True Origins of Halloween

Remember, you heard it on Islamfactor! Most folks, let alone Muslims, havent a clue what the history of Halloween really is.Similar to the history of the symbol of the crescent and star that Muslims now use to symbolize their faith which was originally dedicated to the goddess Diana, Halloween began and was celebrated as a benign NON-RELIGIOUS holiday and became to be assimilated by local Pagans, Christians and many others.

The Origin of Halloween: From the Celts to the Romans

Some historians trace the origin of Halloween back to the Celtic people of pre-medieval Europe. The Celts of Ireland, Britain, and France divided their year into halves: the “light half,” roughly consisting of the spring and summer months when days are longer and nights are shorter, and the “dark half,” roughly consisting of the autumn and winter months when days are shorter and nights are longer. Celts celebrated the end of the light half of the year with the festival of “Samhain” (pronounced sah-wen), which they observed during the October/November lunar cycle. Following the Roman conquest of Britain, British Celts adopted the Julian calendar and fixed the date of Samhain’s observance to November 1.

Costumes and treats were a traditional part of the Celtic celebration. And while Samhain began as a strictly Celtic festival, it is probable that aspects of Roman religion were incorporated into its observance over the four centuries of Roman rule in Britain (43-410 AD). For example, Pomona was the Roman goddess of fruit trees and gardens. Her symbol was an apple. Some scholars believe this may explain how candied apples and bobbing for apples became associated with Halloween (as Samhain was later renamed — see below).

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The Way International

I was involved with The Way International for about a year in 1983. I had a pretty good experience with them at that time. At that time I had not heard of lay people getting as deep into biblical study as the “Wayfers” did. Most long time members had a “Strongs’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible” so they could do word studies of the Greek and Hebrew words of the Bible and many of them used Gree-English interlinear new testaments to study and all kinds of other bible study tools. The Way does not start churches with buildings but has home based fellowships all over the US that meet weekly. I would not recommend the Way to anyone because they are way too dogmatic. They believe The Way is the only true Christian church, all other Christian groups are false and leading people to hellfire. They make extravagant claims about the Peshitta Aramaic language text of the New Testament being more accurate than the Greek manuscripts even though the Peshitta is not as old as the oldes Greek manuscripts. They are also a “King James Bible” only group. They also place a great deal of stress on the power of believing to cure all diseases and all other problems, so that if you have a disease and you are not cured, it’s your fault because you don’t have enough faith. The founder, Victor Paul Wierwille, died of liver cancer in 1984 which his faith did not cure. The Way declined a lot after his death. Today they way people I have met seem very defensive about The Way and are not very open to anyone coming to their meetings who was involved in The Way back in the 80s. There are a few splinter groups that split off from it after Mr Wierwille’s death which are much more open to whoever wants to come to their meetings. I forgot the names of those groups. If you go to the Way International article on wikipedia.org it lists the breakaway groups.

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Joe Wurzelbacher

It began not long after the video surfaced showing Joe Wurzelbacher question Sen. Barack Obama on his tax and spend schemes to which Obama responded that he wanted to share and spread the wealth – clear indications of his socialist intentions.

The media and the leftists online began a concerted attempt to try and destroy the man who outed Obama on the most important issue of the day – economics.

Now, the story isn’t about Obama’s socialism, but whether Joe is a licensed plumber, whether he’s paid his taxes, say that it’s not his real name (he’s going by his middle name), question whether he’s registered to vote (he is), and it all points to how anyone can dare question Obama’s intentions or expose that he’s a socialist in word and deed.

Joe is now being vetted by the media in…  (More at the link below)

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Emotional Abuse

The book Im reading calls it an “indirect form of violence” which all of us see in our relationships and often acquiesce under the guise of tolerance. Victims are often unaware of their manipulation as the common techniques of abusers are in innuendo, spiteful allusions, lies and humiliating remarks.

People who get swallowed up in it (the victims) often are blamed for being too weak as their identity is swallowed up in trying to please the abuser (who is rarely satisfied) and the abuser is allowed (tolerated) to go on to victimize other people.

It is effectively possible to destabilize or even destroy someone with the seemingly harmless words and hints, inferences, and unspoken suggestions and usually those close to the situation will not intervene.

A narcissistic abuser grows in stature at the expense of the other as he avoids any inner or spiritual conflict by shifting the responsibility for what is wrong to the other person. Thus, if the other person (victim) is responsible for the problem, wrong-doing, guilt, and suffering don’t exist.

This defines emotional abuse.

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How to Say Good-Bye

There are many ways one could say good-bye. Saying good-bye is an art. Anyone can say hello but how you say good-bye could make a relationship or but a bitter taste the mouth of your internet acquaintances and friends.

Saying a proper good-bye is an essential part of the moving on process or maintaining any relationship. In actuality, it doesn’t take much on your part, just a simple smile and a few warm words.

There are many benefits to saying good-bye. You will not have to tolerate the bickering of other forum members that you could not move yourself to ignore, you won’t need to apologize for giving them a well deserved dressing down, and you can go where the grass is greener just to go through the whole process once again.

However, some folks you will want to remember, stay in contact with, or even meet again. Saying a proper good-bye isn’t just a whim of retaliation against your foes, a fit of rage as a result of your foes, or retaliation against the people who won’t let you have your way, the way you want it, when you want it. It is the continuation of the friendships you have made, staying in touch with people who care for you and perhaps one day coming back to to meet them again and have a good time sharing experiences together. It is this which is the reason why saying a proper good-bye is so very important. Never burn your bridges! You may find that you will want to cross them again someday!

Some things to remember

First, don’t burn your bridges! Relatonships (even internet ones) are like bridges that take us from one place to another. So, when we “burn our bridges” we destroy our relationships with others and it is very difficult to go back.

For example, Sarah doesn’t get her way, doesn’t see it their way, sees her relationships with… (Entire article at Islamfactor)

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Rosh Hashana and Ramadan

Once every 30 years or so, within the span of a sunset and a moon rising, two of the world’s great religious communities unite in a way that no human effort can possibly achieve.

This year, the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish holy month of Tishrei, which begins with Rosh Hashana and ends with the festival of Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, coincide.

In the days that follow, Jews and Muslims will look up to heaven out of a sacred desire to draw closer to G-d, the Creator of the Universe, and to reflect on and repent for those human failings that disappoint the Most Merciful and Beneficent spirit in our lives.

Jews around the world are entering a period of introspection on the deeds of the previous year, vow to do better in the year ahead, and ask for and grant forgiveness.

Muslims believe during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, the Holy Quran “was sent down from heaven, a guidance unto men, a declaration of direction, and a means of Salvation.” These revelations continued for 10 days, starting on the night of the 27th day of Ramadan. This is the Laylat-al-Qadr (Night of Power). According to the Quran, this is when G-d determines the course of the world for the following year.

Similarly, Jewish tradition teaches that on Rosh Hashana G-d provisionally determines people’s fate for the coming year based on their behavior over the past year, but that can be modified during the 10 Days of Awe leading up to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

The Jewish sages believe the entire world is sustained by three things: truth, justice and peace. These thus affect not only one’s destiny but the continued existence of our world.

Islamic teachings focus on remembering that we have a Maker; our lives are brief but have purpose; we are accountable for what we do; and we all shall live again and be brought back to G-d.

“It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards East or West: But it is righteousness to believe in G-d and the Last day, and the Angels, the Book, and the Messengers; to give out of the things you hold dear to your kin, the orphans, the needy, the wayfarer, the one who asks, and to free the slave.” (Quran 2:177)

While religious holidays — particularly Jewish and Muslim holidays — are too often cast in political terms nowadays, the mutual days of prayer and reflection could help to lessen mutual mistrust and hatred. While angry headlines speak of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and sectarian….

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Voting is Haram in Islam

Being a Muslim denotes that accepting, promoting and supporting kufr (non-Islam) is contrary to the very belief of Islam. Yet we find Muslim candidates standing up as representatives of various political parties eagerly wanting to become part of the British Parliamentary (Legislative) system. An establishment that rules by the laws constructed from the mind of man, where man is made sovereign and has the exclusive right to legislate, a concept that clearly violates a basic tenant of the Islamic belief, namely that Allah (swt) is the sole legislator and commander (Al-Haakim). Therefore the very foundation of this government contradicts Islam and any support or representation of it is just as much a violation.

What kind on non-sense is this?

This is the problem with extremist Muslims that I have. “Oh, Allah is the supreme legislator so we cannot vote!” How else are Muslims supposed to take control of a government… oh wait, that is right… through violence!

Seems like any idiot can be a cracker jack scholar these days.

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