Pluralism News (4.15.17)

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PLURALISM NEWS ::
Studies and action in Religious, political, cultural and social pluralism 
Weekly News Letter, Saturday, April 15, 2017
Special Articles:

  1. The Gift of Easter to Humanity
  2. Morocco’s gift to Christians on Easter
  3. Female Genital Mutilation must End
  4. Passover Seder
  5. Workshop (2:30 Hrs) – Understanding the essence of Islam
  6. Bombing Afghanistan
  7. Events for all Americans.
  8. Festivals, birth Celebrations and Wisdom
  9. Radio Program – coming up
  10. Symposiums on Burning topics
  11. Please donate

Our programs are designed to bring Americans Together; the more often we see each other in social, cultural, civic, religious, political and other settings, the stronger the antidote would be against divisiveness, resulting in fewer misunderstandings and misperceptions about each other.  
We need to reassure each other, including the disconnected ones among the White Americans, that together as Americans, we are committed to safeguarding the American way of life.  No American needs to worry about losing his or her way of life.  As Americans we uphold, protect, defend and celebrate the values enshrined in our Constitution.
At the Center for Pluralism we offer pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. We are committed to build a cohesive America, where no American has to feel apprehension or fear of the other.  https://centerforpluralism.com
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The Gift of Easter to Humanity
While 2,000 plus Easters have come and gone, has he really risen yet? Risen within us that is? I hope and pray that each of us will let Christ rise and shine through us, so we can allow him to use us to bring about a change that we are all yearning; a world where all of God’s children are respected and honored.  
The world needs to squarely face major conflicts between Jews and Christians (Crucifixion of Jesus), Muslims and Christians (Son of a God v. the Prophet), Jews and Muslims (900 Jews were executed per the Jewish tradition) and Hindus versus Christians and Muslims (Conversions) and Native Americans v. Christians (Conversions).  We have allowed these resentments to tear each other apart, how irresponsible is it to keep passing these conflicts to next the generation. It has to stop and we have to leave a better world for the next generation than pass the problems to them.
Happy Easter, let this Easter renew our spirits.
Lifeway Church in Dallas will include this article as a part of their sermon.
Full article, pictures and related links at:
https://centerforpluralism.com/the-gift-of-easter-to-humanity/
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Morocco’s Gift for Christians on Easter
Morocco’s High Religious Committee says Apostates should not be killed. Thank God for them. Apostasy is when a Muslim chooses another faith, and Blasphemy is when someone denigrates religious figures of other faiths.
Apostasy and Blasphemy have unfortunately crept into Islam and Muslims are finding it hard to summon the courage to stand up against it. Many of us in the last ten years are writing and speaking against it, yet we have not fathered momentum in other parts of the world. American Muslims and many Muslims elsewhere have learned that these are not Islamic values, but obviously more needs to be done.
Free will and free choice are the central values of Islam that have been violated for years. Here is a humorous 3 minutes video on Liberty – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIHKA49Q1LU
There is no such thing as Apostate in the teachings of Quran or the Prophet because you are free to choose to be a Muslim or not. There is no compulsion in faith – God seriously means it and Prophet Muhammad reiterated it. There is no second guess to it, whatever God says is what it is.  God, does not come back and say well I made a mistake before, hence what I said before is abrogated, and here is a new statement. Does God make mistakes? Heavens no!  I will be sharing the full sordid story of our failures some day. Pastor Nadir Khani in Iran must be released.
Blasphemy is not an Islamic value either – Just like Jesus and the many prophets, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) also endured abuse from the miscreants who pelted rocks at him – and despite the asking of Angel Gabriel to crush them, the Prophet chose to follow what Jesus had done; prayed for the miscreants – forgive them Lord for they know not. Asia Bibi in Pakistan needs to be freed. 
We congratulate the Moroccan Scholars and urge fellow Muslims around the world to remove the Apostasy and Blasphemy from their secondary literature. The role of a Muslim is to establish peace and remove apprehensions and be a conflict mitigater and a goodwill nurturer – let the Christians around the world feel free to be Christians in the Muslim majority nations –Prophet Muhammad, the mercy to mankind would be pleased with them.   http://worldmuslimcongress.org/moroccos-high-religious-committee-says-apostates-should-not-be-killed/
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Passover Seder
As we move forward in perfecting our union, we have to come together more often and on more occasions. The more we see each other, the more we learn and fewer myths will be left to guess about each other. The Passover Seder is being held in different places throughout the country; just call a synagogue near you, or even a Mosque, as there are a lot of joint events being held. It is a rich experience to be there and to know fellow Americans. It is an enriching experience – Check out – https://centerforpluralism.com/a-passover-seder-haggadah-supplement/
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Female Genital Mutilation must end
Today’s story: A Female Doctor was caught in Michigan cutting female genitals. By the way, it was legal in the United States till 1996.  Quite a lot of research is done on the topic and the links are at World Muslim Congress. In the disappearing patriarchal societies, men controlled how women should live. These men did not believe women should enjoy sexual pleasures, so they decided to cut the female part of the genitalia that gives them pleasure. The Europeans placed chastity belt on women so they remain untouched by other men.
Full article, difficult graphics are in the links at:
https://centerforpluralism.com/female-genital-mutilation-a-muslim-doctor-caught-practicing-it/
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Understanding the Essence of Islam 
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
1:00 PM – 3:30 PM 
Location: Church of Scientology, National Affairs Office
Address: 1701 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 2009
Islam remains a myth to many people who are not Muslims, not because it is complicated, but simply because its purpose and its role in society is rarely explained. You’ll learn how Islam is a part of the family of faiths and contributes to the well being of humanity. The dots will be connected to bring a clear picture for you. It is one of the 13 workshops on 13 different religions explained in the link below. Limited Seating – RSVP
13 RELIGIONS | 13 WORKSHOPS | 13 MONHTS – https://centerforpluralism.com/workshops/
Details: https://centerforpluralism.com/understanding-the-essence-of-islam/
RSVP – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/islam-understanding-the-essence-of-islam-tickets-33377341527
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Bombing Afghanistan is a short term solution
Bombing Afghanistan is not to be rejoiced. It is a warning to the terrorists that we are willing to use the force to stop them to save lives. However, the long term solutions are not to show off our power, but to bring peace through strength.
Weeding terrorism should be accomplished through education and we must plan two generations out. Reagan funded Pakistan to create Madrasas and Mujahedeen which messed up the whole world, and now Trump can fund half that amount on re-educating the same people to live and let live. People are more likely to do good things than bad things if there is a purpose in their lives. I will put together a full plan and welcome all your ideas. What have we accomplished by bombing and killing for 16 years? – It is plain destruction of life and life style of not only others, but of Americans. We need to change that attitude. Let’s speak up! At least we can live with a clean conscience that we wanted to do good.
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Festivals, Birthdays and Celebrations coming up in April
Over the last 24 years, we have been writing about the essence of each major religious festival and contributions of the spiritual masters in making the world a better place. Wish you the very best on these festivities and celebrations.  Please find a short write up on each event, they are easy to read for people of other faiths. If you are a good writer and can capture the essence of a festival or a religious figure, check our website tabs Festivals and Wisdom for the month of May and send the info to I will be attending a few of the events, if any one wants to join me, just let me know. [email protected] 
04/16 –  Easter Sunday, Christianity
https://centerforpluralism.com/a-muslim-pluralist-celebrates-easter-2/
04/20 – Ridvan, Thursday, Bahá’í
https://centerforpluralism.com/bahai-festival-ridvan/
04/23 – Yom Hashoah (Jewish)
https://centerforpluralism.com/yom-hashoah/
04/24 – Shab-e-Meraj Lailat al Meraj – Prophet Muhammad’s ascension
https://centerforpluralism.com/lailat-al-meraj-or-shab-e-meraj-a-muslim-prayer-night/
04/30 – Ghambar Festivals (Zoroastrian)
https://centerforpluralism.com/zoroastrian-festivals-gahambar/
Past Week’s Events: https://centerforpluralism.com/pluralism-news-april-11-2017/
Get a complete picture of what we do

  1. Pluralism News:  Go to the Tab Pluralism News  or click  www.PluralismNews.com 
  2. Our Calendar : https://centerforpluralism.com/calendar/
  3. Festivals: https://centerforpluralism.com/festivals/
  4. Workshops: https://centerforpluralism.com/workshops
  5. Conferences: https://centerforpluralism.com/conferences/
  6. Seminars: https://centerforpluralism.com/seminars/
  7. Wisdom Series:  https://centerforpluralism.com/wisdom-series/

Radio Program

Most of the talk shows cater to conservatives, and a few to progressives. What we don’t have are the talk shows for the Moderate Americans. It is time to connect with the Moderate Majority and bring common sense and pluralism to politics. Our Radio show would offer pluralistic solutions on issues of the day, as does our blog Pluralism News.
David Gold was a conservative talk show host in Dallas in the early 90’s and happened to be my tenant but refused to take me on the air.  He was blunt, “Mike, my income is based on ratings, if I take you on the air, you will dilute my ratings by bringing reason into the conversation, and we cannot produce a show without tensions.” I understood that, and went ahead and got my own Radio show for 7 years until it was feasible.
Our program in Dallas was about religious pluralism, and we did 104 hours on Christianity, Hinduism and Islam respectively, and 52 hours each on Atheism, Bahá’í, Buddhism, Jainism, Judaism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism and a combined 53 hours on Native American and pagan traditions. We will bring that back as well. It shall be a feast to the moderate majority of Americans.
In our show, we gave everyone a shot to express his or her opinion; we did not censor free speech.  If we need sustainable solutions, all of us have to place our cards on the table. The show will be about Political, Religious, Cultural and Social pluralism. Hey, there is pluralism in Cuisine too! We are considering bringing the show to Washington, DC through your support and public funding.
 

Symposiums on Burning Topics

  1. Native Americans’ Rights
  2. Racism
  3. Stereotyping
  4. Anti-Semitism
  5. Islamophobia
  6. Hinduphobia
  7. Liberal/Conservative fears
  8. Misogyny
  9. Homophobia
  10. Xenophobia
  11. Do Muslims Want Sharia? (May 2017)
  12. Does Quran have violent Verses?
  13. Intra-faith talk series among different faith groups within each faith
  14. If you wish to hold a symposium of your own on a topic that is dear to you, give us a call.

Please Donate to carry this work forward
Your name will be listed for supporting our efforts in building a cohesive America. All donations over $500 will be listed on the website and less will be listed once in a quarter. You can donate at. https://www.paypal.me/AmericansTogether
This weekly bulletin comes to you from the Center for Pluralism. The Center for Pluralism is about building a cohesive America, where no American has to live in anxiety, discomfort or fear of another American.  By learning to respect the “otherness” of others and accepting the God-given uniqueness of each one of us, we pave the way to mitigate conflicts and nurture goodwill. Then we all can live our lives and not worry about other’s religion, race, sexual orientation or ethnicity. We are all Americans.
CFP is a bridge builder – here, we will learn about each other.  CFP is an all inclusive organization for every American. We have to learn to be a part of the whole and not live in silos.  We hope Pluralism News is meaningful to you.  
We are looking for volunteers, sponsors and donor to take the message further.

  • CFP – Pluralism News
  • CFP – Muslim News
  • CFP – Jewish News
  • CFP – Christian News
  • CFP – Hindu News
  • CFP – Sikh News
  • CFP – Others as we gather the staff.

Dr. Mike Ghouse is President and Executive Director of the Center for Pluralism committed to building a cohesive America where no American has to live in tension, apprehension or fear of the other. He is a pluralist, thinker, writer, activist, motivational speaker and a news maker. He offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. More about him in 65 links at www.MikeGhouse.net