So as some of you may know through conversations with me, my spotlight, or some of you may have figured out through OOWF, I am of Middle Eastern descent (Turkish to be specific).
I am not a Muslim, and am Pagan by my own terms, however, I have had many spiritual questions about my faith and faith in general. While I do not plan on converting to Islam, I am strongly considering attempting to observe Ramadan next month, mainly in honor to my heritage.
For those who don't know the specifics, Ramadan is a period of fasting during daylight hours during the ninth month of the Islamic calender, which this year will run between August 22nd and September 20th. That means no food or drink between sun up and sundown. I must also attempt not to have "impure thoughts"...yeah right.
I just figured I may share with you this experience if indeed I do attempt it, since we share a lot less important things with each other on a day to day basis. I'd also like to hear any thoughts any of my PH brothers & sisters may have.
Post by Byrntrigan on Jul 20, 2009 22:19:12 GMT -5
Hey-
that's cool that you wanna connect with your heritage. Have you gone to Islamic services, or done the 5 prayers daily?
At least at the end I want to see a video of you moonsaulting on a table breaking it whilst you wear genie pants.
That would be worth at least 5 exalts right there.
It would amuse me if next year Byrne did a women's fed or Texas fed. I'd just like to see how he tries to make it a dark, demonic, ECW homage led by James Mitchell or Raven. -- Lucky, 2009
see. i told you byrne was the way to go here. like i said, he's a big dork. -- Ziggy, 2009
No, I've never been to an Islamic service, nor do I really have any urge honestly. As for praying five times a day, I'd be impressed if I prayed five times a year. This would be more of a personal test for me to say I did it. If it ends up being spiritual in the end...awesome.
I'll see what I can do about the table and the pants.
I often celebrate Lent, even though I'm not and never have been Catholic. I was raised Methodist, where Lent was just the theme of a sermon once a year, rather than 40 days of something, and of course Paganism is not known for it's self-restraint. However, my best friend in school was Catholic, and I would occasionally give stuff up in support of her.
Now I have often celebrated my own version, going from either Imbolc (Feb 2) or Ash Wednesday to Spring Equinox.
There is something to be said for practicing a focused self-discipline for a period of time. It can be fasting, breaking old habits or creating new ones, but it's usually a good experience.
Except the time I decided to be vegan for 6 weeks. That sucked.
[DevSop] god your sex life scares me
[SeamusMcNasty] And that is why I hate the Miz. He's got potential, but he just doesn't live up to it. Unlike Randy Orton, who has no potential and lives right up to that.
MHJ: "if it is kinky, depraved, erotic, or a fetish, you will find it"
Cyclops698 "I'm 100% committed to our fake marriage"
I went to a Caholic high school and, oddly, there were a couple brothers there who practiced Islam. (Painfully, their last name was Butt, and they were constantly referred to as the "Butt Brothers").
Anyway, they observed Ramadan and I was very very impressed with the self control and perseverance. I think I could handle the not eating anything, but I'd die from not drinking for that long. Hell, I go through probably 5 or 6 cans of soda at work every day.
Post by Eric O'Mac on Aug 22, 2009 16:25:34 GMT -5
I am fully in support of your Ramadan being observed.
As someone on this board who generally is more religious than most, I encourage all people to observe their own religious observences, including their ancestors religious observences. It may not turn out well for you, you may even break it the same way I usually do with Lent. But it may also give you perspective or something.
I believe in religious ideas like Lent and Ramadan for your own benefit. What does it mean to YOU? I have a hard time believing a supreme being who wants us all to be good people and have eternal life is also going to be a petty jerk about particular habits being observed. But I think it comes down to what you feel. I have had Lents where I very carefully observed the most conservative rules and I've had Lents where I eat a hamburger on Friday. It depends on where I'm at and what I believe. If you believe fasting will bring you closer to divinity or center you or just be a sacrifice that will better you as a person then by all means, do it. If it becomes too much for you to bear then don't feel too bad if you have to break it. We're adults and we know if we're REALLY trying or if we're just making excuses. If something in you moves you to fast, do it. I have. And I've "failed" in some of my fasting goals and I've succeeded and "surpassed" some of my goals. And a lot of it had to do with where I was at in life (and a lot had to do with the reality of my life, as sometimes fasting just isn't an option if you're working 40-50 hours of manual labor a week).
If it inspires YOU and makes YOU feel closer to God... or Yahweh or Buddha or whatever then by all means, I wish you luck and will support you how I can. But I also always feel the need to say that if you ultimately "fail" you shouldn't feel a failure. Take it for what it is, judge it responsibly, and if you feel the need try again.
Or don't do either. If you can't find an image you like at either than don't force it. Just give me something you like and which will look good on the board.
Thanks Lucky. That actually means a lot. I'm not even sure why I'm doing this, but the last few years it's crossed my mind to do so and this year I finally said "I'm gonna do it." We'll see how long it lasts.
Yeah, I have this conversation with new people in my life a lot. "You're Catholic?" "Yes." "You practice." "I do." "You go to Church each Sunday." "I... do right now." At this stage of my life it really means something to me. I get it as a sacrifice and a commitment. It means something because it means something to me if I don't go. I've also gone through periods where I didn't attend because my faith was down, because I was busy, because whatever. I've gone to confession and had conversations about it with priests. I genuinely believe it comes down to what I believe. Just like confessing your sins is meaningless if you're not truly sorry for them following religious practices are meaningless unless you truly see value in it. Whether that's you really feeling the presence of divinity when you do it or whether you see it as a basic sacrifice and act of commitment. I think it all comes down to you as a responsible adult REALLY evaluating it and being honest to yourself.
As best as I can tell you're making this commitment because it means something to you. And that's all you need. It really doesn't matter if there's a God. Or if that's the guy you're praying to. It empowers you because you are making a sacrifice you feel is right. I have a very C.S. Lewis idea of faith that "faith" is "faith" and who you pray to or how you pray is largely meaningless. Its about you honestly believing. And if your faith takes shape in fasting today, then I wish you the best. And if tomorrow you feel you HAVE to eat but you can give back by spending a few hours at a soup kitchen or helping at an inner city school I don't see how any reasonable person could look down on you about that.
Its about how you live. And its why I don't give a damn if Eric's Christian or Fire's Pagan or Ziggy is Jewish or Angst is athiest. If they're living "right" that's all that matters. And acts of sacrifice and commitment like fasting are personal ones that mean exactly what you give in.
Or don't do either. If you can't find an image you like at either than don't force it. Just give me something you like and which will look good on the board.
Am I correct in my assesment that during the Ramadan, you can,t eat or drink from sun up to sun down, but you can do what ever you want (drinking and eating) outside that period? If that's the case, i bet some people just sleep all day (those that can).
I said many times in theological discussions over the weekend that all these rules and observances and such are for us, not for the gods. (Unpluralize and capitalize that as suits you.) Some folks get very caught up in He/She/It/They want x, y, or z. Maybe they do. I'm not a god, so I don't know.
I know what works, what fulfills me spiritually, what brings me a deeper connection to the world around me. If I "celebrate Lent" (need to find a pagany term for that) and it works for that, then I'm happy, and I think that pleases the gods. Assuming they aren't too busy running the universe to pay attention to my issues (which I assume they are too busy, really.)
Going through the motions has it's own rewards sometimes, too, though. Doing it (whatever "it" is in your specific spiritual context) even when one doesn't feel like it. I can't tell you the number of times I haven't felt like doing my daily meditation/devotions, going to ritual, participating in it (heck, sometimes not feeling like LEADING it), and been glad afterward when I did.
[DevSop] god your sex life scares me
[SeamusMcNasty] And that is why I hate the Miz. He's got potential, but he just doesn't live up to it. Unlike Randy Orton, who has no potential and lives right up to that.
MHJ: "if it is kinky, depraved, erotic, or a fetish, you will find it"
Cyclops698 "I'm 100% committed to our fake marriage"
Am I correct in my assesment that during the Ramadan, you can,t eat or drink from sun up to sun down, but you can do what ever you want (drinking and eating) outside that period? If that's the case, i bet some people just sleep all day (those that can).
Yes, some do. Some people revel so much at night it kinda kills the spiritual aspect of it altogether.
I'm pretty sure he's not allowed to watch the Disney channel until dark.
[DevSop] god your sex life scares me
[SeamusMcNasty] And that is why I hate the Miz. He's got potential, but he just doesn't live up to it. Unlike Randy Orton, who has no potential and lives right up to that.
MHJ: "if it is kinky, depraved, erotic, or a fetish, you will find it"
Cyclops698 "I'm 100% committed to our fake marriage"
It's still going. I'm roughly half way through. I've had one day which I call a strike day because it was a day I wanted to quit. I also had one day I got a splitting migraine from it, but I still haven't quit. Today might suck though because I work tonight and I'm already hungry.
It's still going. I'm roughly half way through. I've had one day which I call a strike day because it was a day I wanted to quit. I also had one day I got a splitting migraine from it, but I still haven't quit. Today might suck though because I work tonight and I'm already hungry.
You do get to eat and drink as soon as the sun is down, yes?
It would amuse me if next year Byrne did a women's fed or Texas fed. I'd just like to see how he tries to make it a dark, demonic, ECW homage led by James Mitchell or Raven. -- Lucky, 2009
see. i told you byrne was the way to go here. like i said, he's a big dork. -- Ziggy, 2009