ifasehun said:
lmao. Aqil.
[1] i have read it before and referenced it on my own web site when i wrote a two part series on Islam: Trading One Master for Another. So I am familiar with the piece.
[2] uh..where da' note from the author to reprint in its entirety? lmao (half way joking. Destee been on me for all of my 3 days of membership about that stuff..lol)
I first read the piece on
The Black Electorate. I called the
NYT re: permission to reprint and they told me that Mr. Aidi would e-mail me re: this. I never heard from him...
ifasehun said:
Most people approached Islam for the same reason I did: dissatisification with european/western values and culture, as well as a resentment of the idea that we were worshiping the God of our captor.
Are you implying that most of the 1.6 billion Muslims in the world approached Islam for the same reason you did? And the rest of your statement is ludicrous.
ifasehun said:
Of course that would imply that Islam is suitable because it is: (1) from us or (2) not from our captor. In both instances this is incorrect.
In both instances you are incorrect in the insignificant personal opinions that you have proffered...
ifasehun said:
I had the priviledge of befriending a family close to the H. Elijah Muhammad while in high school. What I found interesting is that a teen being groomed for leadership in the NOI told me that in the early days, and even up to Farrakhan in the ealy '80s - the NOI implied that Arabic was an African language and that Islam was an African religion, citing the large Muslim population in Africa as evidence.
Islam is universal..worshiped by 1.6 billion people all over the world...in practically every country in the world...
ifasehun said:
Of course the H. Elijah M. had already made it clear what he thought of African religion. Straight from the mouth of one of the highest ranking NOI officials I have ever known, I hear this: "African religion is barbarism and is a way to which we should not return."
What Elijah Muhammad said or did not say is irrelevant...
ifasehun said:
Now wait a sec. lol So Islam is African but it can be somehow differiented from other indigenous religions? How so? And why does it not bare the mark of a savage too? Hmm. Upon close inspection we find commonalities among all African religions. Even the traditional beliefs of the ever-warring Hausa and Yoruba bear resemblance. And they in turn together bear resemblance to S. Africa and Kenyan systems...and then Congo to Togo and Togo to Zambia. So why is Islam not bearing resemblance if its African? And more importantly, if its African why do all historical accounts by Africans call it a foreign religion that was introduced to Africa?
What is your point? Who do you claim said Islam was an African religion? And what difference does it make?
ifasehun said:
If we bounce to the present, we can't deny the good that the NOI has done for black people. It practically invented prison ministry - then it perfected it. But it doesn't change that the two major reasons for practicing it in the first place were never addressed: it IS the religion of a foreigner, so its no different than being a Christian. it Is the religion of a captor, Arabs did and continue to trade in Africans as labor, sex toys and mercenaries illegally. Muslims are the only people on Earth to trade Africans continously without a pause for the past 400 years. They have waged cultural Jihad against Africa since Egypt stood. So we are as the article I referenced - "Trading One Master For Another."
What is the source of your information? There is nothing in the world like the Muslim's undying love for his/her religion...
ifasehun said:
I say that there is nothing positive that is obtained by practicing a foreign religion - even Islam that cannot be gotten by practicing a religion that comes from your own loins. There are no social, political or artistic benefits to Arabic culture that cannot be found in AfricaN culture.
I disagree...I say practicing the religion of your choice is positive. And Islam is not considered a foreign religion...just as Christianity is not considered a foreign religion.
Ifa is considered a foreign religion...
ifasehun said:
While I know where I am from in Africa, down to the exact community (tribe) its not necessary for all of us to have that knowledge. we know that over 85% of us are from W. Africa. Pick a country that is not completely run over by Arabic or white thought and learn. (I have already posted a list of several African religions practiced successfully and to great benefit in the U.S.) Anything is better than practicing the religion of someone that is related to the murderer or enslaver of your ancestors. Any African religion will do if the only other option is "their" religion.
You must be talking about Christianity, the religion of the white man...
ifasehun said:
If not for spiritual reasons, then for psychological health, political allegience, social change - or try this one on for size: Justice. On the issue of women, we find one of the most IMPORTANT REASONS for practicing african spirituality. Most clergy are women in indigenous systems. They also control finances in traditional settings. They are entrepreneurs and religious leaders for God's sake! This is our sister's DIVINE BIRTHRIGHT! They shouldn't be shackled by arabic or european etiquette.
Who said they are?
ifasehun said:
In homes where African spirituality is practiced, women are partners, sometimes the boss. lol Gender specific roles exist, but there is room for men and women to lead and support. Even polygamy in an truly Afrocentric setting benefits the woman much more (a wife must agree and in some cases initiate it before it can take place.)
Is this what Ifa promotes? In fact, let me suggest something to you. You would make much more headway in this forum if you posted threads and posts that define the tenets of the Ifa religion, instead of surreptitiously attempting to plant a seed in the minds of readers here that Islam is the religion of Arab slaveholders...
In other words, talk about what YOU believe in, instead of your biased opinions of why others believe as they do...