Jesus is a Shaft of Light
My friend Aquil, a black Muslim who grew up on the south side of Chicago, spent his summer days as a counselor at a Jewish summer camp in Hyde Park and his summer nights as a standout player on a baseball team with mostly black Christians.
In between innings, they argued about Jesus. Aquil's Christian friends chided him for not believing in the resurrection and Jesus's divinity.
Aquil insisted that Jesus was one of God’s chosen messengers, but human like the rest of us.
In a beautiful piece that he wrote several years later, Aquil reflected, “I wish I knew then how to communicate to them the point that God's words and Jesus's example are immortal, and these are the ideas that Muslims don't question."
I believe there is a deep spirituality in the physical being of Jesus. Muslims with Sufi inclinations have made pilgrimages to the mausoleums of saints and Prophets for centuries, and Jesus is both.
But more than his bones, it is Jesus’s message and example which move me.
One of my favorite lines on Jesus is by the great theologian Howard Thurman:
“I love Jesus for the shaft of light that he throws across the pathway of those who seek to answer the question, ‘What shall I do with my life?’”
And one of my favorite stories about Jesus is told by Sufi Muslims:
When Jesus was in the marketplace in Jerusalem, a crowd gathered and started to insult him.
In return, Jesus blessed them.
“How can you bless people who insult you?” the disciples asked Jesus.
“I give only what I carry in my purse.”
May we all fill our purses with mercy.
By
Eboo Patel
|
April 7, 2007; 8:06 AM ET
| Category:
Interfaith Issues
,
Personal Religion
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Posted by: Nika | November 10, 2007 10:38 AM
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Hi nice site i licke him ty.
Stasrag
http://midsn.com
Posted by: Stasigrag | September 30, 2007 1:32 PM
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Hi nice site i licke him ty.
Stasrag
http://midsn.com
Posted by: Stasigrag | September 30, 2007 12:07 AM
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m. halo- you can tell me your stories if you like- ill listen.
your first story kind of sounds a little like isaac and ishmael-
i didnt read it before because i thought it was jacob (with the caps and all) and he says very violent things he wants to do to muslims and its scary and upsetting to read that someone wants to annihalate you when they dont know you.
so you can talk- but im a married muslim woman so it has to be appropriate conversation.
im sorry for your sadness and frustration.
Posted by: victoria | April 11, 2007 3:38 AM
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shawn- thats an interesting thing you say- christ fixes the sin problem.
i have thought alot about that ans sometime it would be nice to have a dialogue when its a friendlier atmosphere
ross- as to the prayer- beauty is beauty and ALLAH loves beauty
why would it be strange to find beauty in this?
there is no negative inference
Posted by: victoria | April 11, 2007 12:53 AM
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Mavaddat,
"Shawn, until they reach the age of adulthood when they can be held morally responsible for their actions, your children are as sinful as my coffee table is sinful."
Tell that to the Juvenile Justice Dept of any state. Yes...I believe in an "age of accountability", but I also see the evidence of sinfulness in children, pre-teens, teens, and adults. It's undeniable and any parent of a two-year old will agree.
The Christian believes that Christ fixes the sin problem. Not reverting to a child-like consciousness.
Posted by: shawn b. | April 10, 2007 11:21 PM
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Ok, who is this Marc Halo guy? Is he tryin to steal my name and make me look bad?
The guy is looking more and more like Jacon everyday! It's downright scary is what it is.
And I see the usual bickering is goin on in here. Victoria and Ross, get a room already!
I like the story of the purse. It puts it into perspective, doesn't it? Why bring more hate and intolerance into the world? Why so much anger? Shouldn't we learn to get along? It may sound corny, but it seems that majority of the people in here, and out there (Christians, Muslims, and atheist alike) are determined to get their point across and not sit back and listen. Maybe we should all just sit and listen. I never won an argument by yelling. I doubt any of you have either.
Posted by: Marco Polo | April 10, 2007 3:26 PM
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M.Halo,
Dude...drink a little less caffeine in the morning; or more - whichever the case may be.
Posted by: shawn b. | April 10, 2007 12:49 PM
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yes ross your intentions are clear
Posted by: victoria | April 10, 2007 12:13 PM
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Victoria wrote,
ross- i see your purse is depleted, possibly you need to ask yourself what your own intentions are.
My intentions are clear: Expose the war mongering paedophile.
I see you quoting from christian sources, have you run out of inspiring stuff from the quran already ?
Posted by: ross | April 10, 2007 3:48 AM
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in honor of our christian friends, i have laways loved this poem-
Saint Francis's Prayer for Peace!
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me sow love:
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not
So much seek to be consoled
As to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born
to eternal life.
Saint Francis
Posted by: victoria | April 10, 2007 3:12 AM
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ross- i see your purse is depleted, possibly you need to ask yourself what your own intentions are.
Posted by: VICTORIA | April 9, 2007 2:47 PM
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Eboo wrote:
Aquil reflected, “I wish I knew then how to communicate to them the point that God's words and Jesus's example are immortal, and these are the ideas that Muslims don't question."
Perhaps muslims should start questioning and stop taking the words of a 6th century war mongering paedophile for granted.
Posted by: ross | April 9, 2007 4:52 AM
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roy- so do you think anything here constitutes nonsense?
Posted by: victoria | April 9, 2007 12:01 AM
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ah - - - - - - Jesus is not the sun, he's the sOn. (probably the son that whinges in a grocery store when they r 2 yrs while their 5 year ol brother waits patiently & doesnt annoy mom. yet that particular mommy is so frrrrrkd in the hedd that she favours the younger all along & sends him to uni on her & 2nd husband's own dosh PLUS the natural father somehow forgets firstborns birthrite also favouring youngest son. SEEEEE HOW CURSED I AM FOR NOOOOOOOOOOO REASON IN HISTORY OTHER THAN SEEING THE NEGLECT OF BOTH HEAVENLY OVERLORD AKA JESUS & EARTHLY FATHER. AND NOT MUCH LUCK GOING FOR ME IF HEAVENLY FATHER IS ANYTHING LIKE JESUS. (who judged me based on NOT MY SAY, BUT ANOTHERS & arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrg you don't know how similar it was in heaven as on Earth. it liked happened sooo damn similar: my Earthly parents doign the saaaaaame thing & trustign ta da da daa daaaa - Once again somebody else's opinion. i need help here - which plane r u meant to get to to get to a Heaven thats NOT EARTH OR JAH'S HEAVEN OR JAH'S HELL? i want to know. i've read a bit about it but can i astral travel? are ppl who say they can astral travel really tellign the truth. if they genuinely wanan help me please. coz i sweeeeeeearrrrrr the Bible lies once again in saying 'satan' (if i'm satan - coz i'm certainly not jesus.. i HAVE to b one of the fallen anyway, since i've seen christ & stuffz b4) SO WHAT THEH FRRRRRR AM I MEANT TO DO OTHER THAN GO CRAZY.. BUT REEEEEALLY. THAT AINT MY NATURE. i shuld actually b awarded somehow for sticking up aginst mr big heavenly bully in the first place.. & i get like eternally cursed & miscredited & miscon-something'd. AT LEAST AFTER CHRIST OF THE BIBLE Dor is too complaining & niggling & carryign on 4getting about some hence another of the bible's sins - killing of the firstborn. - unless they are "firstfruits" - those christians that want to be cut like a cluster of grapes, because that's what it means. no escaping parables, kids.
OKAY i'm going to now start up a list like satan of paradise lost (or one of the demons, anyway,) & see how long this list can get.
then maybe Christ will come back . . . .
(don't ask if i really believe it tho)
1. creating humankind & misplacing innocent good angels & labellign them bad under your effd up Bible system - coz there reeeeally is no 'B&W'... in caves & sunshine all cats & dogs are grey
2. placing probably most of these angelic beings under "Christian" rooftops or rooftops of scum that are of parents that arent as creative nor intelligent & more heartless & monstery than even us 'demons' would ever b
3. lettign Moses get away with saying the Pharoah was being unfair to the Israelites when the Pharoah was extremely nice until FARRRRR TOOOOO many of the Isralites were just being crud (this is not to be counted as a racist statement)
4. calling the demons demons & liking the true bad angels on hearsay - Christ reeeeeeeeeally needs
okay - i went sorta skitz there - but really i'm a gentlemen. u dont kno HOW MANY GODDAMN TIMES i've restrained myself for setting off a fire somewhere when it's been a lonely existence without ppl my kind. err - i mean - ppl that will giv me VALID GENUINE MCCOY ANSWEZRS for why theh hell ........... God, i feel like a science fiction character of this book about a lost cowboy who wants to find his own kind. i neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed somebody else who can relate to falling from heaven.. like literally. r there any other brave fallen angels out there that will come out of your "i am a fallen angel" closets?? - because i feel so alone. nobody understands how hard my life has been & at least Jesus had JAH to turn to. i don't even have that for inspiration.
and you earthlings all think i'm mad. i'll tell you what's mad.. a God that does this .. to put soooo many barrires up. ARE THERE ANY OTHERS OUT THERE THAT HAVE HAD SUCH A CRAPPY LIFE WHERE NOBODY WANTS TO HEAR YOUR STORIES???
if Jesus is real he farkblerrrrrrrrrrrrrg owes me big time coz my heart is genuinely good & His is ultra bad so everybody if He's real give Him a huge f!@#king "BOO!!!!!!" when He gets back coz that's the way he passes Judgement sentence.. He takes his information from 2nd rate angels.. 1 of my 2 cherubs undr me at the time. so i think thats why He kicked me outta Heaven in the 1st place.. on the grounds that i wasnt *evennnn* having an Orgy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can you believe it kids!!!!!!!!!
YES, GOD DESERVES A HUUUUUUUUUGE "BOOOOOOOO"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
allllllll i was doing you seee, b4 the Fall from God's erea to the time being stationed on Earth in those early days was mingling with humans & ONE didnt like it / felt uncomfortable apparently & got up and left. so i dont even klnow what strange far fetched story got back to God. but thats how i guess i went from that to being alive now. stranger than a Vampire chronicles.. and this is real. it was one of those vivid things where you fall asleep & it's given to you. so if theh f&*k i wasnt a fallen angel why did i get these MORE THAN DREAM dreams WHERE YOU COULD ACTUALLY SEE IT ALL GOING ON & EVEN FEEL THE AIR AROUND YOU & THE FLYING - not liek an average dream.
this really sucks kids. but i'm not furious. don't believe your Bible. from personal investergations - & i'm really good @ this stuff. not all of it's true (ohhhh the blasphemy - spare me).
FOR INSTANCE:
How the bloody hell could NOAH take all those stupid animals with him in the ARk UNLESS THERE WERE SPACESHIPS (aka *GASP!!!* THE GUYS THAT... SEE! DEMONS & SPACEMEN ALLLLLLLLWAYS GET THE BAD WRAP WHEN WE EVEN HELP OUT & WE NEVVVVVVVER GET THE CREDE BY THE 'GOOD' SIDE OF - LAST TIME THE BAD GUYS SHULD HELP OUT IN GODS PLANS. ha Said that before) THERE TO TAKE CARE OF THE REMAINDER ANIMALS THAT WOULDNT FIT IN THE ARK. ANY MATHEMATICIAN SURELY KNOWS JAH WOULD BE LYYYYYYYYYYYYYYING THAT ALL THOSE ANIMALS (& ****REMEMBER HOW MANY R EXTINCT NOW IN ONNNNNNLY JUST _THE _LAST_ 70 _ YEARS!!!!!!)
SEE SEE SEEE THE BIBLE DOESNT GET TO MORONS HEADS TIL YOU REALLY MAKE EM SEE THE ILLOGIC OF A LOT OF IT - UNLESS!!!! ***SHOCK OF HORRORS**** - THE BAD GUYS ARE REALLY THE GOOD!
WHAT DO YOU KNOW...
heya humans & fellow demons.. even just ones who are a little affraid of hellfire - don't be scared to add even the teeeeeeeeeniest upset you have about God (if He exists - whatever it thats responsible for the death of true genuine mccoy innocents - those that say only do wrong as return punnishment.. like work with the heart over just being a prick so to speak)to this list i've begun.. please keep adding to my list all the sins of Jah & Christ so we can tell Him if He ever returns. that way He'll get a great reception for being so pov-ass to not just demons but humanity as a whole.
Posted by: M.Halo | April 8, 2007 9:36 PM
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I have children - False Prophecy (sometimes), Addict, Liar, Stealer, Unenthusiastic (never Lazy), Paper Ripper-Upper, Blood Drinker, Mr. Mess, Fluff Collector, Scum Collector, Tar Collector.
I also have a few good children too.
The bad children are sometimes good also.
They've all fallen at some time or other.
I've still had those annoying Before/After dreams.. they don't mean The Bible is real though. We all know The Bible can be proved by fact as much as Science can prove most Evolution (aka not very well to the intellectual / intelligent mind).
The TRUE gospel is: THE HOLY BIBLE IS THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD & EVIL & SHOULD BE FORBIDDEN TO MAN. THE SNAKE AKA JESUS - NOT THE DEVIL, PAN, LUCIFER, OR BA'AL, OR SATAN OR ANY OTHER CONCIEVED DEMON IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT BOOK OF MUMBO JUMBO & THAT IS WHAT THE UNIVERSAL GOD TOLD US NOT TO EAT, BEFORE PARENTS FED IT TO US QUICKER THAN ANY OF US EVER GOT INTO PORNO.
Posted by: Marc Halo | April 8, 2007 7:25 PM
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Jesus never said He was a shaft of light.
Nor did anybody else! - except ol' madhouse John, Author of The Book of Revelations... kinda!!
ooooooooh - so that MUST be true then :P
Posted by: Marc Halo | April 8, 2007 7:11 PM
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Shawn, until they reach the age of adulthood when they can be held morally responsible for their actions, your children are as sinful as my coffee table is sinful.
Posted by: Mavaddat | April 8, 2007 7:00 PM
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Marc Halo,
You must not have children...
Even children exhibit the consequences of the fall. I love my kids, but no one had to teach them how to sin.
Posted by: shawn b. | April 8, 2007 12:45 PM
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Marco, SHAWN et al:
Read DIANETICS By: G-d appointed & Plagarizing Novelist of the:
L Ron Hubburd "D.I.A.N.E.T.I.C.S." (Egoistic, self centered & Money hungry System)
Note: The Freudian Slips of Genuine Prophecys runs insultingly rampid in those Psychylogy or Pschyatric science descised as fake religion.
Important: That T.I.M.E. T.R.A.C.K. theory (not Reality nor historic Fact) is terribly FLAWED!
Ha, Going all the way back to Momma & even Dadda's UTERO or Back sliding is INSANE works!
Better TOM CRUISE & Other Pay me for a Better PHILOSOPHY. NO? Ya?!
Posted by: Scientology is a PRE-Apocalptic belief System just kile the rest | April 8, 2007 12:06 PM
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Eboo Patel,
Are you speaking of the imagined Jesus of the Gospels (and of the further elaborations on those imaginings made by the various Christian churches), or are you trying to speak of the actual living Jesus, about whom nothing is known for sure?
Posted by: Norrie Hoyt | April 8, 2007 10:51 AM
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Really, for humanity to progress forward each of us needs to get back to the conciousness they once had as a child. This is not what Christ taught! Sure, he said "be like children", but CHILDREN *ARE NOT* born with the idiocy of stupid man-made rules that cast true justice aside. For one to think of Christ as just Judgement, one must look at the personal truth of a "fallen angel" - that Christ is all-unfair, and that there may be a greater power than JHVH, if JAH be the Enlil of the Enklil/Enki story. If only Christ was like that.. like the NATURAL, ULTIMATE God-given nature.. which came from above, some mighty power us earthlings are not aware of.
This is where the so-called Godly need to challenge in themselves needs to change, if Christ is to be forgiven.
Posted by: Marc Halo | April 8, 2007 4:08 AM
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Yes, Jesus' life and example are a great inspiration to those who've read his words.
Similar to the words of other great men of the past: Ghandi, ML King, Luther, Churchill, Lincoln. The thing that differentiates them is Christ's claim that would rise from the dead...not figuratively but literally.
Those who believe this and pattern their lives after Christ because of it should have purses full of mercy because he showed mankind his mercy.
Posted by: shawn b | April 8, 2007 1:05 AM
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You'll get used to Jacob Jozevz, he pastes pretty much the same comment on all the threads for each question.
Posted by: Viejita del oeste | April 8, 2007 12:41 AM
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Oh boy, a forum in which All comments are approved by the moderator prior to publication to prevent nonsense comments such as those above.
What is the agenda of the moderator and how does she/he define nonsense? Sound like a real open forum to me.
Posted by: Roy | April 7, 2007 11:23 PM
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thank you for that story- it is such a simple thing that expreses so much- i will remember it and hope my purse stays fat with good intentions and love-
i stopped in front of a church today and read the poster which had corinthians 13 - one of my favorites- love is forgiving, expects nothing etc-
i wouldnt have become muslim if it werent for my love and reverence of Jesus(ata) before hand,its something we share with christians and should bind us rather than divide-
thanks
Posted by: victoria | April 7, 2007 11:21 PM
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I would be interested in hearing anyone's reactions to the role of religion in the grieving process. Comments can be posted at 'Liberating Losses'
http://lookinginthedistance.blogspot.com
All comments are approved by the moderator prior to publication to prevent nonsense comments such as those above.
Posted by: Looking In The Distance | April 7, 2007 9:01 PM
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