- Jun 8, 2004
- 3,210
- 64
I have purposely posed this question in the OPEN FORUM because it is not, per se, a religion/spirituality doctrine issue, but one which seeks to expose to us all what it is that makes this orgainzation the choice of so many of our brothers and sisters here at Destee... I am seeking to find out why one would choose this religious organization over another, and have a discussion on it...
Now, let me put my full deck of cards on the table... Firstly, I am no fan of organized religion, though a staunch believer in the Universal Power and Oneness of the Universe... I believe that ONENESS has made us all GODS in our own right, as IT thinks and acts through us. I do not believe in the NEED to be connected in GOD through institutions, though I believe those institutions can, and sometimes DO, serve a great purpose... If I do admit to a preference for African Traditional Religions, it is because they seem to perpetuate the CULTURE of Africa and Africans, and not because I am so impressed what what they do for our communities, or represent on a spiritual level... What I must have on a spiritual level is the ONENESS(BALANCE, some might call it)that ATR's do not seem to bring to the table...
In fact, I think Christianity actually brings more BALANCE to the table("faith without works is DEAD") than ATR's, because I can SEE where SOME Christian organizations BUILD more than people's hopes... And certainily, ISLAM builds more for our communities economically and Academically than either the ATR's or Christianity combined - or, at least, I am, again, able to SEE what they have done, and are doing...
Here, in Bedford Stuyvesant, that most populous Black Community in the continental United States, I can SEE what these African American and Continental African Muslims have built along Fulton Street, an avenue that stretches into our downtown area here... Their mosque is the largest in the city of Brooklyn, and their businesses have crept along that long avenue, and are encroaching, now, on the downtown area... They are in essence, a powerful presence in the economic resurgence of this area, and are making a downpayment on what is sure to be an economic goldmine for the future... Meanwhile, Ausar Auset Community USED to have a massive school building just blocks away, in a time when nothing was happening out here, and now they are no where to be found...
I am saying this all not to be longwinded, but to reinforce my earlier point that there must be some balance... It cannot all be about spirituality and intellectuality, but a practical application and inspiration found in all our preaching, praying, and meditation... If it's about THAT, then we got Christianity, and the shameless huckstering we rail against, just cloaked in African garb and language... So, shortstorylong, I am interested in knowing from the followers of these ATR's, just WHAT they and you are doing in pragmatic terms, to make our communities a better place econimcally and educationally??? Again, I would like for us to have an open and honest discussion NOT about your religion, but how that religion is teaching you to practically apply what you have learned so that YOU can be of benefit to our communities...
Peace!
Isaiah
Now, let me put my full deck of cards on the table... Firstly, I am no fan of organized religion, though a staunch believer in the Universal Power and Oneness of the Universe... I believe that ONENESS has made us all GODS in our own right, as IT thinks and acts through us. I do not believe in the NEED to be connected in GOD through institutions, though I believe those institutions can, and sometimes DO, serve a great purpose... If I do admit to a preference for African Traditional Religions, it is because they seem to perpetuate the CULTURE of Africa and Africans, and not because I am so impressed what what they do for our communities, or represent on a spiritual level... What I must have on a spiritual level is the ONENESS(BALANCE, some might call it)that ATR's do not seem to bring to the table...
In fact, I think Christianity actually brings more BALANCE to the table("faith without works is DEAD") than ATR's, because I can SEE where SOME Christian organizations BUILD more than people's hopes... And certainily, ISLAM builds more for our communities economically and Academically than either the ATR's or Christianity combined - or, at least, I am, again, able to SEE what they have done, and are doing...
Here, in Bedford Stuyvesant, that most populous Black Community in the continental United States, I can SEE what these African American and Continental African Muslims have built along Fulton Street, an avenue that stretches into our downtown area here... Their mosque is the largest in the city of Brooklyn, and their businesses have crept along that long avenue, and are encroaching, now, on the downtown area... They are in essence, a powerful presence in the economic resurgence of this area, and are making a downpayment on what is sure to be an economic goldmine for the future... Meanwhile, Ausar Auset Community USED to have a massive school building just blocks away, in a time when nothing was happening out here, and now they are no where to be found...
I am saying this all not to be longwinded, but to reinforce my earlier point that there must be some balance... It cannot all be about spirituality and intellectuality, but a practical application and inspiration found in all our preaching, praying, and meditation... If it's about THAT, then we got Christianity, and the shameless huckstering we rail against, just cloaked in African garb and language... So, shortstorylong, I am interested in knowing from the followers of these ATR's, just WHAT they and you are doing in pragmatic terms, to make our communities a better place econimcally and educationally??? Again, I would like for us to have an open and honest discussion NOT about your religion, but how that religion is teaching you to practically apply what you have learned so that YOU can be of benefit to our communities...
Peace!
Isaiah