Suicide Bombing

Al-Nisa (The Women) Sura 4: Verse 29 (Partial)

“… And kill yourselves not, for God is truly Merciful to you.”

People who are driven to despair are thus reminded to have faith in God’s mercy in the hope that they may be relieved of their suffering. Since suicide is prohibited, anyone who tries to facilitate it, or acts as an accomplice, is also liable to a deterrent punishment that may be quantified by the court while taking into consideration the material circumstances of the case. Commentators have, moreover, drawn a five-point conclusion from this verse as follows:

1. the obvious meaning is that suicide is forbidden;

2. the text also stipulates that ‘you may not kill one another’ nor facilitate suicide;

3. one may not undertake a task which is likely to cause his own death, even if it be in lieu of a religious obligation;

4. no one should deprive himself of the necessities of life to the point of self-destruction; and

5. the text covers cases of self-destruction regardless of the manner in which it is done.

The manuals of Islamic law are silent on the issue of suicide bombing, a disturbing phenomenon of our time that became frequent in connection with Israeli-Palestinian conflict, especially when Israel unleashed a new wave of aggression on the street processions of unarmed Palestinian youth in 2000-1. The aftermath of 11 September 2001 and more recently the horrendous violence in Iraq and Afghanistan, added new dimensions to the incidence of suicide bombing among Muslims.

Suicide bombing in the name of Islam is a ’sociopolitical phenomenon, not a theological one’. And any long-term solution to the problem must also address the causes that have brought so much pain and hopelessness to many Muslim societies.

It would be simplistic to lump the Palestinian suicide bombing with Al-Qaedah terrorist activities. One can hardly deny the genuine suffering of the Palestinian people and legitimacy of their struggle against sustained Israeli brutalities. It would appear equally simplistic, however, to equate suicide bombing with martyrdom and jihad. This is because suicide bombing contravenes two fundamental principles of Islam: prohibition against suicide, and deliberate killing of non-combatants. The argument that proceeds over reciprocity and retaliation is also flawed by the involvement of innocent non-combatants in suicide bombing.

Those who have raised the issue of ‘collateral damage’ in this context have also exaggerated their case, simply because non-combatants are chosen as the direct target of suicide bombing. They are, as such, neither collateral nor incidental.

The Muslim fighter who is motivated by the spirit of jihad enters the battle, not with the intention of dying, but with the conviction that if he should die, it would be for reasons beyond his control. Martyrdom in Islam does not begin with suicidal intention, let alone the linkage of that intention with the killing of non-combatants.

To justify suicide bombing under the banner of retaliation, or as a form of jihad, is therefore questionable, simply because it begins on an erroneous note, which goes against the essence both of just retaliation and justified jihad.

Compiled From:

“Shariah Law – An Introduction” – Mohammad Hashim Kamali, pp. 283-288

Saheeh al Bukhaaree
Volume 5, Book 59, Number 702

Narrated ‘Abdullah ibn Kab bin Malik:

Who, from among Kab’s sons, was the guide of Kab when he became blind: I heard Kab bin Malik narrating the story of (the Ghazwa of) Tabuk in which he failed to take part.

Kab said, “I did not remain behind Allah’s Apostle in any Ghazwa that he fought except the Ghazwa of Tabuk, and I failed to take part in the Ghazwa of Badr, but Allah did not admonish anyone who had not participated in it, for in fact, Allah’s Apostle had gone out in search of the caravan of Quraish till Allah made them (i.e. the Muslims) and their enemy meet without any appointment. I witnessed the night of Al-’Aqaba (pledge) with Allah’s Apostle when we pledged for Islam, and I would not exchange it for the Badr battle although the Badr battle is more popular amongst the people than it (i.e. Al-’Aqaba pledge). As for my news (in this battle of Tabuk), I had never been stronger or wealthier than I was when I remained behind the Prophet in that Ghazwa.

By Allah, never had I two she-camels before, but I had then at the time of this Ghazwa. Whenever Allah’s Apostle wanted to make a Ghazwa, he used to hide his intention by apparently referring to different Ghazwa till it was the time of that Ghazwa (of Tabuk) which Allah’s Apostle fought in severe heat, facing, a long journey, desert, and the great number of enemy. So the Prophet announced to the Muslims clearly (their destination) so that they might get prepared for their Ghazwa. So he informed them clearly of the destination he was going to. Allah’s Apostle was accompanied by a large number of Muslims who could not be listed in a book namely, a register.” Ka’b added, “Any man who intended to be absent would think that the matter would remain hidden unless Allah revealed it through Divine Revelation.

 So Allah’s Apostle fought that Ghazwa at the time when the fruits had ripened and the shade looked pleasant. Allah’s Apostle and his companions prepared for the battle and I started to go out in order to get myself ready along with them, but I returned without doing anything. I would say to myself, ‘I can do that.’ So I kept on delaying it every now and then till the people got ready and Allah’s Apostle and the Muslims along with him departed, and I had not prepared anything for my departure, and I said, I will prepare myself (for departure) one or two days after him, and then join them.’ In the morning following their departure, I went out to get myself ready but returned having done nothing. Then again in the next morning, I went out to get ready but returned without doing anything.

Such was the case with me till they hurried away and the battle was missed (by me). Even then I intended to depart to take them over. I wish I had done so! But it was not in my luck. So, after the departure of Allah’s Apostle, whenever I went out and walked amongst the people (i.e, the remaining persons), it grieved me that I could see none around me, but one accused of hypocrisy or one of those weak men whom Allah had excused.

Allah’s Apostle did not remember me till he reached Tabuk. So while he was sitting amongst the people in Tabuk, he said, ‘What did Ka’b do?’ A man from Banu Salama said, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! He has been stopped by his two Burdas (i.e. garments) and his looking at his own flanks with pride.’ Then Mu’adh bin Jabal said, ‘What a bad thing you have said! By Allah! O Allahs Apostle! We know nothing about him but good.’ Allah’s Apostle kept silent.”

 Kab bin Malik added, “When I heard that he (i.e. the Prophet ) was on his way back to Medina. I got dipped in my concern, and began to think of false excuses, saying to myself, ‘How can I avoid his anger tomorrow?’ And I took the advice of wise member of my family in this matter. When it was said that Allah’s Apostle, had come near all the evil false excuses abandoned from my mind and I knew well that I could never come out of this problem by forging a false statement. Then I decided firmly to speak the truth.

 So Allah’s Apostle arrived in the morning, and whenever he returned from a journey., he used to visit the Mosque first of all and offer a two-Rak’at prayer therein and then sit for the people. So when he had done all that (this time), those who had failed to join the battle (of Tabuk) came and started offering (false) excuses and taking oaths before him. They were something over eighty men; Allah’s Apostle accepted the excuses they had expressed, took their pledge of allegiance asked for Allah’s Forgiveness for them, and left the secrets of their hearts for Allah to judge.

Then I came to him, and when I greeted him, he smiled a smile of an angry person and then said, ‘Come on.’ So I came walking till I sat before him. He said to me, ‘What stopped you from joining us. Had you not purchased an animal for carrying you?’ I answered, “Yes, O Allah’s Apostle! But by Allah, if I were sitting before any person from among the people of the world other than you, I would have avoided his anger with an excuse.

By Allah, I have been bestowed with the power of speaking fluently and eloquently, but by Allah, I knew well that if today I tell you a lie to seek your favour, Allah would surely make you angry with me in the near future, but if I tell you the truth, though you will get angry because of it, I hope for Allah’s Forgiveness. Really, by Allah, there was no excuse for me. By Allah, I had never been stronger or wealthier than I was when I remained behind you.’

Then Allah’s Apostle said, ‘As regards this man, he has surely told the truth. So get up till Allah decides your case.’ I got up, and many men of Banu Salama followed me and said to me. ‘By Allah, we never witnessed you doing any sin before this. Surely, you failed to offer excuse to Allah’s Apostle as the others who did not join him, have offered. The prayer of Allah’s Apostle to Allah to forgive you would have been sufficient for you.’ By Allah, they continued blaming me so much that I intended to return (to the Prophet) and accuse myself of having told a lie, but I said to them, ‘Is there anybody else who has met the same fate as I have?’ They replied, ‘Yes, there are two men who have said the same thing as you have, and to both of them was given the same order as given to you.’ I said, ‘Who are they?’ They replied, Murara bin Ar-Rabi Al-Amri and Hilal bin Umaiya Al-Waqifi.’ By that they mentioned to me two pious men who had attended the Ghazwa (Battle) of Badr, and in whom there was an example for me. So I did not change my mind when they mentioned them to me.

 Allah’s Apostle forbade all the Muslims to talk to us, the three aforesaid persons out of all those who had remained behind in that Ghazwa. So we kept away from the people and they changed their attitude towards us till the very land (where I lived) appeared strange to me as if I did not know it.

We remained in that condition for fifty nights. As regards my two fellows, they remained in their houses and kept on weeping, but I was the youngest of them and the firmest of them, so I used to go out and witness the prayers along with the Muslims and roam about in the markets, but none would talk to me, and I would come to Allah’s Apostle and greet him while he was sitting In his gathering after the prayer, and I would wonder whether the Prophet did move his lips in return to my greetings or not. Then I would offer my prayer near to him and look at him stealthily. When I was busy with my prayer, he would turn his face towards me, but when I turned my face to him, he would turn his face away from me.

 When this harsh attitude of the people lasted long, I walked till I scaled the wall of the garden of Abu Qatada who was my cousin and dearest person to me, and I offered my greetings to him. By Allah, he did not return my greetings. I said, ‘O Abu Qatada! I beseech you by Allah! Do you know that I love Allah and His Apostle?’ He kept quiet. I asked him again, beseeching him by Allah, but he remained silent. Then I asked him again in the Name of Allah. He said, “Allah and His Apostle know it better.’ Thereupon my eyes flowed with tears and I returned and jumped over the wall.”

 Ka’b added, “While I was walking in the market of Medina, suddenly I saw a Nabati (i.e. a Christian farmer) from the Nabatis of Sham who came to sell his grains in Medina, saying, ‘Who will lead me to Kab bin Malik?’ The people began to point (me) out for him till he came to me and handed me a letter from the king of Ghassan in which the following was written:

“To proceed, I have been informed that your friend (i.e. the Prophet ) has treated you harshly. Anyhow, Allah does not let you live at a place where you feel inferior and your right is lost. So join us, and we will console you.”

When I read it, I said to myself, ‘This is also a sort of a test.’ Then I took the letter to the oven and made a fire therein by burning it.

When fourty out of the fifty nights elapsed, behold ! There came to me the messenger of Allah’s Apostle and said, ‘Allah’s Apostle orders you to keep away from your wife,’ I said, ‘Should I divorce her; or else! what should I do?’ He said, ‘No, only keep aloof from her and do not cohabit her.’ The Prophet sent the same message to my two fellows. Then I said to my wife. ‘Go to your parents and remain with them till Allah gives His Verdict in this matter.’

 Kab added, “The wife of Hilal bin Umaiya came to Apostle and said, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! Hilal bin Umaiya is a helpless old man who has no servant to attend on him. Do you dislike that I should serve him? ‘ He said, ‘No (you can serve him) but he should not come near you.’ She said, ‘By Allah, he has no desire for anything. By, Allah, he has never ceased weeping till his case began till this day of his.’

 On that, some of my family members said to me, ‘Will you also ask Allah’s Apostle to permit your wife (to serve you) as he has permitted the wife of Hilal bin Umaiya to serve him?’ I said, ‘By Allah, I will not ask the permission of Allah’s Apostle regarding her, for I do not know What Allah’s Apostle would say if I asked him to permit her (to serve me) while I am a young man.’

 Then I remained in that state for ten more nights after that till the period of fifty nights was completed starting from the time when Allah’s Apostle prohibited the people from talking to us.

When I had offered the Fajr prayer on the 50th morning on the roof of one of our houses and while I was sitting in the condition which Allah described (in the Qur’an) i.e. my very soul seemed straitened to me and even the earth seemed narrow to me for all its spaciousness, there I heard the voice of one who had ascended the mountain of Sala’ calling with his loudest voice, ‘O Kab bin Malik! Be happy (by receiving good tidings).’ I fell down in prostration before Allah, realizing that relief has come. Allah’s Apostle had announced the acceptance of our repentance by Allah when he had offered the Fajr prayer. The people then went out to congratulate us. Some bringers of good tidings went out to my two fellows, and a horseman came to me in haste, and a man of Banu Aslam came running and ascended the mountain and his voice was swifter than the horse. When he (i.e. the man) whose voice I had heard, came to me conveying the good tidings, I took off my garments and dressed him with them; and by Allah, I owned no other garments than them on that day. Then I borrowed two garments and wore them and went to Allah’s Apostle.
The people started receiving me in batches, congratulating me on Allah’s Acceptance of my repentance, saying, ‘We congratulate you on Allah’s Acceptance of your repentance.” Kab further said, “When I entered the Mosque. I saw Allah’s Apostle sitting with the people around him. Talha bin Ubaidullah swiftly came to me, shook hands with me and congratulated me. By Allah, none of the Muhajirin (i.e. Emigrants) got up for me except him (i.e. Talha), and I will never forget this for Talha.”

 Kab added, “When I greeted Allah’s Apostle he, his face being bright with joy, said “Be happy with the best day that you have got ever since your mother delivered you.” Kab added, “I said to the Prophet ‘Is this forgiveness from you or from Allah?’ He said, ‘No, it is from Allah.’ Whenever Allah’s Apostle became happy, his face would shine as if it were a piece of moon, and we all knew that characteristic of him.

 When I sat before him, I said, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! Because of the acceptance of my repentance I will give up all my wealth as alms for the Sake of Allah and His Apostle. Allah’s Apostle said, ‘Keep some of your wealth, as it will be better for you.’ I said, ‘So I will keep my share from Khaibar with me,’ and added, ‘O Allah’s Apostle! Allah has saved me for telling the truth; so it is a part of my repentance not to tell but the truth as long as I am alive.

By Allah, I do not know anyone of the Muslims whom Allah has helped fortelling the truth more than me. Since I have mentioned that truth to Allah’s Apostle till today, I have never intended to tell a lie. I hope that Allah will also save me (from telling lies) the rest of my life. So Allah revealed to His Apostle the Verse: “Verily, Allah has forgiven the Prophet, the Muhajirin (i.e. Emigrants (up to His Saying) And be with those who are true (in word and deed).” (9.117-119)

By Allah, Allah has never bestowed upon me, apart from His guiding me to Islam, a Greater blessing than the fact that I did not tell a lie to Allah’s Apostle which would have caused me to perish as those who have told a lie perished, for Allah described those who told lies with the worst description He ever attributed to anybody else.

Allah said:– “They (i.e. the hypocrites) will swear by Allah to you when you return to them (up to His Saying) Certainly Allah is not pleased with the rebellious people–” (9.95-96) Kab added, “We, the three persons, differed altogether from those whose excuses Allah’s Apostle accepted when they swore to him. He took their pledge of allegiance and asked Allah to forgive them, but Allah’s Apostle left our case pending till Allah gave His Judgment about it. As for that Allah said):– And to the three (He did forgive also) who remained behind.” (9.118) What Allah said (in this Verse) does not indicate our failure to take part in the Ghazwa, but it refers to the deferment of making a decision by the Prophet about our case in contrast to the case of those who had taken an oath before him and he excused them by accepting their excuses.

There’s just something about being in a group or club that cost you something.  When I was in college, I belonged to a fraternity and it felt good to belong to a group that not everyone was a part of.  Anyone that knows anything about fraternities of sororities knows that you have to be sponsored be someone already in the group that vouches for you and they say that you would be an excellent addition to our group.  However, this does not guarantee a spot in the group. First, you must rush, in my case for a week, where your fellow brothers, as they are known, can get you to do pretty much whatever they want.  Then they drill you with questions in an interview and if they like you, you’re in!  You are now part of the brotherhood!  You’re a big dog on campus now.  You’re part of an exclusive group that many want to be a part of and yet only a few ever get to opportunity to join. 

Not much has really changed since my days as a member of the Phi Simga Cia fraternity.  Yes, I am no longer a college student who likes to hang with my brethren, but I am part of another exclusive group, the church.  In many ways, the church feels a lot like my fraternity, for we have the tendency to be exclusive as well. 

Many members of the church world will call themselves the insiders and they want to separate themselves from the outsiders.  We don’t dare say we’re exclusive, but it’s how we act that gives that perception.  We have set in place external practices that separate us from the outsiders – our vocabulary or dress, who we associate with, and so on. 

We have become proud and judgmental toward the outsiders.  We often pride ourselves on how righteous we are, so much so that we can just look at someone and tell right away whether they are an insider or outsider.  However, with Jesus, the leader of the church, this wasn’t the case at all.  His messages and mission was to have everyone be an insider.  Not just to belong to an elite group of people that are super spiritual, but to belong to a group of people that wanted to be transformed into “new creatures”.  Jesus didn’t focus on what someone looked like or how they acted, rather he looked at the persons heart.

I have been a part of some wonderful churches in my life and every one of them has added to my spiritual walk with Christ.  Nevertheless, each one of them, some more than others, had their own bench markers.  Some of them could have had a pastor consumed with pride and was a glutton, but as he was growing or at least maintaining the church, he need not worry about his job.  But if by chance a church member saw him on the golf course smoking a cigar with a friend, you wouldn’t see him next Sunday at church.  Why is that?  Well probably no one would ever say that smoking a cigar on the golf course would be a worse sin than a life consumed with pride or a glutton.  Although for many in the church world smoking has become a bench marker for many.  It is one of the churches ways to tell if you are a wolf or a sheep. 

We all know that smoking is not the unpardonable sin, but it breaks many churchgoers unspoken bench marker.  Something like this could upset a church’s sense of identity.  It doesn’t matter really if you are Baptist, Catholic, Pentecostal, or Greek Orthodox I bet you can come up with your own set of bench markers.  This type of spirituality puts most of the focus on your position.  Are you in or are you out? 

However, Jesus is more concerned with people’s hearts.  He wants to know that they moving forward in their spiritual life, do they have the love of God and their fellow man in their life.  That is way many people were shocked in his day when He said that many of the religious leaders were outside of God’s kingdom, because they were more concerned with the bench markers than peoples heart.  John Ortberg in his book, The Life You’ve Always Wanted,” said it well.  He said “The ‘righteous’ were more damaged by their righteousness than the sinners were by their sin.”

There are now websites that give people the opportunity to make anonymous online confessions about their sins.  Just do a Google search on “confessions online” and see for yourself (Warning: some may be veryexplicit).  There’s nobody on the other end who tells you that your sins are forgiven.  So why confess anonymously?  Does this way of confessing our sins give us a cathartic release of guilt?   Regarding these types of online confessions, Dr. Michael Horton says in his book Christless Christianity:

“in a therapeutic worldview, there is no sin and guilt to be forgiven by God but only burdens and feelings of guilt for failing to live up to the expectations of oneself and other human beings.  In other words, for Christianity there is objective guilt and justification; in moralistic therapy there is only subjective guilt and a cathartic release simply by telling someone else about it.”

Personally, I can understand why a person may feel a need to confess their sins or wrongdoings to someone–whether to a real person or anonymously.   I see why the Roman Catholic practice allows a person to feel a sense of a release of guilt when they confess privately to a real live priest.

Is confessing to a live priest more real than making anonymous confessions online where they are only read by people who don’t know you and don’t really care about your sins? How would this be different from confession before God?  And does this way of confessing guilt allow one to be forgive by God?

My thoughts drift off to far off fantastical  places – an island in the middle of the black star strewn sky, a forest underground, a plane flying me to a familiar middle of nowhere – then I am back home to reality.
I glance at the clock behind me, it is late. How long have I been dreaming? How much time has been pushed aside like garbage without a second thought? Do I even care?
My mind is in the kitchen now. In the chocolate cake that is yet to be created. It will be dark moist and melt in my mouth. It will make me wish I could eat as much as I wanted.

It is time to sleep now, wondering what to eat before fajr salah, for tomorrow is the day of Arafah… A day of fasting to have our sins of the past year and the coming year forgiven. I now know what I want forgiven the most – all those times I spent displeasing my Lord and all the times I could have uttered a tasbeeh to tip the scale of deeds in my favor rather than saying nothing and thinking useless or sinful thoughts.

As a Christian, shouldn’t we be truth seekers? Why are we walking around with our blinders on?

We pride ourselves in Jesus Christ, and if He is the truth, why are we allowing life, friends, media, any influences to blurr our vision? When did we decide we didn’t want to know any more?

The world is filled with grey areas my friend, but what is grey really? Not black (darkness) and not white (the light). So, who do you think joys in this grey? Chatting with a friend earlier today on this very topic, the lover of grey is, satan himself.

It is in the grey that he can convince a Christian that he’s not wrong, but the area he is playing in is neutral, that he’s safe.

Ephesians 6:12 “We war not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”. What has happened to our leaders, where are our warriors, who wears his helmet and sword these days? “Take on the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of G-d.”

 I’ll tell you where our Christians are, they’re watching soaps, they’re following American Idol, their cares are of this world! My goal here is not to bring condemnation or judgment, my point is simply that our Church is asleep.

Wake up, Wake up! The day is upon us and they continue to slumber.

Revelation 3:3 “…but if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you”. Why would anyone want to be like a Christian, may I ask? The truth is there is little difference today between the heathen and the Christian.

Do you know what Ghandi said? “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians”.

Ouch! Does that hit anyone to the core? Isn’t our mission to share the word, the love, the saving grace of Jesus? And yet, even non-believers revere our Lord and reject us. Tell me this is not a crime, that this is not a great indicator of our spiritual status?

Oh, but I am saved claims the Christian, when the rapture comes, I am saved. Are you?

Do you know truly that you would be taken up with our Lord or are you hoping as you live in sin? Let’s see what our Lord says on this, shall we?

Revelation 3:15-16 “I know your works, you are neither cold nor hot…because you are lukewarm…I will spit you out of my Mouth” (other versions say vomit). So, our Lord will vomit us, regergetate us, spit us out, because we could not, or rather willed not to be on fire for Him. He even mentions our works, so in that we were doing good things, but that was not enough, because our hearts were not seeking Him. Remember it is not our works that save us!

 If this is not convicting enough, how about the fact that many will call on His name and He will say He never knew us?

Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name, And I will declare to them, I never knew you, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness”.

 He is obviously speaking to believers here, those that prophesied, those that cast out demons, but their hearts, their lives were not in parallel to His commands for our lives.

We all have issues and sins that we like to hold on to, we hide them in the depths of our souls, but our Lord knows every thought, every sin, every lying tongue. If you really want to see joy in your life, if you are tired of the depression, the stress, the mess you’ve made of your life, why not just give it to G-d? Why not, commit to Him your life, to give Him hold and control? Dont’ you think that He, being G-d could do much better a job, then you?

If you’re tired of running away, all it takes is a prayer asking forgiveness. Search your heart, there are even lies that you have told yourself, that you may be unaware of, give it all to Him, redeem yourself in Him. Do you know how to do this, it is simple, you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, you ask forgiveness of your sins and you flee those sins, you don’t return to them, you decide to change and in His strength you will be able to do anything.

 Many Christians believe after you pray the sinner’s prayer you’re saved, and heaven bound. Yes!  You are saved,  but it is obeying our Father, seeking His ways for our lives, asking His guidance that brings the change we are searching for.  A true relationship with Him!

 G-d gave everyone of us desires, hopes, dreams! I urge you friends to make a vow to give your life to Him and continue to seek to be like Him, to live your life searching for Him, and when you do, you will find Him and with Him, joy and so many blessings in your life! Well, as a Christian, a believer in Jesus Christ, a saved individual from my sins, why wouldn’t I want to know the truth on the issues?

Well, this is where we start!  Stepping out of the grey and seeking to be like Him!  Join me, it’s sure to be an adventure!

For its sem starter, the UP PR+Advertising Society (UP PRAds) successfully launched its first publicity party—Circuit: Boot up. Plug in. Be electrified.

A semester spent in preparations, months of correspondence with sponsors and a postponement due to Ondoy’s wrath were finally put to rest as November 14 marked the event’s resurrection. A resurrection so grand it was like Easter came early.

A better and hotter venue was used for the night while two DJs spinned the night away with glorious beats. Online sellers from Multiply converged for a night of glamorous fashion and sexy capitalism. Two open bar setups and dozens of freebies later, and the night is a ringing success for a starting organization.

Me (fierce organizer), Chin (fiercer fellow organizer), and Bikay (ultimate people bringer)

Thanks a bunch to my co-organizer Chinette Marasigan, without who this electro-glam “debut ng bading” would never be possible!

For those who missed it, too bad, for those who enjoyed it: thanks a bunch. And for those wanting more, watch out for our next big event!

Over the sem break I was able to nourish my mind and read a book. Wicked by Gregory Maguire is one book I have always wanted to read but haven’t really had the time to do so.

The spinoff of L. Frank Baum’s Wizard of Oz story is a riveting tale of forgiveness and the search for the true source of evil by the Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba (named after L.Frank Baum’s initials).

I was actually expecting a deep story of hate and retribution, but was disappointed to read about the mundane search of a lost girl for forgiveness for an act that isn’t really that big a deal. Elphaba’s search for forgiveness is nothing more than a futile attempt to stitch together her failures as an individual and her longing for her father’s love and society’s acceptance.

Quite different from the Broadway musical, Wicked the book is a longer account of how the Wicked Witch of the West came to be. Unfortunately the book’s rendition of her encounter with Dorothy was a failure of diabolical proportions. Don’t even get me started on how she died. It was so anticlimactic.

For the person looking for a deep introspective read that will guide you towards the attainment of temporary Zen, do not read Wicked. But if you want to have a good laugh every now and then, make up theories of infusing religion to the world of Oz ala C.S. Lewis in Narnia, then go ahead and read Wicked. You might even catch temporary childhood memories and contemplate on why being an adult is so shitty.

Finally I now have time again to face the computer and type away for this blog. First in the agenda would be my semestral assessment of the first semester of my senior year.

Now I know a lot of you guys enjoyed my themed assessment last year, so now I’ll be doing everyone a favor by combining supposedly two blog topics into one: my semestral assessment and my latest couch potato addiction—Glee.

Anthro 170 (Anthropology of Language) – boring and dragging, this subject is just like Take A Bow by Lea Michele. It sound nice in the beginning, but after some time of listening to it, you get bored and just wish the subject finally takes a bow. But when you do get the grade, you realize: it wasn’t so bad after all. Makes you even want to listen to it again.

Anthro 187 (Sex and Culture) – this subject has got to be the craziest subject I have ever taken! Rehab by Vocal Adrenaline suits this subject well. Why? I dare you to name any other subject which ended as early as September, where all you talk about is sex in all its glory, and where being horny is justified and promoted. Not to mention a fabulous party for the last meeting where everyone let loose big time.

Socio 132 (Sociology of Deviance) – now it may sound boring, but this class is actually my favorite. The only class where I consciously made an effort to meet all the requirements due to the combination of having interesting topics like death, murder, and autism and having a pretty professor. This has got to be the mash up of It’s My Life and Confessions by the Glee boys. Take them separately and they are passé, combine the two and you get pure bliss. Plus the grade I got wasn’t bad either! Take that grade-conscious Socio majors!!

PI 100 (Philippine Icon: Rizal) – whenever I remember how my PI class went, I just want to sing Bust Your Windows by Amber Riley. The class has got to be the suckiest required subject I have ever taken in my miserable college life. I tried to be a good student by meeting all the requirements, attending classes regularly and I still got a fuckfest of a grade. No thanks to the prof’s promise of an easy grade as long as I attended classes. Imma bust her for that!

Comm Research 125 (Computer Learning) – easiest uno I got in my entire life. Short, sweet, and satisfyingly easy. Just like Diana Agron’s Say A Little Prayer. You just sit in class once a week to do mundane activities in Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. Easy as pie. Need I say more?

Journalism 195 (Lifestyle Reporting) – you would think that this subject is all about interviewing fashion designers, tasting great food, meeting artists and writing about their works and watching the Devil Wears Prada on your first meeting. Well, you’re right. But just like Chris Colfer’s gay rendition of Defying Gravity, it ain’t all that. I was barely able to keep things afloat in this class especially for the final requirement: a mini thesis on a societal subject concerned with either religion or media. But just like Elphie and Kurt, I was able to defy gravity and get a good enough grade. Reached that high F after all.

Journalism 199 (Thesis Writing) – set me free, why don’t you baby? Yes, this is Dianna Agron’s You Keep Me Hangin’ On. Definitely my most stressful subject this semester, and the worst part is, I have to continue working on my thesis until I graduate. Well, I do hope for my sake that I will be able to hang on long enough for me to finish it.

So that was how my first semester went. And that is how Sue, C’s it.

The Seven Deadly Sins
by Chris Price

Two of my favorites.

via 20LTD

ISLAMIC  METHOD OF  SLAUGHTERING ANIMALS APPEARS RUTHLESS

Why do Muslims slaughter the animal in a ruthless manner by torturing it and slowly and painfully killing it?

The Islamic method of slaughtering animals, known as Zabiha has been the object of much criticism from a large number of people. One may consider the following points, which prove that the Zabiha method is not only humane but also scientifically the best:

1. Islamic method of slaughtering animal Zakkaytum is a verb derived from the root word Zakah (to purify). Its infinitive is Tazkiyah which means purification. The Islamic mode of slaughtering an animal requires the following conditions to be met:

a.    Animal should be slaughtered with sharp object (knife) The animal has to be slaughtered with a sharp object (knife) and in a fast way so that the pain of slaughter is minimised.

b.    Cut wind pipe, throat and vessels of neck Zabiha is an Arabic word which means ’slaughtered’. The ’slaughtering’ is to be done by cutting the throat, windpipe and the blood vessels in the neck causing the animal’s death without cutting the spinal cord.

c.    Blood should be drained The blood has to be drained completely before the head is removed. The purpose is to drain out most of the blood which would serve as a good culture  medium  for  micro  organisms.  The  spinal  cord  must  not  be  cut because the nerve fibres to the heart could be damaged during the process causing cardiac arrest, stagnating the blood in the blood vessels.

2. Blood is a good medium for germs and bacteria Blood is a good media of germs, bacteria, toxins, etc. Therefore the Muslim way of  slaughtering  is  more  hygienic  as  most  of  the  blood  containing  germs, bacteria, toxins, etc. that are the cause of several diseases are eliminated.

3. Meat remains fresh for a longer time. Meat  slaughtered  by  Islamic  way  remains  fresh  for  a  longer  time  due  to deficiency of blood in the meat as compared to other methods of slaughtering.

4. Animal does not feel pain The swift cutting of vessels of the neck disconnects the flow of blood to the nerve of the brain responsible for pain. Thus the animal does not feel pain. While dying, the animal struggles, writhers, shakes and kicks, not due to pain, but due to the contraction and relaxation of the muscles defecient in blood and due to the flow of blood out of the body.

]]> http://photoadayblog.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/gluttony/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:13:29 +0000 Valerie http://photoadayblog.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/gluttony/

Gluttony, originally uploaded by Valerie Morrison.

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Gluttony, derived from the Latin gluttire meaning to gulp down or swallow, means over-indulgence and over-consumption of food, drink, or intoxicants to the point of waste.

I’m a little disturbed that I only took two photos for my Gluttony shot. This might as well be me eating dinner. What’s funny is that I over ate at lunch time today and will not eat dinner. I had two slices of pizzas and about 12 Almond Joys, 5 cups of green tea throughout the day, oh and a cup of water.

Yes, I had a stomach ache and promised not to do that again. I don’t want to see any more food…until tomorrow morning.

Well, let’s set up a new topic for debate. Now let me say upfront, I am not putting this out there as some heretical proclamation,. This is for sincere discussion and please keep an open mind because I do not feel your beliefs. on this issue, have any eternal implications. I will try to keep it short (at least for now)

From the day I began to attend church, ..from birth…, I was taught the Jesus Christ came to forgive us of our sins and by His death bestow eternal life. I can see how christians can use this proclamation, as a vehicle, to convince others. So did He come to die for our sins and by belief in that death and His subsequent resurrection, give us eternal life? I would not be surprised to find out that we misinterpret His coming, His mission and His message.

Here’s why I am questioning: Another christian tenet is that God is omnipotent. Would you agree? Omnipotent means that God can do anything, does it not? So could an omnipotent God forgive us of our sins and lead us into life everlasting without even coming to Earth? Of course He could. It was not essential for Christ to die on the cross for us to be forgiven…God could have done that unilaterally. He certainly could give us eternal life if He so chose. So, if God was omnipotent, why send Christ to die on the cross? I believe there is a possibility that the answer may be a combination of factors. Without the heretic labeling, it may be very possible that God is unable to do everything, therefore not omnipotent. The mere fact that God was not able to convince His people, through prophets, judges and kings, that obedience to Him would result in a life fulfilled, demonstrates that He can do much but not all. God may try to influence but man is still in control of himself. So why the miracles, the perfect life, the death on the cross and the resurrection? Could it be that God needed a feat of such magnitude that it would demonstrate to all, His immense love for His people. “Greater love has no man than to give his life for another” That through this demonstration, His people would believe. Probably, but believe what? What did Christ teach?

I am not convinced that His death was for sin or eternal life. I believe it was to show us how to live our lives here, on Earth. Like I said before, God could have forgiven our sins and given eternal life without any outward display. Christ spent the majority of His ministry telling us how to live our lives, in order to have an “abundant life”. Let’s discuss these ideas and strengthen our faith. If you have a Bible, can we share the specific teachings of Jesus?

Let me throw out the first two:
1. Love your God with all your heart, soul and mind
2. Love your neighbor as you love yourself

If you have a spare 25 minutes please make time to watch the latest edition of Unreported World on Channel 4, it is available to view at the ’4On Demand’ website for the next 27 days (until 13th December 2009).  I warn you though, it will make you cry.

The presenter Yemi Ipaye visits a number of child widows living in the South-West of the country.  Their situations are desperate.  One girl was married at 11 and widowed at 13.  She was married off at a young age because the dowry paid by the parents is less the younger the bride is.  Now she is viewed as a burden by her parents who beat and verbally abuse her; she will not be married again as she is now perceived as being bad luck and is blamed for the death of her husband.  Like many widows she may need to resort to prostitution to provide for herself.

The Hindu belief in reincarnation makes it clear that bad luck in this life is determined by past sins in a previous life.  Therefore young widows are ostracised by society and insulted, they are treated as if they were evil and are isolated and become the ‘living dead’, the title of the program.  In the past in Nepal sati was practiced.  This is the ritual suicide of a wife when her husband dies.  It was carried out by the widow climbing onto the funeral pyre of her husband and burning alive.  The practice was outlawed across Nepal and India a century ago but the prejudice and stigma that enforced it remains today.  It seems that a widow’s life is worth nothing.

A widow in Kathmandu described how she had been asked to leave her home when her landlord discovered she was a widow.  Now she no longer tells anyone, simply lying that her husband is working overseas.  She is impoverished and has had to send her two children to an orphanage because she can not look after them. 

Women Without Roofs supports women that are on their own either because they are widowed or their husband is missing.  Please help us to help more women like these.

Galatians 1:4

Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

The Lord Jesus Christ gave himself for us, not only did he leave his throne in glory but He also gave up his life.  Why?  For our sins, because of our imperfection, the Lord died for us.  Why?  The purpose is because He is going to deliver us.  From what will we be delivered?  This present EVIL WORLD.  What does this mean, first we know that we will be delivered from the world, which will be happen in the rapture.  We will not go through the tribulation, but will be delivered out of here.  The other is the idea of being delivered from THIS PRESENT evil world is to know in Christ we don’t have to live like the world, but we can live like saints.  We don’t have to live ungodly but we have the power to live Godly through Christ.  The power of sin does NOT have dominion over us.  Why? Because this is the will of God.  It is His desire that we don’t live like the world, it is His desire that we don’t go through the tribulation, and it is His desire that His Son died for our sins.  Isn’t it wonderful to know some of the desires of the Creator for us, and this should help motivate us to live Godly.

Rejoicing in Grace,
Keith

2 Cor 5:14-15

www.richesofgrace.com