Comments on: Thank God for Rainfall! http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/04/08/thank-god-and-imam-for-rain/ Thinking Ahead Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:46:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Nissim Dahan (Israel/USA) http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/04/08/thank-god-and-imam-for-rain/#comment-18830 Nissim Dahan (Israel/USA) Sat, 12 Apr 2008 02:34:21 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/04/08/thank-god-and-imam-for-rain/#comment-18830 Either that, Jina, or it's because our wives kicked us out of the house, and we have nowhere to go during the storm. Either that, Jina, or it’s because our wives kicked us out of the house, and we have nowhere to go during the storm.

]]> By: Jina http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/04/08/thank-god-and-imam-for-rain/#comment-18829 Jina Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:44:51 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/04/08/thank-god-and-imam-for-rain/#comment-18829 <blockquote>And why does lightning strike men four times as often as women?</blockquote> Because our penis acts as a lightning rod I maybe wrong...

And why does lightning strike men four times as often as women?

Because our penis acts as a lightning rod

I maybe wrong…

]]> By: Nissim Dahan (Israel/USA) http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/04/08/thank-god-and-imam-for-rain/#comment-18828 Nissim Dahan (Israel/USA) Fri, 11 Apr 2008 18:22:07 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/04/08/thank-god-and-imam-for-rain/#comment-18828 Eric, no one is saying that prayer made the rain happen. Prayer just tells us what the people want, how they relate to one another, and how they relate to their Creator. We have to take all of that into account if we hope to have even half a chance to move these people. We have to learn their language, and their beliefs as well. And then we have to craft an approach that takes all of that into account, as we begin to suggest the possibility of change. Why is all this important? Give the man on the street a sense of hope, and he will give you back his heart in return. But he will not listen if you don't speak his language, or cater to his beliefs. So our hope for change is inextricably linked to our ability to penetrate the relgious mind, and to suggest a different approach, ever cognizant of the inner workings of religious sensibilities. It will be tricky at best. Eric, no one is saying that prayer made the rain happen. Prayer just tells us what the people want, how they relate to one another, and how they relate to their Creator. We have to take all of that into account if we hope to have even half a chance to move these people. We have to learn their language, and their beliefs as well. And then we have to craft an approach that takes all of that into account, as we begin to suggest the possibility of change.

Why is all this important? Give the man on the street a sense of hope, and he will give you back his heart in return. But he will not listen if you don’t speak his language, or cater to his beliefs. So our hope for change is inextricably linked to our ability to penetrate the relgious mind, and to suggest a different approach, ever cognizant of the inner workings of religious sensibilities. It will be tricky at best.

]]> By: Lord Kavi (Iran) http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/04/08/thank-god-and-imam-for-rain/#comment-18827 Lord Kavi (Iran) Fri, 11 Apr 2008 09:13:07 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/04/08/thank-god-and-imam-for-rain/#comment-18827 eric, I agree with what you say. Then Mecca should have been greener today, and also other religion related sites. eric,
I agree with what you say.
Then Mecca should have been greener today, and also other religion related sites.

]]> By: eric/canada http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/04/08/thank-god-and-imam-for-rain/#comment-18826 eric/canada Fri, 11 Apr 2008 05:09:56 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/04/08/thank-god-and-imam-for-rain/#comment-18826 What the..? It was just rain! It does that sometimes! Sometimes it doesn't! Fasting and praying had nothing to do with it unless one happened to be "seeding" clouds at the same time. Not to be rude here, but if praying actually got that kind of immediate, concrete results, then why aren't the areas where intense amounts of regular prayer occur virtual paradises on earth? And for that matter, why are the weather conditions over Las Vegas and Washington so stable? If piety and meteorological phenomena are linked, what does that make weather broadcasters? Especially the accurate ones? And why does lightning strike men four times as often as women? What the..? It was just rain! It does that sometimes! Sometimes it doesn’t! Fasting and praying had nothing to do with it unless one happened to be “seeding” clouds at the same time. Not to be rude here, but if praying actually got that kind of immediate, concrete results, then why aren’t the areas where intense amounts of regular prayer occur virtual paradises on earth? And for that matter, why are the weather conditions over Las Vegas and Washington so stable? If piety and meteorological phenomena are linked, what does that make weather broadcasters? Especially the accurate ones?
And why does lightning strike men four times as often as women?

]]> By: Muneeb (Saudi Arabia/Pakistan) http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/04/08/thank-god-and-imam-for-rain/#comment-18825 Muneeb (Saudi Arabia/Pakistan) Thu, 10 Apr 2008 22:20:45 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/04/08/thank-god-and-imam-for-rain/#comment-18825 I wonder if their prayers were also answered in the eastern province of saudi arabia.. since it has been rainin on n off past 2 days.. [u knw cloud paatterns] :d I wonder if their prayers were also answered in the eastern province of saudi arabia.. since it has been rainin on n off past 2 days.. [u knw cloud paatterns]
:d

]]> By: Mohammad Memarian (Iran) http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/04/08/thank-god-and-imam-for-rain/#comment-18824 Mohammad Memarian (Iran) Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:31:57 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/04/08/thank-god-and-imam-for-rain/#comment-18824 Lord: I'm afraid if you get dissappointed by him, and there is a reason for this. let me explain. several years ago, I got an original copy of "an introduction to philosophical analysis" by John Hospers. it is a great book, and I suggest you to resort to the original english copy, for its persian translations, though accurate, fail to establish the fluency and delicacy of the original. while reading the book, very often it happens that I feel this man, with his sense of humor, is standing next to me, speaking lively and kindly, doing his best to communicate his ideas. that is why this book is one of the 3 books I keep next to my bed, as my bed stories! (the other 2 are: a story for children, and a novel.) but Mulla Sadra never tries to explicitly communicate his thoughts. there are translations of some of his works, none of them worthy of mentioning, for his Language is so tough that his works are undoubtedly untranslatable (somehow similar to those of Martin Heidegger). for example, in a simple sentenece, he might use "vojood" in 3 different meanings. then, you need a background of his thought so as to understand his thougt, what a paradoxical phenomenon! then, you may need a superviser as well as much patience, unless you wanna become the ever confused. Lord:

I’m afraid if you get dissappointed by him, and there is a reason for this. let me explain.

several years ago, I got an original copy of “an introduction to philosophical analysis” by John Hospers. it is a great book, and I suggest you to resort to the original english copy, for its persian translations, though accurate, fail to establish the fluency and delicacy of the original. while reading the book, very often it happens that I feel this man, with his sense of humor, is standing next to me, speaking lively and kindly, doing his best to communicate his ideas. that is why this book is one of the 3 books I keep next to my bed, as my bed stories! (the other 2 are: a story for children, and a novel.)

but Mulla Sadra never tries to explicitly communicate his thoughts. there are translations of some of his works, none of them worthy of mentioning, for his Language is so tough that his works are undoubtedly untranslatable (somehow similar to those of Martin Heidegger). for example, in a simple sentenece, he might use “vojood” in 3 different meanings. then, you need a background of his thought so as to understand his thougt, what a paradoxical phenomenon!

then, you may need a superviser as well as much patience, unless you wanna become the ever confused.

]]> By: Lord Kavi (Iran) http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/04/08/thank-god-and-imam-for-rain/#comment-18823 Lord Kavi (Iran) Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:10:06 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/04/08/thank-god-and-imam-for-rain/#comment-18823 <blockquote>we are here to practice dialogue</blockquote> Mohammad, Albsolutely! I always liked to study Mullasadra, but hadnt that chance; he is great, you know. Maybe I should start it.

we are here to practice dialogue

Mohammad,

Albsolutely! I always liked to study Mullasadra, but hadnt that chance; he is great, you know. Maybe I should start it.

]]> By: Mohammad Memarian (Iran) http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/04/08/thank-god-and-imam-for-rain/#comment-18822 Mohammad Memarian (Iran) Thu, 10 Apr 2008 06:34:28 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/04/08/thank-god-and-imam-for-rain/#comment-18822 Lord: I strongly believe that we are not here to convince each other. even we are not here to reach a consensus. we are here to practice dialogue, and that is all. we are boys, dude :) with regards to God issue, I have a high opinion of Mullasadra's view. (Nissim: Mullasadra is a Persian philosopher of many centuries ago, and his position is somehow comparable with that of Spinosa. and you know, Einstein was obsessed with Spinosa's God). Lord:

I strongly believe that we are not here to convince each other. even we are not here to reach a consensus. we are here to practice dialogue, and that is all. we are boys, dude :)

with regards to God issue, I have a high opinion of Mullasadra’s view. (Nissim: Mullasadra is a Persian philosopher of many centuries ago, and his position is somehow comparable with that of Spinosa. and you know, Einstein was obsessed with Spinosa’s God).

]]> By: Nissim Dahan (Israel/USA) http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/04/08/thank-god-and-imam-for-rain/#comment-18821 Nissim Dahan (Israel/USA) Wed, 09 Apr 2008 20:49:36 +0000 http://www.mideastyouth.com/2008/04/08/thank-god-and-imam-for-rain/#comment-18821 Lord Kavi, we are all prophets in search of the right message. Why should we believe that the truth was only revealed a long time ago? Isn't the truth with us right here and right now. And don't we owe it to ourselves to speak the truth as we see it. And so, in a very real way, we are the prophets of our time, and history will judge us by the words we speak, and the truths we discovered. Lord Kavi, we are all prophets in search of the right message. Why should we believe that the truth was only revealed a long time ago? Isn’t the truth with us right here and right now. And don’t we owe it to ourselves to speak the truth as we see it. And so, in a very real way, we are the prophets of our time, and history will judge us by the words we speak, and the truths we discovered.

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