It may be a bit early, but I want to wish everyone a Happy Ramadan, as we draw closer to the month.
Despite all the hard times we are seeing unfold the world over, we need more than ever to stay united and show resilience, and continue on a more righteous path, and Ramadan is a great time for all this. For those curious, here is some information that includes, but not limited to, observing it.
Ramadan is the ninth and holiest month of the Islamic calendar. A time of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. It commemorates the first revelation of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him). Observing includes:
• Fasting (Sawm): One of the Five Pillars of Islam, fasting is obligatory for healthy adult Muslims, designed to cultivate self-discipline, gratitude, and empathy for the poor. This last 29-30 days, based on the lunar calendar, starting with the sighting of the crescent moon.
• Daily Routine: The pre-dawn meal is called suhoor, and the meal to break the fast at sunset is iftar. However, not everyone eats full meals, staying instead to just a few dates.
• Prayers: are said as well. Taraweeh, for example, will happen at night after breaking fast, and is in part to reflect on teachings, and strengthen connection. Through this, many will make a point to read the Quran in it's entirety throughout the month.
The focus in much of this, is for increased prayer, reading the Quran, gratitude, charity (Zakat), and abstaining from negative behaviors like gossip or anger.
• Laylat al-Qadr: (the Night of Power) occurs in the last 10 days, believed to be the night the Quran was revealed.
• Eid al-Fitr: After the month ends, it is concluded with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr (meaning "Festival of Breaking the Fast" in Arabic, celebrated to mark the end of the month-long dawn-to-dusk fasting of Ramadan. It signifies a time of gratitude, joy, and spiritual renewal, featuring special morning prayers, communal feasts, charity, and gift-giving.
To clarify for those who don't follow all the boards, I'm an (American) Jew standing in solidarity with all my brothers, sisters and siblings going through rough times. In part, I am making this in part as a show of solidarity, as well as to encourage everyone to stay strong. Although I'd admit, I was debating at first if I should have made a post at all, less my intentions were read wrong. But I can not in my own conscious, stay silent. Not just from the genocide we see go on, but all the Islamophobia running rampant too.
I also want to ask if we can do something as a community, to inspire positivity and lifting each other up through this Ramadan. It does not need to happen in this thread btw, but one where we can share experiences that inspire us to stay on a righteous path, lessons and prayers from the Quran and recitations, or anything that keeps us going forward in general. I think this is increasingly needed now more than ever.
(And as a note I hate to have to include at all. But any trolling will be seen as harassment. Respect those practicing, and those of us joining in solidarity any way we can)
Damn. Just can't argue with that "what aboutisms",I'll tell ya h'wat.
So another thing I like about Mamdani. Is that he actually hangs out with the average person, rather than sit around with Wall Street meatheads all day long. And while keeping the average person in mind, I don't recall him ever having to resort to divisive rhetorics in order to secure a win. He was always to staying on point, to wanting to see the saftey and security, of all NY'ers. Both socially, and financially.
I believe, was it the interview where they got mad at him for wanting to priortize staying in NYC (rather than a foreign visit?), where he said along the lines of; he was more than happy to address the concerns of the Jewish communities in New York, and wanting them to feel just as safe as anyone else..?
Because I asked what else you were mixed with? I'm an Ashkenazi Jew myself, so what of it? Or were you mad that I think Satanyahu looks whiter than mayonnaise? Neither changes the fact we didn't grow up there. But unlike that genocidal psycho, I realize that living in America doesn't change who I am. I don't need some ethno-state in order to feel special like you, or him. I don't believe in forcing people out of their home, so I can move in. That's not acting in the name of being Jew. That is an act of ethnic cleansing.
And get some thicker skin, you cry baby. Why you so hyperfocused on what genes you may, or may not have much, of? It doesn't excuse you to be a bully about it either way. But speaking of hyperfocused..
...
Offtopic, but this is some IDF mentality. Cringey, with an obvious show of fragile feelings. Add a dash of obsession, and hit the button to add bounty with dorito covered fingers. At least they're adding a little more $$ this time around:
"20:38:11 - 29/04/26 Someone has placed 5 bounties on you with rewards of $125,000 and the reason: Smilins narcissist multi"
"Multi". And the detective skills are still just as good as the IDF's too. Udder dog sh!t. Must be giving some sad lump-of-fluff out there a rush of dopamine though.
This is still developing, but looking at multiple sources. Any idea what Al-Majd is all about? Why are they charging desperate Palestinians $2,000 to get out of Gaza, under misleading conditions, to be dropped off in South Africa, to the surprise of both, leading them to be detained for 12 hours upon landing? Not exactly the type of welcome, or destination, they were promised. And apparently this wasn't the first drop off S.A. has received. 176 Palestinians had arrived on October 28 as well.
I wonder how the Zionist crowd is gonna excuse this one? (inb4 "voluntary migration")
Al Majd. Owned by company Talent Globus, which is founded by Tomer Janar Lind. An Israeli Estonian national. (oh off to a good start already, I see). According to his linked in, works primarily in the Gulf states, UAE and Qatar, and supposedly has a consulting company in Dubai.
The Al Majd account on X (formerly Twitter), was registered in December 2024, with only 9 followers. The Al Majd European website domain, registered earlier this year, 2025. Damn. Popularity is just booming. No wonder Israel is jumping on it.
"Haaretz revealed that the Defense Ministry body tasked with helping Gazans leave the strip referred Al-Majd to Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) in order to advance the effort."
So. Take a desperate people that has been living in a 'leave or die' scenario. Sorry. Given "voluntary migration" as an option. But esp if that option involves scamming them out of money through some sus af shadow organization, giving them a false sense of destination, providing them with no legal documentations or stamps (that could allow them future return). And dropped into a country that wasn't even expecting them..?
"Israeli authorities told AFP over the weekend that the 153 Palestinians had been allowed to leave Gaza after receiving “approval from a third country to receive them,” without naming the country in question." -TimesOfIsrael
"In interviews with officials from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco), who wished to remain anonymous, Daily Maverick established that Dirco was not made aware of the first flight of Palestinians in advance, but was tipped off after the fact."
"Borders are not handed down by a higher being. . . "
-Dogtor
Are you ok? Did you miss me saying this?
"Let's ignore any semblance of religious ground, shall we? Because if that were the case, Jews are not suppose to have a man-made homeland."
I only brought it up, because there are those that would try to say otherwise. But you can feel free to find at any point that I tried to imply it myself. You won't, so no need to waste your time. Save it for someone else.
"Onto that: when you say a country doesn't deserve to exist. You also say the people inside it don't deserve to exist either."
-Dogtor
False. But I'll repeat again, since apparently you missed it:
Many Jews lived alongside Palestinians just fine, before Zionists came barging in.
Jews can exist, yes. Ethno-states, should not. Big difference. Ethno-state = not a good idea ANYwhere, for ANYbody.
Anywhere. Many Jews lived alongside Palestinians just fine. It was Zionism that fucked shit up. Learn the difference already, will ya?
"And who are you to tell any other nation what right and wrong policy is?
Ethno-states are bad, period.
It was a bad look for Germany. And it is a bad look for the Zionist "Jews" who created the Israel we know it today for the past (almost) 80 years.
I put it in quotes, btw, because I don't see anything Jewish about what it's done all these years. It has been a horrific, continuous string of crimes against humanity.
Edit to add: technically.. it has been a lot longer than 80 years in the making.
When I hear the question "do you think Israel has a right to exist?", one of my first responses had been "exist as what?"
So. I will ask you. In what way do you think Israel should "be allowed to exist?" Is it as an ethno-state..? I don't know about you, but I do NOT believe in the existance of ANY ethno-state. Let's ignore any semblance of religious ground, shall we? Because if that were the case, Jews are not suppose to have a man-made homeland.
But we all know, which even Rewindz has agreed, that Israel was a political move. It forcefully lodged itself into Palestine as an ethno-state with Britains approval, and has remained a terror to the Palestinians ever since. Jewish "homeland" my ass. There is nothing Jewish about what it has done. Full stop.
Wasn't comparing it to Iran (although the US has been in the wrong in both cases). Just as I also don't claim the US to having any semblence of holding some "moral highground" in our actions. I know better than that, lol.
"The rest of your post just seems to be agreeing with what I posted. "
Because I do. The second part wasn't really directed at you specifically. It was just added in as extra material here, for OP/a general reading audience. I was just quoting your specific statement, to further flesh on how my dopey government will run on whatever context is spoonfed to them. And of all days to carry that specific strike. On Christmas? It's an ugly embarrassment.
Just as I'm sure we both agree that the motivating cause, and action itself, from the US in that strike, was done out of careless intention under false pretense. The amplification from the InterSocieties inaccurate conclusion, shows just how reckless the US is, for it to pounce with aggression so compulsively.
As far as OP, violence has been attributed not just to religious reasons, but over farming and land as well. Without getting into the various reasons for conflicts and violence not done for religious means. The following quotes are admittedly cherry-picked to keep it short, but relavant to OP:
"...The government in Abuja has pushed back on these claims describing them as "a gross misrepresentation of reality".
It did not deny that there was deadly violence in the country. But officials said that "terrorists attack all who reject their murderous ideology - Muslims, Christians and those of no faith alike".
Other groups monitoring political violence in Nigeria say the number of Christians who have been killed is far lower, and say most victims of the jihadist groups are Muslims.
Nigerian security analyst Christian Ani said that while Christians had been attacked as part of a broader strategy of creating terror, it was not possible to justify claims that Christians were deliberately being targeted.
And Nigeria is facing various security crises across the country, not just violence by jihadist groups, and these have different causes so should not be confused.
The country's 220 million people are roughly evenly split between followers of the two religions, with Muslims in the majority in the north, where most attacks take place."
•••••••••
"In its report published in August, which was an amalgamation of previous research and updated numbers for 2025, it said jihadist groups in Nigeria had killed over 100,000 Christians in the 16 years since 2009.
It also notes that 60,000 "moderate Muslims" also died during this period.
InterSociety did not share an itemised list of sources, making it hard to verify the total number of deaths it reports.
In response to this criticism, the organisation has said that "it is almost impossible to reproduce all our reports and their references dating back to 2010. Our easy method is to pick their summary statistics and add them to our fresh discoveries or findings to make up our new reports." But the data sources quoted by InterSociety in its reports do not reflect the figures published."
••••••••••
"What about those killed in 2025?
Looking at deaths this year alone, InterSociety concluded that between January and August just over 7,000 Christians were killed...
...Adding the number of death referenced in these reports cited by InterSociety does not result in the stated total of 7,000.
The BBC added up the number of deaths from the 70 reports and found that the total was around 3,000 deaths. Some of the attacks also appear to be reported more than once."
Granted, and as much as I'm a somewhat left leaning individual myself who would agree on many topics, I agree with you here. There is just simply a time and place to criticize how religion gets hijacked, but that was not the point of this thread.
And even more crucial, because it is an open thread that invites people of all religions to come together, everyone understands the need to come together with a mutual respect that we can all express what we believe and why. (No mocking. No arguments. No hate. Etc.)
The worst thing someone can do, is walk into an open church (so to say), and shit on it unprovoked. I would ask those to learn how to go about any critism they have, in a constructive manner. If they want to talk about people hijacking religion specifically, there are many opportunities for it. But it shouldn't be the focus here.
Imagine if the OP was a completely different topic:
OP: FOR THE PEOPLE WHO DRIVE IN THIS SUBFORUM
What does driving mean to you?
Is it the style of your car? How reliable it's particular type is? Is it meant for lengthly trips?
What factors do you take into consideration?
Farmer: Welp. I prefer me a good ol fashioned pick up. I live out on a small plot of land in the country, and need to haul things around on occasion.
Biker: I use to drive a dodge ram myself. Now I got some beat up old car for hauling groceries. Rest of the time, I just get everywhere on my motorcycle. That's the vehicle I really invest in.
Non-Driver#1: Why two vehicles though? Can't more people just carpool or take the bus anyway? Think of how many accidents can be avoided, with less people on the road!
MinivanDriver: Public transportation? Where I live, I have to drive my kid to school. I can't wait for their bus to arrive, and then walk to the closest city bus. I would never get to work on time!
Non-Driver#2: @ND1, Yea and look how many bikers weave through traffic in between cars. Careless!
Non-Driver#1: Careless for sure. Not to mention how many people play on their phone. Or drunk drivers.
Non-Driver#2: Don't forget to add in newer drivers. It's crazy.
Non-Driver#3: Shiiit. I never drove a car in my life, and never will. Bike rider for life!
CarDebatingPerson: Wow. So anyway, I was currently in the middle of deciding if I should go with a Subaru or Ford Explorer I've seen for sale in town. I'm surprised the car I have now is even running at all, so I figured it would be better in the long run to replace it now while I still can.
NonDriver#2: That's cool. Keep in mind, how many vehicular accidents happen on a daily basis. Even if you might be careful, there are just too many reckless people about!
NonDriver#1: It's not even worth taking into consideration, when you think about it.
CarDebatingPerson: Right. Got it. Thanks.
...
I don't mind so much being questioned "why" I believe something, or even hearing out another viewpoint. But wasn't this made for religious people to talk about finding meaning in religion and such to begin with? Unless I missed someone here using religion to be unnecessarily hateful, or whatever else. (I didn't read back through the thread when I bumped it) Not sure why the thread has to devolve this route. Can't say I'm surprised. Just disappointed. 😕
I get it. I really do. I call out injustice all the time myself, and you would find I would do so in countless other circumstances. You would also find I'm still a rather left leaning individual in many other capacities.
(This also for the rest of the thread)
However, I also think there is a time and place for bringing attention to the people who use religion for evil/hate, and there is many other threads we can find that. But the OP was about what religion meant to someone.
"I have said above i can appreciate the good in religion. But it is not worth it in the grand scheme of our lives."
I would argue, that for those people in faith that you mention as "good, kind, honest, generous people", it is the very faith/religion/spirituality that in part makes it all worth it for them.
I would also point out, that taking the actions of others out on the religion itself, can be uncomfortable for the good ones you claim to acknowledge. Just a thought though.
"I dont like the harm which religion causes. there is a LOT of corruption in it."
But is it the religion though? I would personally think, it is the people who hijack the use of religion for carrying out evil deeds and purpose. Not the religion itself, as shown by many others who live more humbly. My great grandma, Christian, for ex. I never heard her utter a single ill word, or raise her voice ever. It was an incredible contrast to a loud society.
The second person I met, who was just as humble, was a neighbor of mine for a few years. She was a convert to Muslim, and I would spend my summers hanging out with the one kid just a year or two younger than me. Whenever me and him weren't running around in the surrounding woods playing nonesensical games to pass the time, I would hang out with the mom in the garden if the kids were busy studying with the dad. She never discussed religion to me, but tbf, I had never thought to ask. Conversations were usually about the plants we were tending to, as I would help her weed. She was someone I had high respect through for her kindness, as she never yelled or scolded in meanness. I was about between 11-13 years old, before moving and losing contact but always appreciated her as an adult figure to have known in my life.
..
To most of your comment. All I can say is, I get how offputting it can be portrayed, when put to use by those who seek control, or do it to excuse horrendous crimes to fellow humanity. But they are a poor representation, that I choose not to akcowledge.
To me, spirituality is my own personal journey. Why should I see it as a way to hurt others? It is me seeking out truth to what I believe, and being the best person I can be. It's why I usually tend not to talk about it much with most, who are otherwise uninterested. It is fruitless and one way, to someone who wants nothing to do with it. Plus how I see it, we all have our own journey through life, and I would be more inclined to believe this world needs more empathy toward one another, regardless of any difference.
As for stories told in religion. Maybe I debate on how I believe all of them myself. You brought up Jesus alot, for ex. I personally believe he only existed in human form. I don't believe I need to pray to/through him, as I prefer to praying directly. Maybe I wouldn't make the best Christian for that, although it is a religion I have been most surrounded by for the majority of my life. But I have no clue on what will feel "it" for me. Maybe it doesn't be any one thing in particular. I don't know.
Most are personal. But I get what you're saying. I do.
"On the other hand I was thinking "I bet that along with this sign from god, you also got in with a really good homeless charity that gave you a lot of help.""
And maybe that is part of it. But how many times has that individual had helped available, or offered before in the past? To actually reach out, and accept it and put in the effort in his own part to change, might have taken a strength he hasn't been able to muster on his own. So you may think it is more along the lines of comparable to placebo that caused that or whichever, but that is just part of faith and believing for others. The trust that there is more to it.
"then why did he wait until your life was spiralling down the drain and then do it in such a way that to the casual."
This was sort of what I was referring to in my previous comment, when I mentioned that maybe a sign wasn't shown, until a person was ready to acknowledge one if it came apparent. Or maybe subtle ones had been, but that individual wasn't ready to see on their own. As far as 'hallucination', I think it would be more accurate as refering it to be inspired by an actual event that occured, and how the individual ended up intrepreting it. Could that be a case? I don't know. There are those who read into things that aren't there as well.
"I'm not expecting you to answer this, but I've wondered why, in all the stories I've heard like this, does it sound like God is a cheeky, wee scamp leaving clues and puzzles for people like he's the Riddler?"
It is also why I say I can not truly answer this. I don't know if anyone truely can, as we're all just human, on why that is. Best I can say or assume, as I did in my previous post, is that it is also on us, and our own touch with spirituality, that may help into guiding us to belief. It is something that just simply falls on us, too. I personally would find it hard to believe a God would judge a person so harshly though, solely for having doubts in a world filled corruption, lies and misconceptions. But I'd assume God, Creator, however one considers, would probably be more impressed by those who are willing to put their trust in doing a spiritual search despite all of that.
Thanks, and you as well. I suppose to be fair, there is also different types and levels of knowledge. One should never stop learning and growing, when there is so, so much out there. I often find myself late at night, wanting just another couple more hours before I have to shut everything down to give in to sleep for work 😂
I can't answer this. I truly can't. There have been times I haven't seen/noticed anything for years at a time. Then there have been other occurances, where it seemed to happen a little more often. Can it have a higher chance of being more apparent to someone who is genuinely opening themselves in that spiritual sense sometimes, perhaps..? Or maybe to someone who is simply ready to notice one, that has never even been spiritual beforehand? I've no clue. Maybe I never will. I can only speculate from my own experiences, as well as speaking with others. And I don't believe signs always have to be presented in an obvious, easy to notice manner, either. Even if someone who is spiritually open, may not be promised to get, or even notice one. (I also would say, just to be clear, I believe that coincidences happen as well. Even if it was still made so by design or however one would put it, I dunno, it doesn't need to be so read into. Like it is what it is, perhaps. Just as we see the sky as blue. We're all still only human, and may never be able to fully understand everything. I myself, may always have more questions than answers. And I always have questions, lol.)
At the end of the day, we are all still just human. Signs or not, I think most of us will agree the best thing we can do, is just live as the best versions of ourselves that we can be for both us, and each other, ya know?
