Pluralism bulletin: Week of Jan 13, 2019

Dr. Mike Ghouse   January 13, 2019   Comments Off on Pluralism bulletin: Week of Jan 13, 2019

Pluralism in religion, politics, society, culture and work, lace.

  1. Standing up for others (Jewish Pakistani)
  2. Good News from Pakistan
  3. Holocaust and Genocides event
  4. Muslims Republicans and Dr. Shafi are far from winning
  5. India’s caste System
  6. Why I left Islam
  7. The Book

Standing up for others

If you don’t stand up for other’s why should anyone stand up for you? Keeping up with the tradition, we have stood up from Atheists to Zoroastrians and everyone in between.  The latest is the story of Fishel, a Jewish Pakistani who wanted to go to Jerusalem, the holy place for Jews to be a part of Passover. Pakistanis passport does not allow travel to Israel. I took it up with Ambassador Brownback in a meeting and presented him the letter urging Pakistan to issue a pilgrimage visa to Jews and Christians who want to visit Jerusalem. He was going to speak with the Pakistani authorities. The good news is Fishel is called in for an interview. The letter at https://centerforpluralism.com/pilgrimage-visa-from-pakistan-to-israel/

Good News from Pakistan

The “Islamabad Declaration” recognizes that Pakistan is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country; therefore, (point 6) “it is the responsibility of the government to ensure the protection of life and property of non-Muslims living in Pakistan.” The initiative represents a turning point in the history of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, which has been marked by attacks against minorities such as Christians as well as “infidel” Islamic sects like the Ahmadis and Shias. More at http://worldmuslimcongress.org/good-news-from-pakistan-islamabad-declaration-on-pluralism/

Holocaust and Genocides event

The 14th Annual Holocaust and Genocides event is an effort to stand with the men, women, and children who have endured the apprehension from lack of religious freedom. Learn about the Holocaust, Syrian Refugee Crisis, Ethnic Cleansing of the Rohingya people, and the plight of Uyghur and Crimean people and the violation of religious freedoms.

The event is free and you are invited, please RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holocaust-and-genocides-event-tickets-54157371155

More info at http://holocaustandgenocides.blogspot.com

Muslims Republicans and Dr. Shafi are far from winning

Even though the victory is a landslide with 74% of the vote in his favor, Dr. Shahid Shafi and the Muslim Republicans are nowhere near winning the battle.

The attempt to remove Dr. Shafi from the vice chairmanship of the Republican Party in Tarrant County failed by a 139-49 vote held in Fort Worth, Texas. The only reason they wanted to remove him was his faith; Islam.

Do you know what is keeping this animus alive? https://centerforpluralism.com/dr-shahid-shafi-and-muslim-republicans-are-far-from-winning/

India’s Oppressive Caste system

Many of you who are born in America, and are sixty and over, have witnessed the blatant bigotry of a few men against Blacks and Jews. It was not the Christian thing to do, but yet, those who professed Christianity treated fellow humans in an un-Christian way. Likewise, not Hinduism, but Hindu Sharia called “Manu Smriti” has dehumanized a third of Indians billion plus population. It is disgusting, and I am glad my father went against the whole town in uplifting the Dalits, he was yelled at for allowing the Dalits to eat in our home in our plates. He was the Mayor of the city, no one could do a thing to him, and I have fought off discrimination against Dalits at the public taps. Of course, it is the conscience of a majority that should wake up to change things, as did in the US. Watch this video clip https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-conclave-2018/video/caste-has-become-a-mechanism-to-endorse-one-s-superiority-says-suraj-yengde-1415003-2018-12-22

 Why I left Islam

The following story is about a guy who left Islam. I can fully understand him, I had left Islam and had remained an Atheist for nearly thirty years. I am glad I did, as it gave me a chance to learn Islam first hand, rejected all that was dished out to me and studied it critically. Indeed, I invited criticism of the Quran, the Prophet, and Islam, and the public flooded me with it. I said to myself, if I find answers for these, I will choose Islam if not, I will stay out of it.

Full story at http://worldmuslimcongress.org/why-i-left-islam-an-analysis/

The book : American Muslim Agenda

You can purchase the book by calling 1-888-795-4274 x 4528 or
online purchase https://www.xlibris.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?Book=547287

If you would like to receive author signed copy, please send the funds to the PayPal account ID MikeGhouse@aol.com and phone # (214)325-191

The book was named American Muslim Agenda way back in 2001 when our Yahoogroup was created. My fellow Americans who have misunderstood Muslims will see the right picture,  and my fellow Muslims who have misunderstood Islam will wake up to see the pristine Islam that they long for, it is not lost, we have to revive it.

Islam is not about the ruling, governing or dictating others; it is about living your life and letting others live theirs, one of the 12 values of Islam is free will, which, a few among us have forgotten. I have cited the Quran extensively with reinforcing practices of the prophet.

There are occasional references of wisdom drawn from Atheism to Zoroastrianism and every faith in between. You will see Jesus in Muhammad, Torah in Quran or Bhagavad Gita’s reflections or Buddhas Middle path or Nanak’s service to humanity.

You may like this note that Dr. Frank Islam highlighted.

“I am intrigued by the book, particularly the chapter on the Essence of Islam. The great Talmudic sage Rabbi Hillel in the first century BC said, “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. That is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation of this to study it!” Dr. Ghouse responds to Rabbi Hillel with a corollary on Islam, “God wants us to respect the otherness of the others and accept the uniqueness of each human. That is the whole Quran; the rest is the explanation of this to study it!”

What do the Scholars say about the book?
https://americanmuslimagenda.com/f/testimonials-from-scholars

Media Inquiries to AmericanMuslimAgenda@gmail.com

Talking points of the book 

I have acknowledged the mistakes we’ve made, including an apology to Jews, Christians, and Hindus and solutions offered to go forward.

Every question you have about “American Muslims” will be answered in a book signing event, or a special meeting you may consider organizing.

1. Why I wrote the book?
2. Muslim Woman President of the United States in 2036
3. What does it take to run for public office?
4. What are the 12 Islamic Values to shape future societies?
5. Why is this book a reference Manual?
6. Are Muslims a part of the American story?
7. What does it take to be an Amin?
8. Spineless Muslim Leadership
9. Mistakes Muslims have made and fixing them
10. Rejecting public Sharia
11. Criticism of the Quran, Islam and the prophet
12. Dealing with conservatives
13. Pristine Islam
14. Extremism
15. More questions will be answered live!

Media Inquiries to AmericanMuslimAgenda@gmail.com

Dr. Mike Ghouse is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. His new book, the “American Muslim Agenda” guides Muslims and non-Muslims alike to mitigate conflicts and nurture goodwill. The book will be available at the end of January 2019 in all the bookstores. Mike is a public speaker, author, interfaith wedding officiant, and the executive director of the Center for Pluralism in Washington, DC. More about him at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeghouse/