Allah should be easier on the women when they are having their period, pregnant or nursing. Without healthy women, there wouldn’t be anymore people to worship him. Men, of course, need to be around to help “make more people”, but they don’t have to go through the physical parts to do so. So getting a break while contributing to the Muslim population, is a good thing.

It’s interesting to hear what the Muslim women believe, and their reasons for doing this for God. It is also interesting that they are not encouraging other religions to do as they do. I am happy that I was born a Lutheran Christian, as they are obviously happy they are Muslim.

This is a nice educational piece that would make a decent companion to other pieces about Ramadan rituals. It shows there is a clear level of benevolence toward women in Islam – something that some groups would deny or ignore. Yes, there is abuse, but I truly doubt it is more than hat is experienced in many xristian groups (not all, but many).

I wonder what is the purpose for dishonoring the name of Christ in Christian with the x? It shows a certain level of personal distain that is not shown to other religions. It is not a thing done to other religions nor is it tolerated even here in the U.S. one cannot do such a thing to other religions without the act being pointed out as a hate crime.

Europeans in the 16th century began using X as shorthand for writing the word Christ. At that time Christian Monks and scholars knew that the letter X was the “Greek” letter meaning Christ. Many years passed and the educated or not stopped using the X for Christ. When people started using it as shorthand for Christ again, such as Xmas, it was perceived as being disrespectful for Christ. I remember being told by an aunt, stop being lazy and write out Christmas, because many people don’t know X in Greek means Christ. Scott does this because he thinks this diminishes Christianity, and that’s his reason, but actually what he uses is a shorthand for Christ, and not a put-down, or anyone else who uses X for anyother reason than because it is a shorthand for Christ.

My use of the “x” as in xristian is a mark of disdain, a bit dismissive too. It was once the first letter in Christ – (xpist – sort of Greek), but I prefer to think of it in our cultural sense, like the shorthand for Christmas – xmas.
I am disdainful of the groups that are too into deciding – and proclaiming with loud voices – who they think is going to hell (and I suppose including themselves on the heavenward bus). That they associate in anyway with the same Jesus who open the door of heave, extended the hand of grace, or challeneged anyone who thought they knew exactly waht God was thinking or planning, befuddles me. Sometimes it seems they may even have a fifth or sixth Gospel, because they are surely not reading Mark, Matthew and Luke, or John.

All the discussion on the use of “X” when speaking of Christians and how is supposedly shows distain and dishonors Christ etc.
The “X” means “kisses” when a person writes OXOX or hugs and kisses, it marks the spot where treasure can be found on a “treasure map”, in Runes, the rune of the elder futhark meaning “gift” and indicating the principles of sacrifice and gernerosity, cooperation and relationship. How is any of that bad?
On alters ones sees X with a P placed on top…
So, IMO, writing “Xmas just is shorthand for Christmas, one of my favorite times of year, one I have and do use frequently. If I wrote Xristian, there would be no distain for that group. Some of my best friends are Xristians!
Am not sure other religions are easily abbreviated.

Jestrfyl, and PS, our beliefs in the Christian religion are no better than the Muslims it seems that is discussed in the article after this one. They all believe in their different groups of Muslims their interpretation, and Christians in their groups fight against each other with their beliefs of interpretation. And God watches us and shakes his head, as a parent does when siblings argue, and wreck the peace of the family. And some people think that this is an asset to bring into our government? Keep it out or we’ll all go nuts.

P.s.,
Tha “xp” you see on altars is the greek chi and rho. It is an anagram for CHristus Regis. It is a bit triumphalist, but because it is Greco-Latin it sounds palatable. It is the same with insulting someone in Shakesparean – it may be vile, but it sounds good.
Henrietta,
You point is well made. I simply get kind of huffy when one group or another starts getting all bossy. When they lambast I prefer to lampoon. So my use of the lowly “x” or chi is just a mark of some frustration. Muslims are just as dismissive of each other, which makes many of the problems in the Middle East into international domestic disturbances (kind of like some of the internal Christian battles)
My,this is quite the tangent form the originally benign article on Ramadan.

I’ve read all of the Gospels and I have yet seen where Christ has proclaim any other way to the Father but through Him. The groovy earth jamboree is just not in His words. His words I read are of discipleship, discipline, obedience, and self denial.

Hentrietta;
I totally agree, no ones’ religion is superior to anothers’. Each person finds the religion (or should) that meets their needs.
jestrfyl:
Thanks for the explanation of the “xp” I’v seen on alters.
And yes, this discussion is off the subject on the article on Ramadan.

ck,
How did you get an invitation to the groovy earth jamboree? Mine must be lost in the mail. It sounds like a lot of fun. I would agree that no where, even in the most progressive interpretation of the Gospels, will anyone find the words, “groovy” or “jamboree” (thankfully, both are very passe words, though I think they may have been combined into the one word, “jammin’”). I expect Jesus would find this sort of thing to be be great, though.
“His words I read are of discipleship, discipline, obedience, and self denial.” Interesting to note that these are also foundational concepts of Islam (which mean, “submission”). We Heirs of Abraham do have so much in common it makes you think!

jestrfyl:
Interesting that “discipleship,discipline,obedience and self-denial” are fundational concepts of Islam. Wouldn’t it be nice if religions could focus on the common factors not the differences in beliefs and history?
IMO there is in many cases too much emphasis on trying to prove that one religion is superior to another…but I feel all are equal…what works for one person doesn’t work for another. Some don’t feel a need to be “saved” as they feel their religion pretty much has things covered, and others like the idea that someone can “save” them.
It seems the women mentioned in the article were happy to be fulfilling the command given by Allah to fast for the 30 days.
jestrfyl, a question: Did Allah or Muhammad give the order to fast?