Musing on the Mosque at Ground Zero

So, what did Karen Armstrong have to say in the video snippet when asked her opinion about the mosque/ civic center near Ground Zero?  You can hear the whole clip HERE. It's only about 2 minutes long. 

Her first comment was that the building in question is not a mosque nor is it at Ground Zero.  It is several blocks away from Ground Zero, in a neighborhood that was devastated by the attack on the Twin Towers. She sees the new community center aka mosque as a rebuttal of the terrorism that took place at the World Trade Center. 

Now, just to be clear, I am writing this post without an extensive amount of research under my belt. I do, however, know more this afternoon than I did this morning.  My opinion is not etched in stone because the information I've gleaned thus far is not all there is to say on the subject.  I am just musing about it in written form...here on the cyber pages of this blog. I'm leaning toward the left....not an epiphany for anyone who reads here regularly (or even now and then :)

What have I read?  Well, to begin with I've read that the people behind the mosque are mainly Sufi's....a branch of Islam that is regarded by radical Islam as heretical. Sufi's find their spiritual inspiration from a plethora of sources including Christian writings...the Bible...and other sacred writings. They are not dogmatic. They are not fundamentalists. Their beliefs lean toward mysticism...not fundamentalism.  Radical Islam puts them on the same ladder as Christianity...they might even be a rung or two below Christians because they are guilty of perverting the one true religion...and they should know better.  To the terrorists behind 9-11, the mosque folks are infidels too.  

And what about all the talk about the area being sacred ground. Is it really? Do plans to build a major retail shopping center, including two levels of below grade concourses violate the sanctity of the spot where several thousand people died?  And that is indeed planned right smack dab at Ground Zero. A snippet about the retail plans for Ground Zero from the World Trade Center website.


Occupying approximately 550,000 square feet of total space, retail areas will be interspersed throughout the World Trade Center (WTC) - stretching from as far as the new Fulton Street Transit Center to the World Financial Center.
Shops and services will be located on six levels, including two-levels of a below-grade concourse extending from the World Financial Center to both the new Fulton Street Transit Center and the corner of Liberty and Church Streets; below grade in the new Santiago Calatrava-designed Transportation Hub; at street level on Church Street, Cortlandt Way, and Dey Street; and on three levels above grade within Towers 2, 3, and 4 - three Class A office towers designed respectively by world-renowned architectural firms Foster and Partners, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, and Maki & Associates. Developed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey - with support from Silverstein Properties - the retail space is expected to be completed by 2014.


WTC retail will be positioned at the center of the resurgence of Lower Manhattan, which, following the completion of the redevelopment of the WTC, will be one of the largest business districts in the United States, a vibrant residential community, a major hub of transportation within the NYC metropolitan area, and a world-renowned shopping destination.
and

"The design we have developed with the Port Authority calls for not only rebuilding the retail space that was lost on 9/11, but going above and beyond what was there before. We want to create a real destination for visitors and shoppers, a center that will share many of the attributes of the city’s great retail hubs."

So, should the area be rebuilt with the emphasis on creating a "real destination for visitors and shoppers"? Should stores be built below grade...right there in what is, in essence, a burial ground? Is that honoring the sanctity of the area?

Okay...so there are plans for this major retail hub RIGHT AT Ground Zero.  But what about the proposed mosque? How close is it...really?  I don't know.  I've found conflicting information. I read it was a block...two blocks...six blocks. I googled it and came upon a blog called "Oh My Gov" Exposing Government's Wonders and Blunders. There are 13 views of the Ground Zero area.  The pictures show where the mosque will be located in relation to where the Twin Towers stood. I can't vouch for the blog...but the pictures look legit.  Check it out for yourself....HERE

And for a more tongue in cheek...Pete on the Street look at where the mosque will be...may be...in relation to Ground Zero check out this video. 

Another point I happened upon....many Muslims live in the area of the proposed mosque/civic center. A Time Magazine article states the following:

Ironically, Islam's roots in New York City are in the area around the site of the World Trade Center, and they predate the Twin Towers: in the late 19th century, a portion of lower Manhattan was known as Little Syria and was inhabited by Arab immigrants — Muslims and Christians — from the Ottoman Empire.

So, according to Time Magazine...there have been Muslims in the area since the late 19th Century.

And another thing we tend to forget is that there were many nationalities and various religious beliefs among those who died at Ground Zero. Muslim lives were also lost when the planes hit the Twin Towers. And I am not talking about the death pilots flying the planes. I searched on google for some exact statistics but, like the distance thing, I found conflicting reports.  I am going to do a bit more research on the breakdown...and will post what I find. 

And my last "what about" point...
Was our country founded on the principle of religious freedom or not? Are the guaranteed freedoms mainly for the WASP branches of religion...or are they for ALL religions. I've read quips at several sites that express the following sentiment....

I will advocate for a Ground Zero mosque just as soon as we can build a synagogue and a Roman Catholic church in Mecca.

Does that really have any bearing on whether the mosque should be built or not?  Is that the deciding factor...what's permissible in Mecca? Can we really use the Taliban as a yardstick for religious rights and freedoms?

More in my next post....
 

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From atheist to "freelance monotheist"

In my last post I mentioned the short video Brian posted of Karen Armstrong voicing her views on the controversial Mosque near Ground Zero. I was not familiar with any of her writings other than a few quotes I've come across in the course of checking out other stuff. So I googled her. Interesting lady.


Former nun.  She spent 8 years in her late teens in the Society of the Holy Child Jesus....left the convent at 24. She wrote a book called Through the Narrow Gate describing her experiences as a nun.  She was bitter. She was angry.  She was pissed.  When she became a nun she dedicated her life to the search for God.  Now she describes herself as a person of faith and she writes books explaining and discussing humanity's search for God.  In between the nunnery and her present vocation/ministry she was an atheist.  So she went from atheist to "freelance monotheist." 


I found several quotes in the articles I checked out....

"I get my spirituality in study," she said. "The Jews say it happens, sometimes, studying the Torah."

            and

"My study is my religious discipline. There are little moments of transcendence, of awe, which Rabbi Blue tells me is what the study of the Torah is about. St Benedict [of Nursia] also refers to it as the lectio divina in which during study, there are these miniseconds of oratio or prayer."

Interesting that she finds moments of transcendence while studying. Sometimes I wonder if I should read less and do more of the touchy-feely spiritual stuff.  You know, spend more time meditating or praying...or sitting in silence. Granted, I do most of my "research" on the internet...and it is far to haphazard to call study. 


And in the spirit of inclusivism/plurality she says

"It's inevitable that people turn to more than one religious tradition for inspiration," she said. "It's part of globalization."


"Religion is like a raft," she said, explaining the Buddha's view of it. "Once you get across the river, moor the raft and go on. Don't lug it with you if you don't need it anymore."

I think the point is akin to the finger pointing at the moon analogy. The finger (religion) points you in the right direction...but don't mistake the finger for the moon. 

She's written quite a few books.  Previews and overviews can be found on Google Books.

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Interesting Website-Read the Spirit

I came across the following links at a website called "Read the Spirit." I found the site the way I often find interesting websites. Via a link or a phrase or a snippet of info that someone buries in a blog post, an email, their facebook page etc. etc. This morning I found it on my friend Brian's facebook page. It was a short video of Karen Armstrong's reply when asked about her view on the Mosque at Ground Zero. Her comments and my web surfing research piqued by her opinions will (more than likely) follow in a subsequent post...but for today more about Read the Spirit.....  
It is an eclectic site...interfaith, oneness oriented...inclusive, pluralistic. It features daily articles, blogs, book recommendations and links to other similar sites. 
The selection of blogs is varied and interesting. 

Our Values Blog

University of Michigan’s Dr. Wayne Baker, an expert on values and ethics, publishes a fresh, thought-provoking story 5 days each week—focusing on issues in the news. Promotes civil discussion through reader comments.
Our Goal appears in the banner across the top of OurValues.org: We want to show that civil discussion is possible about the values and ethics that shape our lives—even when stark conflicts arise over core issues.

Sharing Islam
Showcases positive stories about Muslim life in the U.S. You’ll find some in-depth stories and interviews about Islam—and occasional first-person stories from the daily lives of Muslim men and women.

Friendship and Faith

A unique celebration of friendship, faith, religious diversity—and the wisdom of women! Meet women from many backgrounds whose lives were changed through friendships crossing religious and cultural boundaries.

Religious Holidays and Festivals
This unique magazine focuses on the religious holidays, festivals, anniversaries and milestones that shape our lives each year. Reporter Stephanie Fenton focuses on many different global faiths and cultures.

Interfaith Heroes

....an ongoing resource for people seeking true stories of men and women who risked crossing religious boundaries to heal communities and, in many cases, to save lives. These stories were researched and written by the Rev. Daniel Buttry, the international peace negotiator for American Baptist Churches — working in cooperation with other interfaith scholars and the editors at ReadTheSpirit.
Spiritual Wanderer
The Spiritual Wanderer’s real name is Rodney Curtis. A nationally known journalist and educator, Rodney has a quirky sense of humor that often makes readers laugh at his refreshing “take” on daily life. 



A PS about this blog.  Rodney Curtis is being treated for leukemia...has spent weeks in a Muskegon Michigan hospital.  I read a half dozen entries and really enjoyed his writing style and musings.  From what I read, I think he is an agnostic.  I'll take the insights of an agnostic over the insights of a cocksure fundamentalist any day. 

The site is definitely worth a look see.  My friend annie believes that the interfaith movement occurring today is just a more in depth version of the inter/non denominational movement of the 70's....a step closer to God being all in all.  I know that rankles more conservative viewpoints....but I am inclined to agree.  

A correction to the above info....
I was delighted to find a comment from Rodney (Spiritual Wanderer) here on my blog.....which I am going to copy and paste below.  Since I only read a half dozen or so posts, I got the wrong impression and mistakenly passed that misinformation along. ( Sort of like the guy at the gas station who a-s-s-umed Emily was a teenage mom :)  Rodney is not an agnostic....

Hi Cindi,

Thank you for the comments about Spiritual Wanderer and the rest of the Read The Spirit gang.

I can easily see where you'd get the impression I'm an agnostic but I wanted to assure you I am a believer in God, the after-life, the pre-life and certainly that little strip of life in between.

I just find my belief and spirituality taking on many different names and forms. I appreciate your kind words and since your site was pointed out by my publisher, others will certainly be reading and bookmarking your space.

Peace,
Rodney

projecting from their own dark psyches....

Projecting from their own dark psyches....

I found the above phrase buried in an article about the mosque at Ground Zero.

This phrase intrigued me...."projecting from their own dark psyches."

And it kind of goes along with a post that has been churning around in my thoughts for a while now.  A post about forming opinions, based on assumptions....without truly knowing the whole story or all of the facts.  And I have a good example. 

I've mentioned here before that Emily often babysits for the two year old (hearing impaired but smart as a whip) daughter of a young single mom she's known since we moved here 10 or so years ago.  She does it out of the goodness of her heart and her love for children.  She does it to help her friend.  She usually does it for free.  She often takes Kaya to Sunday School, to Youth Group....to run Beth to work in Muncy...to WalMart....to a friend's house....to Dunkin' Donuts.  She straps Kaya's pink carseat in the old brown van, throws her stroller in the back.... and off they go...where ever Emily needs to go.  Kaya along for the ride. 

So, in their travels the other day, Emily stopped to get gas...with Kaya....who was in her pink car seat...fussing and carrying on.  She was fussing because it was very hot and the van doesn't have air conditioning....and she was fussing because ......well, because sometimes two year olds fuss and carry on.  The pump malfunctioned....and Em was in the process of getting Kaya out of the carseat to take her in the store to figure out why it pumped $36 worth of gas when she only prepaid for $12.  That's when a well dressed man in a suit...driving an SUV hollered at her.

"You're in my way."

"Why don't you just turn the f#@*ing air conditioning on"

and then the kicker.....

"If you hadn't had a f#@*ing kid so young, you might know more."

Appearances can indeed be deceiving.  A teenage girl....a beat up van....a crying two year old.  Yep...it was a cut and dried case.  But his assumptions were way off.  He was missing vital information.  He was projecting from his own dark psyche.  He was misinformed.  He didn't know the whole story.

 I wonder if there is any of that going on in the mosque dispute. Could there be missing information and false assumptions on both sides of the issue?

A side note.  The clerk in the store told Emily they had a new register system and had been having problems with it all day and there was no charge for the extra gas.  She was absolutely thrilled.... 

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Oh..great and mighty coffee god.....

PS!!!!!!

I actually meant to post the above picture on a private (just for me) blog I have called "This, That and the Other Thing" using ScribeFire..an add on blog editor for Mozilla. I am still getting the hang of ScribeFire...and accidentally posted this amusing, yet somewhat irreverent picture here at Mercy. But what the heck...it's a cute picture. Perhaps a fellow coffee lover will get a chuckle out of it too. FYI....I've paid proper homage to the coffee god this morning by draining my second large mug of coffee.

Guilty?

Emily and I were talking the other day....can't remember about what....just shooting the breeze in the living room...her on the living room computer...me on my laptop.  She mentioned that at Impact this year, they were asked the following question. 

If it was illegal to be a Christian and you were arrested and put on trial, would there be enough evidence to convict you? 

Apparently this question is not new....although it was to me.  When I mentioned it to Keith just a few minutes ago, he said he'd heard it before.  When I typed it into Google, 116,000 results came up in .2 seconds.  Not a new or novel question.  But a really good question to ponder.  Emily thought there would be enough evidence to convict me (based on my cyber trail if nothing else)...but I'm not so sure.  How about you? Would it be a cut and dried verdict or would the prosecution have to get very creative to win their case? 


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Teshuva - when you are the perp....

Another Hebrew word dealing with forgiveness is T'eshuva ...

I came across the following definition somewhere in my journeys but forgot to copy the source. ooops...

T’shuva has 8 steps, each of which starts with an “R” word.

regret, remorse, repent, resolve, right thing, restitution, rehabilitation, restoration.

1. Regret. Have regret for what you have done wrong.
2. Remorse. Express your remorse to the person you have wronged.
3. Repent. Decide not to do the hurtful behavior anymore.
4. Resolve. Express your resolve to the person you have harmed.
5. Right thing. Do the right thing and apologize, ask for forgiveness.
6. Restitution. Compensate the person for the wrong as best you can.
7. Rehabilitation. Change your behavior.
8. Restoration of relationship. If the person forgives you and chooses to reconcile.

Which reminds me of a fairly recent book coauthored by Gary Chapman who most folks know as the author of the well known "5 Languages of Love" books.  He sums up apologies...teshuva...in the following 5 ways:

1. Expressing Regret — "I am sorry."
2. Accepting Responsibility — "I was wrong."
3. Making Restitution — "What can I do to make it right?"
4. Genuinely Repenting — "I'll try not to do that again."
5. Requesting forgiveness — "Will you please forgive me?"

And another more consolidated list by Rabbi Shraga Simmons at aish.com. 

The process of teshuva involves the following four steps:

Step 1 - Regret. Realize the extent of the damage and feel sincere regret.

Step 2 - Cessation. Immediately stop the harmful action.

Step 3 - Confession. Articulate the mistake and ask for forgiveness.

Step 4 - Resolution. Make a firm commitment not to repeat it in the future.

And so...in the ebb and flow of life...sometimes we are the perp...sometimes we are the one "perpetrated" against.  Both have their own unique angst...yet both are remedied by the same solution....forgiveness.  

"With a little time, and a little more insight, we begin to see both ourselves and our enemies in humbler profiles. We are not really as innocent as we felt when we were first hurt. And we do not usually have a gigantic monster to forgive; we have a weak, needy, and somewhat stupid human being. When you see your enemy and yourself in the weakness and silliness of the humanity you share, you will make the miracle of forgiving a little easier." Lewis B. Smedes -Forgive & Forget: Healing the Hurts We Don't Deserve

"Forgiveness is the only way to break the cycle of blame--and pain--in a relationship...It does not settle all questions of blame and justice and fairness...But it does allow relationships to start over. In that way, said Solzhenitsyn, we differ from all animals. It is not our capacity to think that makes us different, but our capacity to repent, and to forgive." Philip Yancey

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