Thanks for this! When I began teaching World Religions at a small college in 2003 I knew very little about Islam, but felt a moral obligation to teach a fair and open-hearted view of this great tradition to counter the propaganda in the news media at the time. Sadly, that propaganda persists.
You might check out Striving in the Path of God: Jihad and Martyrdom in Islamic Thought by Asma Afsarrudin. I studied under Afsarrudin in a previous life when I was in academia during which time she authored this book. I have looked at your work. It has great merit and value for what I believe to be THE great spiritual commission of our time. Ecumenical dialogue. Keep the Faith and Keep Writing. Blessings for your work.
Before I knew who Sam Harris is, someone I trust recommended his meditation app, citing his extensive inquiry into Buddhist practice. It's been super helpful in helping me focus and start to reconnect emotional wiring fried by trauma. But then... I discovered what you're talking about. I can't square it. No one has the "correct" interpretation of anything, but I have to say it has really soured my experience of his meditations. The dissonance and ungenerous spirit raises too many unanswerable doubts. I'm transitioning away from those meditations. (Recommendations welcome.)
For guided teachers, I’d recommend Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield. Tara has a huge library of free guided meditations, and her work has a much more compassionate, emotionally intelligent feel. Jack Kornfield is also excellent for lovingkindness, grief, forgiveness, and coming back into the body without turning the whole thing into a philosophy debate.
If the world were to see Christianity as viewed through the lens of conservative evangelical thought, it would also be seen as “war, white male dominion, prejudice, misogyny, and hate”. For those of us who follow a mystical path, we are more alike than we are different.
Thanks for this! When I began teaching World Religions at a small college in 2003 I knew very little about Islam, but felt a moral obligation to teach a fair and open-hearted view of this great tradition to counter the propaganda in the news media at the time. Sadly, that propaganda persists.
That propaganda has been going for a little over 1,000 years. I am about finished with the biography on Muhammad, pbuh. It is a big eye opener.
Indeed. Which bio are you reading?
This discussion needs to be more common. Bravo on your work.
You might check out Striving in the Path of God: Jihad and Martyrdom in Islamic Thought by Asma Afsarrudin. I studied under Afsarrudin in a previous life when I was in academia during which time she authored this book. I have looked at your work. It has great merit and value for what I believe to be THE great spiritual commission of our time. Ecumenical dialogue. Keep the Faith and Keep Writing. Blessings for your work.
Before I knew who Sam Harris is, someone I trust recommended his meditation app, citing his extensive inquiry into Buddhist practice. It's been super helpful in helping me focus and start to reconnect emotional wiring fried by trauma. But then... I discovered what you're talking about. I can't square it. No one has the "correct" interpretation of anything, but I have to say it has really soured my experience of his meditations. The dissonance and ungenerous spirit raises too many unanswerable doubts. I'm transitioning away from those meditations. (Recommendations welcome.)
For guided teachers, I’d recommend Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield. Tara has a huge library of free guided meditations, and her work has a much more compassionate, emotionally intelligent feel. Jack Kornfield is also excellent for lovingkindness, grief, forgiveness, and coming back into the body without turning the whole thing into a philosophy debate.
If the world were to see Christianity as viewed through the lens of conservative evangelical thought, it would also be seen as “war, white male dominion, prejudice, misogyny, and hate”. For those of us who follow a mystical path, we are more alike than we are different.