluralism in Washington, DC. More about him in three formats at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeghouse/

Ilhan Omar – and the Free Speech

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This article was first Published on March 9, 2019 at – : https://centerforpluralism.com/ilhan-omar-and-the-free-speech/

Ilhan Omar on Free speech.
Thanks to Walter Ruby, I have removed the word Hero from the article.

BEFORE YOU READ THE ARTICLE, PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING NOTE:

Before you judge, I request you to read the whole thing and the links therein, that is if you want to share your opinion. If you don’t care, you don’t have to read. I am committed to building cohesive societies where no humans have to live in apprehension. It takes a lot of effort to be specific, so does it take to build cohesive communities. We don’t write off the whole person if he or she has cancer, we treat the specifics cells and work on curing them. Years ago, my boss hated Muslims, even though I was not a Muslim at that time, my name was. He taught me the biggest lesson of the life – his hate for Muslims did not prevent him from giving me the highest performance ratings and pay rise in one of the world’s largest engineering firms: Fluor Corporation way back in 1978.

Without any reserve, I condemn Ilhan’s anti-Semitic tropes like the Benjamin’s and other ugly things she has said, but we must appreciate her for seeking to learn about AntiSemitism from her Jewish friends/ colleagues.

I have a stellar record of working for reconciliation and understanding. I firmly believe in free speech; however ugly it may be, it is our value, and we must defend it, I support free speech while condemning through unintentional tropes. We cannot screw up on one of the most enduring values of America; Free speech. We have to deal with Antisemitism through education; if we push and punish people for free speech, anti-Semitism will not disappear, it will brew. I have taken the lead on educating on Holocaust to non-Jews for the last thirteen years and will continue with that education. I have stood up against similar Muslim request to push against Islamophobia, no pushing, no laws, but educating has a better chance of uprooting Antisemitism, and I will do my share of the work. Forcing people makes Antitemism brew and blow up someday like the shooting in the Synagogue recently or defiling the cemeteries two years ago.

Let’s separate free speech from Antisemitism and also define what Antisemitism is, much of the AntiSemitism is resentment towards Likud Governments policies and violations of international consensus. Make no mistake about it, 94% of the nations are resentful against Israel for violating the United Nations resolutions since 1948, it will not go away until Justice is met for the Palestinians, which in turn will result in enduring security for Jews, Judaism, and Israel. Please place your wisdom to work and not the emotion of insecurity, as a Muslim, I align with your sentiment and the feelings of all persecuted minorities.

My mission is to open people’s hearts and minds towards each other. I believe that the ultimate unexpressed purpose of humans is to live freely and be comfortable with one’s culture, race, religion, ethnicity, sexuality, and individuality.

I hope you are ready to read this piece. It is a sensitive issue, so I urge you to ask me questions before you choose to judge me.

Thank you.
Mike

Ilham Omar is standing up for free speech. The hypocrites on both the parties are attacking her instead of praising her for preserving the most cherished American value; Free speech.

What an embarrassment that our leaders on both sides of the isle bark at free speech. What happened to them? Are they free to criticize?  America is all about free speech! It is the free speech that has made us one of the most successful and stable nations on the earth. Those who are trying to pass the resolutions to curb free speech are hell-bent on destroying the character of our nation. I will not stand for this bullshit, neither should you.

Most women and children understand free speech/ oppression;  the misogynistic men usually get away with their threats, violence, and abuse. The women and children grind their teeth, and if ever they have a chance, they will get even. As a civilized society, should we support the oppressive men and ask the women and children to shut up?

Free speech is the hallmark of civil societies, and it allows people to express their frustrations instead of turning them into resentment, a stepping stone towards freedom.

If you are stereotyping Jews or Judaism and are biased towards them, then it is Antisemitism, and I condemn it unconditionally. Antisemitism is a disease and a mental sickness like homophobia, xenophobia, Islamophobia, Hindu phobia, Idoltaryphobia, misogyny, and other phobias.

Criticizing Israel is not Antisemitism, criticizing the Holocaust is not Antisemitism either. Nothing should be beyond criticism. There will always be a few who are motivated by hate; the response should be to teach about the dangers of Holocaust and Genocides and how it wraps all of us in flames.

Rabbi Rosen, the Chief Rabbi of Israel, had invited me to be a part of a Jewish enclave where they debated about how long Israel would be a binding factor for Jews, they agreed social justice should be the binding factor for Jews.

At the Center for Pluralism, we chose the route to educate people. For the first time in history, we decided to undertake the education of the Holocaust and Genocides to the general public. We have been organizing the event since 2006, and people from Atheism to Zoroastrianism have participated in learning about the Holocaust, and we will continue to do that.

As a Muslim, I have welcomed criticism of Allah, Muhammad, Islam, and the Quran. There is a full chapter about it in the book American Muslim Agenda available at Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Nobles and other book stores. No one and nothing should be free from criticism.

I have a sterling record in standing up for free speech, I have defended Pamela Geller’s right to speak in London, even though it was a hate speech. I had fought off vigorously against Hannity on Fox News when he wanted to ban Dr. Ghannouchi from speaking at Yale University, and I have gone against the Arab league’s proposal to ban hate speech against Prophet Muhammad at the United Nations. Furthermore, we resolved the Quran burning issue with Pastor Jones by respecting his right to free speech and not condemning it. There should not be any compromise on free speech; if we do that, America will not be America anymore. Free speech is a God-given right, and no one has a right to take that away.

We should not mess with our heritage of free speech for short term demands.  Free speech is the cornerstone of our culture. It must be defended at any cost. Shamefully, the free speech, a conservative value is anathema to some Republicans. They want to control others, and now some Democrats have joined them in placing restrictions on free speech.  I urge the politicians to wake up and re-embrace the traditional values they have abandoned over a decade. I am not a Republican or a Democrat, but an independent who defends America and the American Values.

We need to quit applying the “Anti-Semitism” mantra to everything and devalue it. It is a disease we need to guard people against, and we should educate the Anti-Semitism shouters, it is not Anti-Semitism, look up the article referenced below, “Anti-Semitism is augmented by Netanyahu” at Huffington Post.

Many states have passed laws against BDS, and I was short on energy to fight that out, it is anti-American. You can bury your head in the sand and think BDK has disappeared, but it is not, it is simmering. Any curb on free speech breeds resentment towards Israel. Let people have the freedom to criticize, don’t take that away, instead educate them, and it is durable and sustainable.

At the Center for Pluralism, we chose the route to educate people. For the first time in history, we decided to undertake the education of the Holocaust and Genocides to the general public. We have been organizing the event since 2006, and people from Atheism to Zoroastrianism have participated in learning about the Holocaust, and we will continue to do that.

If you are a friend of Israel, please “think about it.” Israel’s long-term security hinges on justice to the Palestinians. If you want the Jews around the world to feels secure, that is,  when they can drop their guards and roam about freely anywhere on the earth without apprehension, do the right thing – seek Justice for Palestinians and security for Israel, and one will not happen without the other.  We need a Martin Luther King or another Moses in Israel to liberate the Jews from the gnawing feeling they have about the injustice and mistreatment of the Palestinians. The ultimate freedom and security of the Jewish people lay in being who they are; a just people.

  1. Haaretz, March 7, 2019 –  Keep it up, Ilhan
  2. Huffington Post,  December 8, 2019 – Anti-Semitism is augmented by Netanyahu
  3. Huffington Post, January 23, 2014 – Holocaust and the Muslim Guy
  4. Website – Holocaust and Genocides
  5. Newsweek opinion – I am Jewish and hypocrisy of GOP is deplorable
  6. Israeli General on Anti-Israel is not Anti-Semitism

What an embarrassment that our leaders on both sides of the isle bark at free speech, not at the powerful ones like our President, but the vulnerable ones like Ilham Omar.  What happened to their freedom? Are they free to criticize anyone or only those who are vulnerable and cannot fight back?  I am a great fan of President Obama and have written about 75 pieces admiring his acts, but I am glad Ilhan Omar criticized him on his bad policy of drones.  Hail to Ilhan Omar!

Dr. Mike Ghouse is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. His new book, the “American Muslim Agenda” is about everything you wanted to know about Muslims. The book is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Kindle. Mike is a public speaker, author, interfaith wedding officiant, a newsmaker and the executive director of the Center for Pluralism in Washington, DC. More about him in three formats at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeghouse/

Please note: This is sent for publication, once that is done, we will publish it on our websites www.CenterforPluralism.com | www.WorldMuslimcongress.com | www.TheGhouseDiary.com

About the book: American Muslim Agenda

The essence of Islam was never explained to Muslims or the non-Muslims before, and the emphasis has always been adherence to rituals. Rituals are a part of Islam or any system, but that is not whole Islam. Islam is not about ruling others, and it is not about imposing oppressive laws or considering others to be second class citizens under their rule. Islam is about free will; in fact, Islam was built on free will. Islam is a religion of universe, a religion of human nature, and it is about living your life in harmony within yourselves (rituals) and with others (essence). It is about living your life and letting others live in dignity and freedom.  If it is not common sense, then it is not Islam. Period!

The book will become a reference manual to teach Islamic values; each chapter is beefed up with verses from the Quran and an occasional Hadith. This book is about Public Islam and the Quran supports it all, for private Islam one may need the support of Hadiths.

The bottom line of Islam’s teachings is to create better citizens (also known as Muslims). This book is about building cohesive societies through 12 Islamic values, never written before in the pages of Islamic history but it was always there. This book highlights the universal principles of Islam that anyone one adopts to build a better world. Being Muslim is not a requirement of Allah, the entire universe is Allah’s creation and the best ones among us are those who care about his creation to include the whole world and 7.5 billion humans and trillions of other life forms. A few talking points at www.AmericanMuslimAgenda.com, You can get the book from Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Nobles and other book stores if you want an author signed copy PayPal the funds to Mike Ghouse + $4.50 for shipping through ups.

If you are interested in hosting Q&A session, please let me know.

What have we accomplished at the Center for Pluralism? 
http://centerforpluralism.com/mission-accomplished-at-the-center-for-pluralism/

Your donation produces bold results. 
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Thank you.

Mike Ghouse
(214) 325-1916
Center for Pluralism, Washington, DC
Pluralism Studies in Religion, Politics, Society, Culture, and business.
email:Mike@CenterforPluralism.com
Website: www.CenterforPluralism.com

New Zealand Muslims to follow Prophet Muhammad.

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This article was first Published on March 15, 2019 at – : https://centerforpluralism.com/new-zealand-muslims-to-follow-prophet-muhammad/

Forty people have been shot dead and 20 injured. The tragedy in New Zealand invokes Muslims to follow the Prophet, Muhammad.

The man was called a Mercy to humanity, and his words, deeds, actions, and prayers reflected his character; mercy.  Many Muslims proudly keep the beard believing it was the tradition of the Prophet. Indeed, it was, now it is time to follow his teachings of non-violence in dealing with conflicts.

There are innumerable examples of forbearance, forgiveness, and kindness of the Prophet (PBUH) toward those who insulted and even tried to harm him. He believed in peace and employed non-violent methods to mitigate conflicts and nurture goodwill.

One of the most famous stories often repeated is about an old lady who threw trash on the Prophet every time he passed in front of her door. One day, the lady did not throw garbage, concerned, he knocked on her door to see if she was all right and needed any help. Overwhelmed with kindness, she became a great fan of him.

Another story narrated just about every sermon is how he dealt with those who hurt him.  On the way to the city of Ţā’if, the Prophet was pelted with rocks by the miscreants. His associates wanted to retaliate, even the archangel Gabriel offered to help bring relief to the situation. The Prophet said no to all of them. Instead, he asked his associates to join him in asking God to forgive them because they knew not.

What was the need for the Prophet to have endured such painful experiences? It was to guide humanity toward kindness and shape long-term solutions for peaceful communities and the greater good of the society at large. He was committed to mitigating conflicts and nurturing goodwill; indeed, he was the ultimate peacemaker, mercy to humanity.

I appeal to Muslims to reign in on the lost souls who are burning with the desire to punish and harm the individuals who have hurt them. Indeed, the Prophet was asked after returning from a victorious battle, what is next? He said, Jihad, the biggest inner struggle you have to go through to rein in on the temptations to beat up on the losers, to get even and take advantage of their vulnerabilities. That is the kind of reflective Jihad prophet taught to follow.

As Muslims, we need to keep his message of kindness alive and bring to fruition what he was all about— Rahmutul Aalameen. If we misbehave, people may mistake our ugly acts as teachings of the prophet which is not true. Let’s not disappoint the prophet and let his mercy and compassion become a part of our life. Let’s continue to be a blessing to the universe. Amen

Dr. Mike Ghouse is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. His book, the “American Muslim Agenda” is available at Xlibris, Amazon, Google, Kindle, Barnes & Noble and other book stores. Mike is a public speaker, author, interfaith wedding officiant, a newsmaker and the executive director of the Center for Pluralism in Washington, DC. More about him at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeghouse/

The Essence of the Quran: a presentation by Dr. Safi Kaskas

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This article was first Published on March 18, 2019 at – : https://centerforpluralism.com/the-essence-of-the-quran-a-presentation-by-dr-safi-kaskas/

McLean, VA, March 17, 2019 — The Jewish Islamic Dialogue society (JIDS) hosted a conversation with Dr. Safi Kaskas and Eman Kaskas, about the essence of Quran to a gathering organized by the JIDS.  It was a joy listening to him rolling out the truth after truth from the Quran.

We thank all the friends who came to listen and appreciate Dr. Maqsood Chaudhry, a philanthropist and a supporter of community building,  for providing the space and the lunch.

Perhaps, this is one of the first video interviews of Dr. Safi Kaskas on February 10, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLuAvLKNjlw

Dr. Kaskas’ focus was on the essence of the Quran, which is based on freedom. He has translated the Quran, accompanied by 3000 related verses from the Bible and the Torah. Once again, the words may be different, actions vary due to cultural impulses, but the essence is the same in all religions, it is God’s guidance.

The audience was in tune with him, and I was in tune with him, and we do exchange information daily on Facebook.

Ms. Eman Kaskas and Dr. Kaskas have prepared to be each other’s back up and can deliver the full speech together or separately.

Eman shared the story of Safi’s struggle in explaining a Quranic verse to fellow Americans.  The sentence was that God raised the sky over the earth without columns. How would anyone see the logic in it? He slept over on it, and when he woke up he found an announcement from NASA about the invisible columns, that is the gravity that holds different things at a distance and in balance.  Eureka! To quote, Goerthe, if you are committed, all sorts of things happen to you, indeed, nature will pave the way for you. That is what happened to Dr. Kaskas, and indeed, it happens to me on a daily basis.

The Quran calls one to look for the signs, and he has spread everything for the human species. Indeed, when I see the snake poison used to cure specific ailments, and by God, there is an ad on the TV, that talks about increasing the human memory by using an item from the Jellyfish. Everything on earth is spread out for us, if we can see the signe, we learn it and make it meaningful to us.

Safi was born in Lebanon and raised in the United States, and he sees things as most Americans do; with an open mind and finding reason in it.  I have consistently written that an American Muslim is well equipped to write about the essence of the Quran, as he lives amidst people of different faiths and has an eye for what is inclusive and sensitive.

I was struggling to express the idea of the oneness of God over the years and had decided to write that God should not be reduced to a number, such as a numero one God. I got that clarity from studying Bahai faith, and they have expressed the idea with much clarity. Now, Safi shares that idea in a beautiful fashion – the indivisible, uniquely one God.

I hope to do a joint presentation with him – his topic is the Essence of the Quran and mine is the Essence of Islam, much of which is in the book American Muslim Agenda.

It was a great presentation, due to time limitations or the number of questions, he shortchanged on one of the misogynistic translations of the verse Quran 4:34, and Jihad.

Dr. Safi Kaskas is a scholar, author and interfaith bridge builder whose accomplishments include translating the Qur’an into contemporary English and cross-referencing his translation into verses from the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures.  More information about Dr. Kaskas can be found at http://www.kaskas.com/home/?page_id=89

For information about other upcoming JIDS events, go to www.jids.org

Reference material:

  1. Beating the wife – the most advanced research on verse 4:34 was carried out by the first woman translator of the Quran Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar. She has corrected the error made by Muslim Scholars for nearly 1400 years. Yes, as Safi puts it, the Muslim brains were frozen in the last 1000 years, and we did not dare question the scholars of the past. What a mistake we have made. There is no such thing as ‘beating,’ it is rather ‘separation’ based on sound practical research that has gained currency in the last eight years. However, it has not made it to many translations yet, but it will. Safi’s book carries the right translations as well. God cannot and will not discriminate between genders, races, ethnicities, and faiths. It is extensively covered in the chapter Gender Equality in the book American Muslim Agenda, and you can hear Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar herself in dealing with the misogynistic translated verses. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyzlYic0NpQ

2. Jihad – is the struggle of the conscience. Upon returning from a battle, the prophet was asked, what next? He said, the bigger Jihad! That is the resistance you have to employ to denigrate, seek revenge or get even with the losers. Hold on to the temptations to humiliate the other, in God’s eyes, and all are equal and are dignified. However, Jihad was stated as an armed struggle by the right-wing Muslims, part of the falsity was a reaction to the crusades and not a thoughtful and truthful commentary by some of the Muslim scholars of the past.  The simple rule that I follow is, if it is not in the Quran, and if it is not common sense, then it is not Islam.  As Safi reiterated and challenged, that no war in the Quran was offensive, they were all defensive.

Yes, sick people in every group do bad things, let’s work with them and not blame their faiths or cultures for the acts of the individuals.

If you want to understand the essence of Islam and how it contributes to creating a better world, please read the book American Muslim Agenda. Eight testimonies support the work – two of them were by modern Quran translators like Dr. Safi Kaskas and Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar, A renowned Evangelical Pastor, Our own Rabbi Gerald Serotta, a Sikh and Muslim Scholars. My Hindu scholar friends were not able to write the testimonial on time for the book.

This video explains the origins of freedom in a humorous way. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vQs1IcSdYA

# # #
Mike Ghouse is a thinker, author and a pluralist committed to opening people’s heart and minds and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. His book American Muslim Agenda is available on Amazon, Barnes & Nobles, Kindle, Google, and other book stores, it is a bold new book and challenges the mythical traditions. If it is not common sense, it is not Islam. Mike is the Executive Director of the Center for Pluralism.

Pittsburg’s Muslim preacher spews his ignorance.

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This article was first Published on February 1, 2019 at – : https://centerforpluralism.com/pittsburgs-muslim-preacher-spews-his-ignorance/

The issue is becoming crystal clear, all of us, the Good people have to come together against a few bad ones amongst us.

As a Muslim, I condemn the ignorance of Pittsburgh’s Muslim preacher Imam Na’eem Abdullah.
All humanity should condemn it, not just Muslims, I have two solid reasons to condemn his sermon;

1) The Imam is ignorant about Islam, what he has learned is rote learning. He is going by what a few idiotic ‘Muslim’ scholars have written in the past.  Islam is not about ruling others, but it is about living your life and letting others live theirs.  You can study a full chapter on the Source of Extremism among Muslims in the book American Muslim Agenda, available at Amazon and Barnes and Nobles. Phone Order – 1-888-795-4274x 4528

2) Together as fellow humans, we have a responsibility to restore religions to what they were created for; to build cohesive societies where all of God’s creation lives with dignity and freedom, and where no one is more privileged than the other.

My work is that of Pluralism in religion, society, culture, and politics.  I am pleased to boldly make a statement, that for every Muslim ass, there is a Hindu, Christian and Jewish ass out there. There is a record out there, and you can find criminal elements in all these groups.

The problem is not with Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism or other religions, and it is with a few individuals who do not get their religion right.  As people who care, we have the responsibility to separate the bad elements from the religion and defend the sanctity of every faith. Are we learned enough to do that? I hope we will learn more about each other for our own sanity.

We can punish the Imam, but the poor guy is not the source, we should remove the source that has wrongfully filled some of the secondary Islamic literature. The only authentic book for Muslims is Quran, all else is subject to questioning and correcting.  We should not be hung up with the business of condemning, but take action, and that is to have a discussion. The poor rascal will be dumbfounded to learn that, it is not in the Quran.  There is an alt-right among Muslims, and there is one in every religious group.

Now, I will respond to the specific verse this Imam talks about, and then share another incident happening in India today. A few extremists are using the name Hindu to taint Hinduism with their ugly enactment of shooting Mahatma Gandhi (Links below).

A Pittsburgh-based Imam Na’eem Abdullah’s sermons are not only filled with outlandish lies, but he also abuses his pulpit to promote unadulterated hatred of followers of other religions. This Pittsburgh imam uses his pulpit to push the vilest hatred of other faiths, demeaning Christians and referring to Jews as “apes and pigs.” More at https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-pittsburgh-hate-preacher-rails-against-jews-and-christians/ 

The Maligned Verse

I received an email that listed “Top 10 verses Muslims wish were never revealed”. Item number 5 was this. “Qur’an 2:65 mentions that Jews who broke the Sabbath were turned into Apes.” claiming that Islamic God is anti-Semitic. I will post every one of the ten items and hope to wrap it up as soon as I have the time.

As a Muslim, it offends me to read this verse as propagated, and I certainly understand the pain the Jews must feel when they read this quotation. Everyone is busy with their lives, rightfully so and consume the sound bites dished out to them without even wondering the integrity of it.  There are at least 60 verses that are in the propaganda machine.

Religions emerged to allay individual fears and bring a balance in one’s life and peace for the society. It is time for us to strip the wrongs people have ascribed to religion, indeed every religion, and find the truth for ourselves. I cannot believe that the Universities and responsible Governments have not undertaken the research to dismantle the false castles of hate from the past, as individuals, we will do what we can and I hope to compile a full book on these falisties about all religions.

Propaganda Verse: Qur’an 2:65 mentions that Jews who broke the Sabbath were turned into Apes.

Caveat: Here is the real verse with 55 some translations, only three idiots have added the word Jews in the translation, it is not in Arabic. It is time we all find the truth on our own to believe it. I can explain all I can, but unless you find the truth,  it won’t mean much to you.

So, we have the responsibility to fix the problems if we want to be free from anxiety.  The Book “American Muslim Agenda” offers you some guidance.  I hope the book to initiate debates and discussions about the nature of Islam which is to live your life and let others live theirs.

Al-Baqara (The Cow) 2:65 ولقد علمتم الذين اعتدوا منكم في السبت فقلنا لهم كونوا قردة خاسئين

2:65 for you are well aware of those from among you who profaned the Sabbath, whereupon We said unto them, “Be as apes despicable!”

What God wants us to do is to take the rest one day a week, so we can refresh our minds with clarity and re-start our week. How many of us bitch about taking a vacation when frustrated? Go ahead, take one and come back with a productive mind, If we don’t,  we would behave like apes, meaning irresponsibly. It is as simple as that!

Generally Accepted Translations of the Meaning
Muhammad Asadfor you are well aware of those from among you who profaned the Sabbath, whereupon We said unto them, “Be as apes despicable!”
M. M. PickthallAnd ye know of those of you who broke the Sabbath, how We said unto them: Be ye apes, despised and hated!
Yusuf Ali (Saudi Rev. 1985)And well ye knew those amongst you who transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath: We said to them: “Be ye apes, despised and rejected.”
Yusuf Ali (Orig. 1938)And well ye knew those amongst you who transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath: We said to them: “Be ye apes, despised and rejected.”
ShakirAnd certainly you have known those among you who exceeded the limits of the Sabbath, so We said to them: Be (as) apes, despised and hated.
Wahiduddin KhanYou are aware of those who transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath, whereupon We said to them, Be as apes, despised!
Dr. Laleh BakhtiarAnd, certainly, you knew those who exceeded the limits among you on the Sabbath, to whom We said: Be you apes, ones who are driven away.
T.B.IrvingYet you knew which of you had been defiant on the Sabbath, so We told them: “Become apes, rejected!”
The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa KhattabYou are already aware of those of you who broke the Sabbath. We said to them, “Be disgraced apes!”
Safi KaskasYou know those of you who profane the Sabbath, so We told them, “Be despicable apes.”
Abdul HyeIndeed you know those who transgressed amongst you in the matter of the Sabbath (Saturday). We ordered them: “You be monkeys, and rejected.”
The Study QuranAnd you have indeed known those among you who transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath, and so We said to them, “Be you apes, outcast.”
[The Monotheist Group] (2011 Edition)You have come to know who it was amongst you that transgressed the Sabbath, We said to them: “Be despicable apes!”
Abdel HaleemYou know about those of you who broke the Sabbath, and so We said to them, ‘Be like apes! Be outcasts!’
Abdul Majid DaryabadiAnd assuredly ye know of those of you who trespassed in the matter of the Sabbath, wherefore We said unto them: be ye apes despised.
Ahmed AliYou know and have known already those among you who had broken the sanctity of the Sabbath, and to whom We had said: “Become (like) apes despised,”
Aisha BewleyYou are well aware of those of you who broke the Sabbath. We said to them, ´Be apes, despised, cast out.´
Ali ÜnalYou surely know of those among you who exceeded the bounds with respect to the Sabbath, how We said to them, “Be you apes, miserably slinking and rejected.”
Ali Quli Qara’iAnd certainly you know those of you who violated the Sabbath, whereupon We said to them, ‘Be you spurned apes.’
Hamid S. AzizYou know also of those among you who transgressed upon the Sabbath, and how We said to them, “Be you (as) apes, despised and spurned.”
Muhammad Mahmoud GhaliAnd you already know of (the ones) of you who transgressed the Sabbath; so We said to them “Be apes, (miserably) spurned.”
Muhammad SarwarYou certainly knew about those among you who were transgressors on the Sabbath. We commanded them, “Become detested apes,”
Muhammad Taqi UsmaniCertainly you have knowledge of those among you who transgressed in (the matter of) the Sabbath. We said to them, .Become apes, abased.
Shabbir AhmedAnd you are well aware of those of you who broke the Sabbath, whereupon We said unto them, “Be as apes despicable!”
Syed Vickar AhamedAnd you knew well those among you who transgressed in the matter of the (Sacred) day (of Sabbath): We said to them: “Be you (like) monkeys, despised and rejected.”
Umm Muhammad (Sahih International)And you had already known about those who transgressed among you concerning the sabbath, and We said to them, “Be apes, despised.”
Farook MalikYou very well know the story of those of you who transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath; We ordered them: “Be detested apes”.
Dr. Munir MunsheyOf course, you know very well (the fate of) those of you who exceeded the bounds (and broke the laws) of Sabbath. We said (to them), “You be the apes, despised and spurned!”
Dr. Kamal OmarAnd certainly you knew amongst you who crossed the limits in the matter of As-Sabth. We said to them: “Be you apes, despised and rejected.”
Talal A. Itani (new translation)And you surely knew those of you who violated the Sabbath. We said to them, ‘Be despicable apes!’
MaududiAnd you know well the story of those among you who broke Sabbath. We said to them, “Be apes despised and hated by all.
Ali Bakhtiari NejadCertainly you knew the ones among you who violated the Sabbath, and We told them to be despised monkeys.
A.L. Bilal Muhammad et al (2018)And you knew well those among you who transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath. We said to them, “Become apes, despised and rejected.”
[The Monotheist Group] (2013 Edition)You have come to know who it was among you that transgressed the Sabbath, We said to them: “Be despicable apes!”
Mohammad ShafiAnd you did indeed know those of you who committed transgression on Sabbath. So We told them, “Be you monkeys, despised!”
Controversial, deprecated, or status undetermined works
Bijan MoeinianYou know well how some of you disobeyed God’s Sabbatical law (Exodus,12-17); I told them: “Be apes, resented by all.”
Faridul HaqueAnd you certainly know of those amongst you who transgressed in the matter of Sabth (Sabbath – Saturday) – We therefore said to them, “Become apes, despised!”
Hasan Al-Fatih QaribullahYou have surely known of those amongst you who transgressed the Sabbath. We said to them: ‘Be apes, despised! ‘
Maulana Muhammad AliAnd indeed you know those among you who violated the Sabbath, so We said to them: Be (as) apes, despised and hated.
Muhammad Ahmed – SamiraAnd you had known those who transgressed/violated from you in the Saturday/Sabbath, so We said to them: “Be lowly/ousted out monkeys/apes .”
Sher AliAnd surely, you have known the end of those amongst you, who transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath. So WE said to them, `Be ye apes, despised.’
Rashad KhalifaYou have known about those among you who desecrated the Sabbath. We said to them, “Be you as despicable as apes.”
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)And, undoubtedly, you surely know, those among you who rebelled in the matter of Saturday (Sabbath). So We said to them, “Be Apes, despised.”
Amatul Rahman OmarAnd indeed you have come to know (the end of) those of you who transgressed regarding the Sabbath. Thereupon We said to them, `Be you (as) apes, despised.’
Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-QadriAnd (O Jews) certainly you know well those of you who violated (the injunctions concerning) the Sabbath (Saturday). So We said to them: ‘Be you apes: rejected and despised.’
Muhsin Khan & Muhammad al-HilaliAnd indeed you knew those amongst you who transgressed in the matter of the Sabbath (i.e. Saturday). We said to them: “Be you monkeys, despised and rejected.”
Non-Muslim and/or Orientalist works
Arthur John ArberryAnd well you know there were those among you that transgressed the Sabbath, and We said to them, ‘Be you apes, miserably slinking!’
Edward Henry PalmerYe know too of those among you who transgressed upon the Sabbath, and we said, ‘Become ye apes, despised and spurned.’
George SaleMoreover ye know what befall those of your nation who transgressed on the sabbath day; we said unto them, be ye changed into apes, driven away from the society of men.
John Medows RodwellYe know too those of you who transgressed on the Sabbath, and to whom we said, “Be changed into scouted apes:”
N J Dawood (2014)You have heard of those of you that broke the Sabbath. We said to them: ‘Change into detested apes.‘
New and/or Partial Translations, and works in progress
Sayyid QutbYou are well aware of those of you who broke the Sabbath. To them We said, ‘Be as despicable apes.’
Ahmed HulusiAssuredly, you would know about those among you who disrespect the Sabbath and transgress the limits. We said to them, “Become apes (live as imitators who refuse to experience the results of their reality), despised.”
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-AmeliAnd certainly you have known those among you who exceeded the limits on the Sabbath, so We said to them: ‘ Be you (as) apes despised and rejected ‘.
Al-muntakhab fi tafsir al-Qur’an al-KarimYou knew those of you who broke the Sabbath We set apart for rest and worship, and you defiled yourselves with sin and so did heaven lay your transgression to your charge and decreed that you be monkeyfied and your monkey-like character and behaviour be viewed with contempt, and that you be despised and rejected of men”.
Mir AneesuddinAnd you surely know those among you who exceeded the limits of the Sabbath, so We said to them, “Be apes, looked down upon .”
The Ascendant Qur‘an, Muhammad H. al-‘AsiFor you are well aware of those from among you who profaned the Sabbath, whereupon We said unto them, “Be as apes despicable!”

Time for Jews, Muslims, Christians, and Hindus to come together to resolve our misunderstandings about each other.

There are Rabbis in Israel who have called for killing all male Palestinian children in 2018, there are Pastors in America who have called for killing all Gays, there are Buddhist Monks who have called for massacring Muslims, the Atheists in China are killing Christians, Muslims, and Falun Dafa, people.

Today, what a bad day it is

Hindu Mahasabha Leader shoots at Mahatma Gandhi’s effigy
https://scroll.in/latest/911410/hindu-mahasabha-leader-shoots-at-gandhis-effigy-garlands-nathuram-godses-statue

Hindu Mahasabha builds a temple to honor the killer  of Gandhi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8wFKq4JDxM

I am not sure if India’s Prime Minister consider the killer of Gandhi as a hero or not, but his affiliated organizations do.

Dr. Mike Ghouse is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. His new book, the “American Muslim Agenda” is about everything you wanted to know about Muslims. The book is available at Xlibris and Amazon. Mike is a public speaker, author, interfaith wedding officiant, and the executive director of the Center for Pluralism in Washington, DC. More about him at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeghouse/

Gender Pluralism and Misogyny

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This article was first Published on February 3, 2019 at – : https://centerforpluralism.com/gender-pluralism-and-misogyny/

At the Center for Pluralism, we will explore if misogyny is religiously sanctioned or men took it upon themselves to make things to work for them. The unintended consequence of such acts was making a villain out of God and religion.

A few Men tend to be insecure about their own worth compared to women and devise ways to feel secure by causing women to be vulnerable. I am not talking about the Taliban in a distant land, but our own Taliban mindset here in America who deny women the right to choose what she does with her body, rejecting her equal pay, and expect her to defer her to her husband.

“A woman should behave like a woman” “Her place is home” echo the insecure religious men from Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and other traditions.

Women have put up with this crap from men far too long, and it’s time we feel, act, talk and behave like equals. The silence of the right people is considered an endorsement to the right-wing views on women. The majority needs to speak up continuously.

An excellent functional society strives to be just to every citizen when justness becomes a norm in every aspect of life – be it between spouses, family members, members of the community, town, state, and the nation, then people trust each other and mind their own business and let others be free from tensions.

Don’t look to any one group to blame, look at yourselves first. A sentence that I have been repeating lately is “for every Muslim ass; there is a Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh or other ass” add hole if you want to.

Eventually, we need to realize that individuals must be held accountable for their wrongdoing, and not their religion.

I believe everything on the earth is created to seek its balance, whether it is matter or individual, family or a nation. Everyone struggles to have that elusive equilibrium which goes off balance as regularly as it is desired to be in balance.

For years, Islam has been at the forefront of receiving the accusations, but when I study Islam, it is not the religion, it is the men. The Christians find it convenient to blame the Old Testament, instead of doing the research and seeing what God meant.

Prophet Muhammad had time and again said, “Justice:” among people, within the family, among nations and tribe is the key to building a prosperous, cohesive society where no one has to live in fear of the other.

The other word for Islam would be Justice that is not what you see in the world today. Neither do you see Jesus’s teachings practiced by Christians or Jews follow Torah or Bhagavad Gita by Hindus?

To me all religions are equally beautiful and divine; no religion is superior or inferior to any. If any on claims superiority, he or she does not understand the nature of his or her faith. Religion is not about arrogance which kills relationships and balance in the society, but it is about humility, that which builds bridges between people.

Dr. Mike Ghouse is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. His new book, the “American Muslim Agenda” is about everything you wanted to know about Muslims. The book is available at Xlibris and Amazon. Mike is a public speaker, author, interfaith wedding officiant, and the executive director of the Center for Pluralism in Washington, DC. More about him at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeghouse/