Hello!
Truth be told I have no idea how you ended up here, but welcome. I only have the one blog, which means it gets filled up with a lot of unrelated things. There will be numerous fandoms, posts about privilege and oppression, and lots and lots of pretty pictures. Frequently school gets in the way and this Tumblr goes dormant, and then break comes along and I queue up a flood of posts, so don't follow if you like your dash to be somewhat regular.
I'm working on plans for a hobbit hole mansion that me and my friends will live in. If you have ever thought about your own dream-home, then pretty please will you tell me about it?
I don't put up pictures or much biographical information about myself, but you can call me Sakura Nicole.
Oh, and even though this blog may not always be active, I will always answer my asks, so that's open if you ever need to talk to someone or rant.
P.S. I do occasionally put up personal posts, usually under a read more. I would never ask anybody to not read something I put out there publicly, but if I know you in person could you at least pretend you didn't read it? Please and Thank You.
{ wear }
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
muslims make up about 1/4 of the worlds population. you’re bound to have some criminals and very bad people that practice islam, but nobody cared about the religion of the sandy hook shooter or of other people who have done horrible things. the only time it matters is when they’re Muslim and that really pisses me off.
Consider how textbooks treat Native religions as a unitary whole. The American Way describes Native American religion in these words: “These Native Americans [in the Southeast] believed that nature was filled with spirits. Each form of life, such as plants and animals, had a spirit. Earth and air held spirits too. People were never alone. They shared their lives with the spirits of nature.” Way is trying to show respect for Native American religion, but it doesn’t work. Stated flatly like this, the beliefs seem like make-believe, not the sophisticated theology of a higher civilization. Let us try a similarly succinct summary of the beliefs of many Christians today: “These Americans believed that one great male god ruled the world. Sometimes they divided him into three parts, which they called father, son, and holy ghost. They ate crackers and wine or grape juice, believing that they were eating the son’s body and drinking his blood. If they believed strongly enough, they would live on forever after they died.” Textbooks never describe Christianity this way. It’s offensive. Believers would immediately argue that such a depiction fails to convey the symbolic meaning or the spiritual satisfaction of communion.
Lies My Teacher Told Me, James Loewen (via whoistorule)
Islam starter kit for English speakers
Because accessing reliable resources has become highly inconvenient, we tend to trivialise the importance we give to what we read, whether it be on the Internet or in books. For this reason, I have composed a list of crucial texts, that essentially addresses Muslims who live in the West. Although numerous PDF links are provided, I strongly recommend you purchase these books if you decide to use them in sha Allah.
- Translations of the Quran
- The Quran, by M. A. Abdel Haleem [PDF]
- The Message of the Quran, by Muhammad Asad [PDF]
- Collections of Hadith
- Al-Muwatta, collected by Imām Mālik [PDF]
- Sahīh al-Bukhārī, collected by Imām Bukhārī [PDF]
- Sahīh Muslim, collected by Muslim Ibn al-Hajjāj [PDF]
- Sunan Abu Dawud, collected by Abu Dawud [PDF]
- Jāmi’ al-Tirmidhī, collected by Muhammad al-Tirmidhī [PDF]
- Sunan Ibn Mājah, collected by Ibn Mājah [PDF]
- Hadith Qudsi, based on an-Nawawī’s work [PDF]
- Exegesis of the Quran
- The Message of the Quran, by Muhammad Asad [PDF]
- Tafsir ibn al-Kathir, by Ismaīl ibn al-Kathīr [PDF]
- Tanwir al-Miqbas, by Ibn Abbas
- Tafsir al-Qurtubī, by Imām al-Qurtubī
- Transliterations
- The Quran: Transliteration in Roman Script, by Yusuf Ali Abdullah
- The Quran: Transliteration in Roman Script, by M. Pickthall
- Quranic sciences
- Dictionary of Quranic Usage, by M. A. Abdel Haleem
- Understanding the Quran: themes and style, by M. A. Abdel Haleem
- Al-Itqan fi Ulum al-Quran, by Imām As-Suyutī [PDF]
- Islamic jurisprudence
- Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence, by Muhammad Hashim Kamali [PDF]
- The Clarified in Legal Theory, by Imām al-Ghazālī
- The Lawful and Prohibited in Islam, by Yusuf al-Qaradawi [PDF]
- The Four Imams, by Mohamed Abu Zahra
- History of Islam
- Islam: The Straight Path, by John Esposito
- The Emergence of Islam, by Muhammad Hamidullah
- In the Footsteps of the Prophet, by Tariq Ramadan
- Western Muslims and the Future of Islam, by Tariq Ramadan [PDF]
- Stories of the Prophets, by Ismaīl ibn al-Kathīr [PDF]
- Philosophy
- The Reconstruction of Islamic Thought, by Muhammad Iqbal [PDF]
- Revival of Religious Sciences, by Imām al-Ghazālī [Vol. 1,2,3,4]
- Sufism for Non-Sufis? Ibn Ata’ Allah’s Tâj al-‘Arûs, by Sherman Jackson
- Disciplining the Soul and Breaking the Two Desires, by Imām al-Ghazālī
Thanks to Catholic Cultures
http://proud-atheist.tumblr.comGREAT WORK BLAMING BRUTALLY COLONISED COUNTRIES FOR THEIR OWN COLONISATION JUST TO MAKE A CHEAP POINT ABOUT RELIGION
JUST
REALLY
A+
what the fuck is this bullshit
i can’t even deal with this, and i’m not even catholic anymore. did the OP never even begin to think about the way this religion intersects with a lot of cultural and ethnic identities, and that catholicism for a lot of cultures is literally not the same as the catholicism of “mostly white men”? no, of course not.
like man, i have severe issues with the church for how they treated me and other queer folks, but i also know that the community of largely mexican and central american people who gave me places to live, food to eat, and jobs are all deeply tied to this religion, WHICH WAS ALSO ADAPTED INTO A LOT OF NATIVE BELIEFS/RELIGIONS AS WELL and
oh god i have very complicated feelings about once being catholic CAN YOU TELL. anyway, fuck this. do not use colonization for your ~slick atheist points~ because it makes you an awful person
^^^THIS. As someone who grew up in a Mexican-American Catholic family that basically had the mentality of FUCK THE VATICAN, you cannot speak to the intricacy of how colonized cultures worship if you AREN’T DEEPLY FAMILIAR WITH THEM.
YES YES YES. Oh god, I had priests and nuns and deacons who all basically said that they didn’t listen to the Vatican at all, that the church’s position on a lot of things didn’t work for people who were immigrants or migrant workers or WEREN’T OLD WHITE MEN. and that is such an important distinction that, again, you can’t speak to if you don’t know shit about them.
science and religion are not mutually exclusive from one another
science and religion are not mutually exclusive from one another
The idea that religion says women should submit to men is a notion that probably came from men who don’t truly submit to God.
Khalid Latif (via blubiblum)
Most of you probably know this is one of the Angel’s from Hellboy. But did you know that this is actually a more accurate protrayel of what angels are apparently supposed to look like according to The Bible? Although, and correct me if I’m wrong, but from what I remember they had 6 wings, covered with eyes on the wings. And had two eyes on their face, but used 2 wings to cover their face at all times, because if a mortal ever saw their face they would die. Angels from the bible are fucking terrifying honestly. :P
Yes they are.
(Source: necronosferatusxanctus)
All aboard the collection bus
Today, one of my Jewish friends emailed me this chain letter:
I am truly perplexed that so many people are against a mosque being built at Ground Zero. I think it should be the goal of every American to be tolerant.
Thus, the Mosque should be allowed, in an effort to promote tolerance. That is why I also propose that two nightclubs be opened next door to the mosque, thereby promoting tolerance from within the mosque. We could call one of the clubs, “The Turban Cowboy”, which would be gay, and the other a topless bar called, “You Mecca Me Hot.” Next door
should be a butcher shop that specializes in pork, and adjacent to that an open-pit barbecue pork restaurant, called “Iraq o’ Ribs.” Across the street there could be a lingerie store called “Victoria Keeps Nothing Secret,” with sexy mannequins with short burkas in the window modeling the goods. Next door to the lingerie shop, a liquor
store called “Morehammered.” All of this would encourage the Muslims to demonstrate the tolerance they demand of us, so the mosque problem would be solved.
If you agree with promoting tolerance, and you think this is a good plan, please pass it on, for the sake of tolerance.This friend knows that I support Palestinian statehood. She knows I have read the entire Quran. She knows I run this blog. And yet she sent me this email anyway, in the apparent cynical confidence that despite my public views, as a Jew, I must secretly hate Muslims.
So I picked my jaw up off the floor, hit “reply all,” and typed this response:
Dear fellow recipients of this chain letter,
There’s a Jewish folktale that compares hateful words to feathers in a pillow—once you scatter them to the winds, there is no bringing them back. Given that the Islamic community center (which is neither a mosque, nor at Ground Zero) this chain letter alludes to opened in 2011, this chain letter has undoubtedly been making the rounds for years, and there is no possible way for me to find and address everyone who received it. I know that. But I can’t let this pass in silence, either, because silence implies agreement. Silence condones.
I don’t.Kudos to you. This is awesome. I am so humbled and honored by everything you wrote.
Let’s begin with the history of Ishtar, yes? She is the Babylonian goddess of fertility, war, love, and sex. Now, let’s keep in mind that Babylonia was an active civilization a few thousand years before Christianity came about. Now, Easter came about during the Second Century, so around 200 AD, long after Babylonia was gone and their texts about Ishtar unfound and untranslated.
Easter on the other hand is COMPLETELY separated from Ishtar. In the second century, Christian missionaries began to come into contact with the Ancient Saxons who celebrated the return of spring and celebrating their goddess of offspring and springtime. This celebration was called Eastre(though it obviously had a Saxon spin on the name because this is the translated name from the Christian missionaries).
In order to convert the pagans to christianity, they needed to absorb the traditions the pagans had without destroying the sactity of christianity. Luckily for them, Eastre fell around the same time as the Christian observance of the Resurrection of Christ, so for them, it made sense to alter the festival of Eastre to fit with Christian morrays, and the spelling also changed from Eastre to Easter.
Now where did the bunny come from? The goddess worshipped by the Saxons was given an earthly symbol of a rabbit. And because rabbits were the most fertile animal that Saxons and Christians new of, that image was also absorbed into Easter as a way to represent new life.
The eggs didn’t show up until after Easter was practiced in the Americas. German settlers taught their children that if they behaved, their Easter bunny would leave them colored eggs.
Now, throughout this, Ishtar has not been mentioned because Ishtar has nothing to do with the modernization of Easter. Easter was a festival taken from the Saxons and molded over time to fit with a changing culture and to absorb more followers.marry me
(Source: saricaeli)
That is not how Karma works, that’s how the west interpreted karma through the philosophical lens that it attempted to apply to Karma.
Karma is not a retributive force: it does not have a personality, and it cannot be summarized with the “what goes around comes around” statement that everyone likes to apply to it.
Generally put, you accrue Karma. Our actions cause karma to collect around us, or to dissipate away from us: the more negative actions you take, the more karma you accrue, and the heavier your metaphysical mass. Eventually, you become so metaphysically heavy that you sink down in the cycle of rebirth, and end up returning to earth as a rock or a cat or something of that nature.
You may only decrease your mass through successive rebirths and actions that are good: these cause your metaphysical mass to decrease by releasing your karma into the wheel of samsara. The better the life you live, the less your karmic debt (that karma carried to the next rebirth) and the closer you get to nirvana.
That’s another thing, nirvana is the extinguishing of everything: your karma, your mental perturbations, the very thing called your provisional self. We like to think of it as a blissful state of non-suffering, but you must realize that suffering characterizes our existence as humans. Nirvana extinguishes everything in a single blissful release, but the kicker is that you are nothing after that. Nirvana isn’t heaven, it’s nothingness. that depends on a particular orientation.
Anyway, stop perpetuating this nonsense of Karma as retributive or whatever. Karma isn’t causal, you are causal: your karma simply determines the situation into which you are born.
Petition for Fox News to make a public apology for the statements made about the Wiccan/Pagan community
Hi followers ~ I know you probably don’t know much about Wicca/Paganism, but I’m pretty sure everyone here knows that Fox News is fuLL OF SHIT WOW!
In a recent Fox broadcast a group of journalists made some really disgusting comments about Wiccans/Pagans, as well as said many thing about Wicca/Paganism that just plain weren’t true.
Some of the things that were said/done by the people in this broadcast:
- Stated that there are 20 of our holidays, when really there are only eight. Example #3409584 of Fox News not checking its facts.
- The female reporter says “I don’t know any Wiccans but I think on a really bad day I might turn into one”. Absolutely disgusting. Imagine someone telling you that if they were in a shitty mood they just might stoop so low as to practice your religion. I really hope you would be offended.
- A mockery was rudely made of Halloween. We have a holiday that falls on the 31st of October, but the holiday is not Halloween. Either way, this is unacceptable.
- Implied that Wicca/Paganism is not a ‘real religion’.
- One of the three reporters says “Every Wiccan I’ve ever met is either a compulsive Dungeons&Dragons player, or a middle-aged, twice divorced older woman living in a rural area who works as a midwife”. Do I need to say anything else about this?
On the link you can sign a petition for Fox News to make a public apology for the things said. There is also a link there to the video of the broadcast in which the rude statements were made.
Even if you are not a Wiccan/Pagan, I hope you can agree that this is disgusting, and it would mean a lot to the Wiccan/Pagan community if you would help us be heard.
Apparently Laci Green quoted the Qur’an in her new video about period positivity. She uses the verse:
And they ask you about menstruation. Say: It is harm; therefore keep aloof from the women during the menstrual discharge and do not go near them until they have become clean; then when they have cleansed themselves, go in to them as Allah has commanded you; surely Allah loves those who turn much (to Him), and He loves those who purify themselves.
2:222, Surat Al-Baqarah
Islam’s perspective is that menstruation is normal and it is natural, it is not considered as a “punishment” on women. There is nothing in Islam that says menstruating women are ‘dirty.’ Rather, menstruation is viewed as a natural process that normal, healthy women experience throughout their lifetime. Verse 2:222 of Surat Al-Baqarah is not implying women can’t “pray” when they’re menstruating; they can still ask things of God, make du’a, and read Qur’an. The MOTIONS of SALAH, which is entirely different, are not permitted, because in order to pray SALAH, you need wudhu, and blood invalidates wudhu. So bleeding from anywhere continuously invalidates it, even from a wound or a cut.
The part where it says “it is a harm” refers to how painful it can be, so avoid having sex with them because of that. Period cramps are absolutely horrible, I can’t imagine having to pray while experiencing it. Many women suffer from extreme cramps, heavy bleeding, nausea, headaches, and other maladies during their cycle. It is truly a sign of the Mercy of Allah (SWT) that we are excused from prayer during this time.The “pure” part of it refers to the ritual purification ghusl bath that must be taken after a woman has finished her monthly cycle. Muslims are expected to be in a state of cleanliness especially when going to pray.
If I missed anything or said anything wrong, kindly correct me or feel free to add.
(Source: faineemae)
Sikh Jatinderpal Singh Bhullar has become the first soldier to guard the Queen wearing a turban instead of a bearskin hat.
The 25-year-old, who joined the Scots Guards this year, has been given permission to wear the religious headdress outside Buckingham Palace.
He was seen standing guard and parading outside the palace for the first time this morning.
The Sun told earlier this month how the former bricklayer, from Birmingham, broke 180 years of tradition.
At the time, he said: “Conducting public duties in my turban is a great honour.
“I am very proud to be a member of the Household Division, and to be the first Sikh guardsman to mount guard in a turban will be the best thing in my life, especially as a member of the Scots Guards.”
But he has reportedly been mocked by comrades, though no complaint has been made. It came as some in the Scots Guard have claimed the whole company will look “ridiculous” if one member does not wear a bearskin.
David Cuthill, one retired officer, told a newspaper: “It should be the regiment first and religion second. A Guardsman is not a Guardsman if he’s not wearing a bearskin.
“Hundreds of years of tradition should be protected. I appreciate his predicament but if all the other Guardsmen are in bearskins and he is in a turban, it is going to look ridiculous.”
But CO Lt Col Robert Howieson praised Bhullar, saying: “He will be a welcome addition. The precedent for Sikh soldiers wearing turbans on parade was set long ago.”
Guardsman Bhullar’s dad Surinder, 47, from Slough, Berks, said recently: “He deserves respect and he will stay strong. That includes wearing his turban instead of a bearskin, no matter what other soldiers say. He is observing his religion.”
Its HILARIOUS to hear white people screeching about their traditions, when they have no goddamned respect for anyone elses. Guardsman Bhuller looks fantastic and may the soldiers disrespecting him choke.
He really does, and I love it. and the beard. check that beard. that beard is a glory. he looks completely badass and dashing.
Also, quite honestly, the turban is the less ridiculous-looking of the two pieces of headgear.
“It came as some in the Scots Guard have claimed the whole company will look ‘ridiculous’ if one member does not wear a bearskin.”
Oh, right. The silliness comes from the guy not wearing the fuzzy black bucket on his head.
(Source: yunghummus)
I’ve always wondered if God gets excited when we finally find the person He created us to be with. Or if He is watching and is like, “That was them! NO. NO. TURN AROUND! YOU MISSED THEM! THAT WAS THEM!”
“UGH, WHY ARE ALL MY OTPS WALKING BY EACH OTHER WITHOUT NOTICING!”
We are in a giant reality tv show and God and the angels are the fandom.
thunderstorms are nothing more than ship wars going on in heaven
