This is the posting number 02 in the Gorilla’s Guides series of guides to Islam for westerners. It deals with Islam’s defining doctrine: Tawhid.

This is part 01 of a multi-part series providing a very basic introduction to Islam aimed at westerners.

Church was the place I first heard the word feminism, and where I first practiced putting a condom on a banana. So what’s happened to liberal religion?

Written by Trusting Women for RHRealityCheck.org – News, commentary and community for reproductive health and justice.

Announcing a series of articles to be posted on The Seminal about Islam and Muslims. The articles are being written by Gorilla’s Guides team members.

It is odd for an Atheist to be defending religious freedom. I have a very negative opinion of all religion, but I have a strong, well, faith, for lack of a better word in the idea that everyone should be allowed to practice or not as they choose. Neither I nor anyone else should be the arbiter of what others find comfort or direction or confidence in. We can argue about the basis of it, we can argue about the outcomes but in this nation, we all have the right to have our religious freedoms.

As the outbreak of Islamophobia has grown so has the hysteria from the Right on this issue. In Murfreesboro TN, where the construction site of an Islamic center was the victim of suspected arson, the Wingers have really lost their minds. Last week they were in court arguing for a judge to issue an injunction saying the zoning commission was wrong to allow the building of the Center. Their primary argument? That Islam is not a religion, but a political movement. From the Tennessean:

Mosque opponents say that Islam is not a real religion. Instead, they argued in a Rutherford County courthouse last week that the world’s second largest faith, with its 1.6 billion followers, is actually a political movement.

Opponents say local Muslims want to replace the Constitution with an Islamic legal code called Shariah law. Joe Brandon Jr., a Smyrna attorney representing a group of mosque opponents, argued that the proposed mosque is not a house of worship. He said the Rutherford County Planning Commission erred on May 24 when it approved the mosque.
Brandon wants Chancellor Robert Corlew of the 16th Judicial District to issue an injunction stopping the mosque.

“Shariah law is pure sedition,” said Brandon in his opening statement Monday.

Free Speech vs. Hurt Feelings, the religious fanatics strike again.

I’m just saying, let’s keep our perspective regarding the importance of the various crimes by religious institutions against society.

My husband and I attended the last Snake Dance at Hopi that Anglos were permitted to attend.

9/11 evokes so much division and hate in our society. Whereas it should instead evoke unity, harmony and inspiration for a better tomorrow.

Another day, another put-down for the irreligious, Atheists and Agnostics, plus polytheists and animists, I suppose, for good measure.