Current Affairs

Bombings

OMFG! What the hell is wrong with people? Bombing trains? While we don’t know who has done this (the fact only first class cars were targeted leaves open the possibility of some sort of pseudo-Naxalite movement), I must say even I am inclined to believe that this is the work of some members of the Cult of Bin Laden – who, like the members of the Seas of David, have heard enough about the Qur’an to consider themselves Muslim. This is a horrible tragedy, and I pray for the deceased, and that the perpetrators truly understand God’s Justice. Technorati Tags:…

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Sports

Zidane should still be President [Updated][2x]

I was trying hard not to do a World Cup post (can’t believe the Italians won it all). But watching Zidane being sent off the way he was shocked me. Couldn’t decide if Materazzi talked about his wife or his mother. Turns out he may have called Zidane “a dirty terrorist.” Read this post from the Chapati for more. Update: Ali Eteraz has more at Progressive Islam (1, 2). Update: As always, Wikipedia is on top of the situation. It seems if Materazzi did in fact use a racist slur, it could jeopardize the win. That’s severe, and probably unlikely,…

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Conferences Inter-faith Intra-faith Religion

MLT – Discuss the Undiscussable

Four questions were posed to us in small groups. The questions are below, with my thoughts in brackets. Couldn’t capture everyone’s ideas, but feel free to answer in comments on your own. Topic: Integration of Islam and the West What frustrates/angers/annoys/etc. most about the topic? [The question. As long we see a dichotomy between Islam and the West, others will as well. For the most part, I have to say, at least in the US the integration question seems to be coming more from the Muslim community. Those who want to reach out to us already accept religious identity and…

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Conferences Inter-faith Intra-faith Religion

MLT – The New Cordoba

New Cordoba 1. Reza Aslan a. Daisy quotes from former CEO of HPs comments on Islam after 9/11 as set-up for Cordoba b. PPT presented as written by Shafique Walji (staff volunteer) c. Challenge master narrative of what went wrong i. Islam achieved something great and then went into steady decline d. Introduce Cordoba to get to the discussion i. Basic history of Islamic expansion ii. Expansion of knowledge, and development of institutions of learning iii. Reasons for decline from zenith 1. Seljuq advancement 2. Mongol invasion 3. Advancement of European pardigm iv. Cultural renaissance with Ottomans, Safavids, and Mughals,…

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Conferences Inter-faith Intra-faith Religion

MLT – Opening Comments

Ministry of Integration in Denmark 1. Daisy Khan’s opening a. Conference planned before cartoon crisis in Copenhagen b. Now need to heal wounds c. Introducing Susanne Clausen from Integration Ministry 2. Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs 3. Danish gov’t had no control over publication of cartoons in private newspapers a. Could emphasize freedom of speech, freedom of religion were co-existent b. Protests in Denmark were peaceful i. International scene clouded scene in Denmark c. 210,000 (3.9%) population is Muslim d. 85 approved communities, 19 of which are Muslim (aside from National Church) e. 120 prayer rooms f. Muslims are free…

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Conferences Inter-faith Intra-faith Religion

MLT Schedule

Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow Schedule: Friday, 7 July 2006 Group Introduction [some very cool and exciting people here, and hopefully a site will go up with the list of attendees.] Saturday, 8 July 2006 Special address by Susanne Clausen, Ministry of Integration of Denmark A New Cordoba Discuss the Unthinkable Talent Bazaar Knowledge Transfer Extremism and New Media The Artists Role Imam’s Circle Sunday, 9 July 2006 Pluralism in Islam Construct Your Identity Media and Islam Integration in the West Monday, 10 July 2006 [I won’t be blogging any of this as they booked my flight to leave before the…

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Conferences Religion

Conferences, Conferences

As you all know, next weekend is the Progressive Faith Blog Con. I’ll be there, and I hope to you meet you there as well. This weekend, I’m in Copenhagen for a conference called Muslim Leaders of Tomorrow (although they don’t have a website today). The press release is here. No outlets for laptops, so no live blogging, but I’ll try to put summary of the sessions and my thoughts on them as I can. Technorati Tags: MLT, progfaithblogcon

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