Interfaith forums http://www.interfaith.org/forum/ Discussion and chat about worlds religions, alternative spirituality, and ancient world belief systems - as well as comparative studies. en Sun, 26 May 2013 01:31:02 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.interfaith.org/forum/images/misc/rss.jpg Interfaith forums http://www.interfaith.org/forum/ Church of England unveils plan for women bishops in 2015 http://www.interfaith.org/forum/church-of-england-unveils-plan-16348.html Sat, 25 May 2013 19:29:41 GMT (Reuters) - The Church of England published a plan on Friday to approve the ordination of women bishops by 2015, a widely supported reform it just missed passing last November after two decades of divisive debate.

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Yahoo! News UK & Ireland - Latest World News & UK News Headlines ]]> Politics and Society Nick the Pilot http://www.interfaith.org/forum/church-of-england-unveils-plan-16348.html Catholic Church in market for more exorcists http://www.interfaith.org/forum/catholic-church-in-market-for-16347.html Sat, 25 May 2013 10:07:10 GMT A spokesman for the archdiocese in Madrid says it has only one such priest and is considering a plan to train more (cont.) Catholic Church in market for more exorcists - Salon.com (http://www.salon.com/2013/05/24/catholic_church_in_market_for_more_exorcists/) A spokesman for the archdiocese in Madrid says it has only one such priest and is considering a plan to train more

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Catholic Church in market for more exorcists - Salon.com ]]> Politics and Society Nick the Pilot http://www.interfaith.org/forum/catholic-church-in-market-for-16347.html <![CDATA[May 29th Passing of Baha'u'llah]]> http://www.interfaith.org/forum/may-29th-passing-of-bahaullah-16346.html Sat, 25 May 2013 01:13:58 GMT In a few days May 29th will mark the observance of the Holy Day of the anniversary of the Ascension of Baha'u'llah:


The passing of Bahá'u'lláh - YouTube ]]> arthra http://www.interfaith.org/forum/may-29th-passing-of-bahaullah-16346.html <![CDATA[Religion destroys a family's ties]]> http://www.interfaith.org/forum/religion-destroys-a-familys-ties-16345.html Fri, 24 May 2013 15:26:38 GMT Please read this very sad story of how a pair of grandparents allowed their religion to convince them it's okay to remove their grandchildren from their lives.

http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-life...edium=referral ]]> Politics and Society Nick the Pilot http://www.interfaith.org/forum/religion-destroys-a-familys-ties-16345.html Sahaja Yoga http://www.interfaith.org/forum/sahaja-yoga-16344.html Thu, 23 May 2013 05:21:09 GMT I'd like to share my Sahaja Yoga experience. But the file is too big and i can't neither upload it nor share a link unless i have 10 messages )) I found a way though, for those really interested the link is below slightly modified:

www[dot]mediafire[dot]com[slash]view[slash]andxjieq0u37si8/My_Search_for_Truth.pdf

Have a good read! ]]> Modern Religions Vyasa http://www.interfaith.org/forum/sahaja-yoga-16344.html Taoist Resource Site Reestablished http://www.interfaith.org/forum/taoist-resource-site-reestablished-16343.html Thu, 23 May 2013 01:36:11 GMT Hello dear friends, After quite a long while, my Taoist resource site is reestablished and online again: Tao Store Index - Taoist scriptures, sacred texts, in English (http://www.taoistresource.net/doe_idx.htm) Hope that this will be useful and beneficial for you, and suggestions /... Hello dear friends,

After quite a long while, my Taoist resource site is reestablished and online again:

Tao Store Index - Taoist scriptures, sacred texts, in English

Hope that this will be useful and beneficial for you, and suggestions / recommendations are welcome. ]]> Tao alphone http://www.interfaith.org/forum/taoist-resource-site-reestablished-16343.html Dreams of the beauty of heaven http://www.interfaith.org/forum/dreams-of-the-beauty-of-16342.html Tue, 21 May 2013 03:49:49 GMT I had a very vivid, realistic dream about the beauty of heaven. The dream, it felt to me,was to make me feel comfortable being there, It was so beautiful, bright that I didn't want to wake up. I did not want to wake up because of the serenity that I felt just being there, I knew I was safe and while dreaming I began to wander if I had actually died. It was not scary by no means but I was concerned, even though I was still asleep.

I am not sure what to think of it but I am wandering if my time on earth is growing short. I keep looking for answers and hopefully I can find something soon.

It was a beautiful place to be...... ]]> Belief and Spirituality Psalms761 http://www.interfaith.org/forum/dreams-of-the-beauty-of-16342.html Mankinds love vibration http://www.interfaith.org/forum/mankinds-love-vibration-16341.html Fri, 17 May 2013 18:34:24 GMT Forward rasta there is an imposter amoung us, A reptillian shapeshifting shadowing human beings feeding his hunger.. Vampiring our energy destroying our essence, Cursing our consciousness bleeding our blessings.. Trying to aniliate our dna, Obsessed with controlling our earthly race in every... Forward rasta there is an imposter amoung us,
A reptillian shapeshifting shadowing human beings feeding his hunger..
Vampiring our energy destroying our essence,
Cursing our consciousness bleeding our blessings..
Trying to aniliate our dna,
Obsessed with controlling our earthly race in every way..
Scheming to replace us with clones to host thier evil entities,
Attacking our dreams to lower our frequencies..
Studying our thought patterns,trying to change our vibes,
As they continue with thier esoteric agenda to control mankind..
We have to hold firm and be diligent,
Stand strong and be militant..
Love more,hate less,hold our wavelengths
Thier sucking thier teeth for our starfire,they want us so bad they can taste us..
Draconis vipers trying to ruin Creators children and our life experience,
Fire burn thier occult sciences and wicked experiments.. ]]> Belief and Spirituality no-amerca http://www.interfaith.org/forum/mankinds-love-vibration-16341.html Mankinds love vibration http://www.interfaith.org/forum/mankinds-love-vibration-16340.html Fri, 17 May 2013 18:16:50 GMT Forward rasta there is an imposter amoung us, A reptillian shapeshifting shadowing human beings feeding his hunger.. Vampiring our energy destroying our essence, Cursing our consciousness bleeding our blessings.. Trying to aniliate our dna, Obsessed with controlling our earthly race in every... Forward rasta there is an imposter amoung us,
A reptillian shapeshifting shadowing human beings feeding his hunger..
Vampiring our energy destroying our essence,
Cursing our consciousness bleeding our blessings..
Trying to aniliate our dna,
Obsessed with controlling our earthly race in every way..
Scheming to replace us with clones to host thier evil entities,
Attacking our dreams to lower our frequencies..
Studying our thought patterns,trying to change our vibes,
As they continue with thier esoteric agenda to control mankind..
We have to hold firm and be diligent,
Stand strong and be militant..
Love more,hate less,hold our wavelengths
Thier sucking thier teeth for our starfire,they want us so bad they can taste us..
Draconis vipers trying to ruin Creators children and our life experience,
Fire burn thier occult sciences and wicked experiments.. ]]> Belief and Spirituality no-amerca http://www.interfaith.org/forum/mankinds-love-vibration-16340.html <![CDATA[A question for the Muslim delegation (please delete if it's inappropriate)]]> http://www.interfaith.org/forum/a-question-for-the-muslim-16338.html Thu, 16 May 2013 02:16:37 GMT What, either exactly or roughly, is the meaning of jihad?

I have heard that it is an internal struggle only and that the word was corrupted first by fanatical Muslims, then outsiders started using the altered version (since they didn't have the "original" meaning.) Then, again, I've heard that it never meant "internal struggle".

I apologize for such a stupid question but I'd like to understand so that, if I use the word, I'm using it correctly and not offending anybody on the board or on campus who happens to be Muslim. :o

Phyllis Sidhe_Uaine ]]> Islam Phyllis Sidhe_Uaine http://www.interfaith.org/forum/a-question-for-the-muslim-16338.html Saudi Arabia to punish men over Christian woman convert http://www.interfaith.org/forum/saudi-arabia-to-punish-men-16337.html Mon, 13 May 2013 14:17:05 GMT RIYADH (Reuters) - A court in Saudi Arabia has sentenced two men to lashes and prison terms for converting a woman to Christianity and helping her flee the conservative Islamic kingdom, the Saudi Gazette reported on Monday. A Lebanese man was sentenced to six years in prison and 300 lashes for... RIYADH (Reuters) - A court in Saudi Arabia has sentenced two men to lashes and prison terms for converting a woman to Christianity and helping her flee the conservative Islamic kingdom, the Saudi Gazette reported on Monday.

A Lebanese man was sentenced to six years in prison and 300 lashes for converting the woman, while a Saudi man was sentenced to two years and 200 lashes for aiding her escape abroad, the English-language daily said.

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Saudi Arabia to punish men over Christian woman convert: paper ]]> Politics and Society Nick the Pilot http://www.interfaith.org/forum/saudi-arabia-to-punish-men-16337.html Tradition and its opposites http://www.interfaith.org/forum/tradition-and-its-opposites-16336.html Mon, 13 May 2013 10:54:08 GMT Tradition, antitradition and countertradition | RidingTheTiger (http://www.ridingthetiger.org/2011/08/24/tradition-antitradition-countertradition/) ---Quote--- In this context, “tradition” has a meaning which is far removed from mere custom or folklore. Instead, “Tradition” takes on the... Tradition, antitradition and countertradition | RidingTheTiger

Quote:
In this context, “tradition” has a meaning which is far removed from mere custom or folklore. Instead, “Tradition” takes on the facets of something which is divine and eternal. In a word, it calls man back to what Schuon called the ”transcendent unity”. Tradition contrasts with modernity, whose sight is limited in scope, and concerned with quantity, not quality. Evola describes the Tradition as embodying that which is “solar,” or “heroic” in nature, while anti-tradition is the direct antithesis of that.

Since Modernity is opposed to Tradition, there are two concepts that can be invoked in the description of modern life: antitradition and countertradition. These may be perceived as the causes and effects of modernity. In The Reign of Quantity and the Signs of the Times, René Guénon characterizes the antitradition as a mere negation of Tradition. In other words, the characteristic symptoms of modernity, such as materialism, democracy, and secular humanism are a denial of Tradition, merely in the sense of failing to recognize it; they are a deviation without actually becoming openly hostile. Countertradition, however is a step further along the path of degeneration. It is the satanic inversion of true spirituality, leading to the regime of Antichrist.
The notion of this a "counter-" or "anti-tradition" is something that one might associate, as the author suggests with the end times and many false teachers. But, it creates more than mere false religious teaching, and embodies all of society as a whole. This is an idea that is present in much of Religious thought, from its earlier days.

The idea of a sudden "judgement" or "rectification" also re-appears many times in varying scriptures. According to the Mahabharata :

"At the end of Kali-yuga, when there exist no topics on the subject of God, even at the residences of so-called saints and respectable gentlemen of the three higher varnas [guna or temperament] and when nothing is known of the techniques of sacrifice, even by word, at that time the Lord will appear as the supreme chastiser." ]]> Belief and Spirituality Vessariò http://www.interfaith.org/forum/tradition-and-its-opposites-16336.html How many people can the earth sustain comfortably? http://www.interfaith.org/forum/how-many-people-can-the-16335.html Mon, 13 May 2013 10:29:15 GMT I was watching this documentary earlier today, which deals with what would happen if the world population suddenly doubled. Granted, the world population won't "suddenly" double, but it is steadily and certainly increasing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf09POJ38C8

Even in this state, the world has problems with food shortages and in some countries, overcrowding. If the population continues to grow, there will be undoubtedly many environmental effects, as agriculture and industry tries to keep up.

Would it be ethical to slow the rate of population growth? If so, by what means can we do so?

Should the current population growth be reduced in order to mitigate certain disasters?

What population can we live at, which would allow most people on the earth to live comfortably and sustainably? ]]> Science and the Universe Vessariò http://www.interfaith.org/forum/how-many-people-can-the-16335.html Early spread of Islam vs. Sincere Belief http://www.interfaith.org/forum/early-spread-of-islam-vs-16334.html Sun, 12 May 2013 18:39:14 GMT Hi! So there's an aspect of Islam that I'm having a hard time understanding. I'm curious what other people think about this. I'd love to hear your opinions, whether you are Muslim are not!

Sincerity (Ikhlas) is a huge deal in Islam and having incere belief is an extremely important aspect of being a Muslim general. We see verses in the Quran that say things like, "Let there be no compulsion in religion" (2:256) that validate this concept. But where I start getting confused is looking at verses like "And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is for Allah." I understand the first part, but doesn't the part about "until religion is for Allah" imply forcing others to accept Islam? Further, looking at it historically, you could almost make a case that some of the earliest believers adopted Islam simply because they were on the losing end of battles and/or were trying to avoid paying the jizya, which is of course NOT sincere belief.

What are your thoughts? How can these seemingly conflicting ideas be reconciled? ]]> Islam User010 http://www.interfaith.org/forum/early-spread-of-islam-vs-16334.html ‘Oy’-glasses! Yeshiva ban on hipster frames http://www.interfaith.org/forum/oy-glasses-yeshiva-ban-on-16333.html Sun, 12 May 2013 11:27:46 GMT Thou shalt not wear nerdy glasses!
　
An Orthodox Jewish school in Brooklyn has forbidden thick-framed retro glasses favored by the likes of Woody Allen.
　
"We are asking that everyone buy simple glasses," reads a letter written in Yiddish that was recently issued to parents of students at Borough Park’s Bobover Yeshiva B’Nei Zion, which caters to members of the Bobov sect
　
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Orthodox Brooklyn yeshiva bans "hip" thick-framed glasses - NYPOST.com

]]> Politics and Society Nick the Pilot http://www.interfaith.org/forum/oy-glasses-yeshiva-ban-on-16333.html