tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post5906543875738196556..comments2023-08-06T07:02:49.496-04:00Comments on Little Steps Home: A couple of things, one of which is Book: Standing Alone in Mecca - Asra Q. Nomani (there's kind of sort of a theme...)Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09002997517784638068noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-4927963994803693232013-08-06T21:48:14.089-04:002013-08-06T21:48:14.089-04:00LIES! There is either a download or a secret class...LIES! There is either a download or a secret class or something.Amberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09002997517784638068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-42914324917171432072013-07-26T01:07:31.499-04:002013-07-26T01:07:31.499-04:00I maintain that there is no secret "Hijab Sty...I maintain that there is no secret "Hijab Style Download". LOL It's just a matter of practice, to be honest, and - in my case - keeping it simple.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17017554278813071029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-48303771820549572822013-06-12T22:02:35.500-04:002013-06-12T22:02:35.500-04:00So interesting! Yes, Amber, the sermons are more l...So interesting! Yes, Amber, the sermons are more like lectures. Not sure why communion isn't more important, but some churches do it once a month or once a quarter. <br /><br />Sanil,I like what you added! So interesting!<br /><br />And, Amber, I understand what you mean about the woman going about it in the wrong way. Thanks for this post and discussion - enjoyed it!Susannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03115294023069458287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-75940109317582423982013-06-12T21:41:36.351-04:002013-06-12T21:41:36.351-04:00It's funny that you mention that, because I me...It's funny that you mention that, because I meant to come back and say nearly the same thing but forgot. I was reading "Introverts in the Church" a few days ago and the author mentioned that evangelical churches are typically built around 2 things that lead to this sort of sermon - an extreme focus on the Word of God (specifically in the form of the Bible) and a high value on interpersonal relationships and intimate sharing. So the sermon is the most important part of the service and serves to educate the congregation while also forming a more intimate relationship with the pastor and making emotional links with the text. And they're usually anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour long (half the service!), so there's a lot of material there. When you think of it like that, it makes sense that evangelicals would take notes to remind them of the points that were especially meaningful for them and come back to it later.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07382787889525110718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-1792187303574675912013-06-11T12:31:34.348-04:002013-06-11T12:31:34.348-04:00Maybe it's just the churches I go to. I'll...Maybe it's just the churches I go to. I'll have to ask my parents if their church bulletins have a space for notes. I don't recall seeing that or seeing anyone taking notes in any church I've been to...<br /><br />Here's my thoughts on this, and stop me if I'm wrong. I think, at least when we're comparing Catholic/Orthodox and Lutheran to *waves hands* all the other Protestant denominations, that the fundamental difference is the importance of Communion. I'm basing this on my experience in the churches that my parents choose (and the Baptist church that was attached to the private school I attended). In those churches, it seems that Communion is not the most important part of the service. My parents' reformed Mennonite church held communion once a month, and they used bread and water. Their current church holds it once a month and I have no idea if they use wine/grape juice or water. So in lieu of the communion, the sermon becomes the center of the service. And it's basically a lecture. Is there a consistent Biblical reading for every sermon? Or a prayerful reflective period during the sermon? (These are honest questions - there weren't in any of the churches I've been to here with my parents.) The sermons are lectures, and its acceptable to take notes during a lecture. Expected and encouraged even.<br /><br />But in churches where the Communion, the Eucharist, is the center of the service, the sermon is not a lecture. There is always a reading from the Bible, Old and New Testament. There are repeated pauses for prayer and asking for forgiveness, all leading to and preparing to receive the Eucharist. The sermon is always based on the New Testament reading for that service, asking us to focus on that passage and reflect on it, apply it to our lives.<br /><br />I don't have a problem with people wanting to change, and you're right that just because the other women didn't join her doesn't mean that the mosque wasn't doing things wrong. My problem is not that she wanted change, but that she went about it in a very heavy handed way. She was not a member of the community prior to coming back from Mecca. She returned with this vision and dropped into her local mosque. Without first becoming a *part* of the community, she decided to do things her way and force the change rather than working with the community, talking with the other women and men, seeing what they want, how they feel about things, presenting her proof for her point of view, and changing it from within. At least that's the impression that her book gives.<br /><br />I feel as if she went about the changes in a very imperialistic way. She came in, declared that everyone else was backwards and ignorant, and demanded that they do things the 'right' way, which just so happened to be the way she wanted things to be done. Was she right that they were doing things wrong, alienating the women, etc? Perhaps. But I feel that she made more enemies than allies by the way she went about it.Amberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09002997517784638068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-47045242384922391822013-06-11T12:13:52.193-04:002013-06-11T12:13:52.193-04:00LOL. I wonder if it has something to do with growi...LOL. I wonder if it has something to do with growing up with images of Mary all around. Even though statues and icons aren't really a part of Lutheran teaching, there were images of Mary and other Biblical women with their head scarves in my childrens Bible and study books, etc. from Sunday School. And I always slept in the one room that had an icon in it at my grandparents' house. I grew up assuming it was Mary, but it turns out to have been another saint.Amberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09002997517784638068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-39361862098587640652013-06-10T08:18:13.941-04:002013-06-10T08:18:13.941-04:00We don't have bulletins like Sanil described a...We don't have bulletins like Sanil described at my church, but I have seen them on occasion. But we are totally about taking notes during sermons. I have friends who bring small notebooks for this. I think it's a good way to pay attention and take note of things that are important. Of course we aren't forced to do this, but I've done it in the past and never thought it was rude. Most preachers seem fine with it here. :)<br /><br />Maybe our sermons are just different from Catholic ones so we have more opportunity to take notes. Not sure.<br /><br /><br />I think I'm OK with people wanting change. And just because the other women didn't speak up, doesn't mean they are right. Too many "born" into a religion don't see the patriarchal overtones until someone from the outside points it out. They assume God wants men to have the best spaces and women relegated to the back because they've been taught this since birth. They even sometimes think they will be rewarded for staying in this place where men are the rulers and women serve men. Of course I don't know if this particular woman handled it in the right way...probably not if you have a problem with it. I just don't think because the other women were fine with the status quo means they had it right. A lot of women propagate misogyny because they don't know better...and worse, think that's what God wants. <br /><br />Susannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03115294023069458287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-15821261925902772542013-06-10T08:08:01.926-04:002013-06-10T08:08:01.926-04:00Sanil, thanks for explaining why you like hijab. I...Sanil, thanks for explaining why you like hijab. I only wore a version of it in Syria, and I didn't like it. I kept stepping on the back of the cloak and it would jerk my head back. And I was with guys the whole time and they didn't have to put anything extra on. So it just seemed unfair and I didn't like being singled out this way. <br /><br /><br /> <br /><br />Amber, I wish you could explain it, but that's intriguing really that you cannot. Maybe it was part of your previous life. :)<br /><br />I was totally kidding about Mecca being so holy people wouldn't be tempted. I've heard of women being groped while circling the kaaba. And doesn't Mecca - where only Muslims are allowed - have prostitutes and thievery? So, yeah, humans will be humans even in sacred spaces. Susannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03115294023069458287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-33323083758659484272013-05-24T14:09:12.155-04:002013-05-24T14:09:12.155-04:00Sorry! Khutbah = sermon.
*blinks* I've never...Sorry! Khutbah = sermon. <br /><br />*blinks* I've never seen a bulletin like that. Yankees are weird... :p<br /><br />But seriously, it could just be that I haven't been to a church that's done that but I've never seen a bulletin (aside from the kids version) that encouraged people to be writing in it during the sermon. <br /><br />Yes, the author does live in the North.Amberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09002997517784638068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-66105378808188181682013-05-24T14:05:20.499-04:002013-05-24T14:05:20.499-04:00LOL We'll all pretend we didn't hear that ...LOL We'll all pretend we didn't hear that Malik! ;)<br /><br />I think women wear contacts for convenience (when your eyes are as bad as mine, for example, having contacts in all the time makes life easier) or because they think they look better without glasses. <br /><br /><i>so my opinion may not be trusted here.</i><br /><br />Your opinion is always trusted around here.<br /><br />And then you call me strange... ;) Well you're not wrong.<br /><br /><i>You look nice in hijab and glasses and I like this two-color multi-layer hijab.</i><br /><br />Thank you, you're very kind to say so.<br /><br />Oh, I remember that Paris Hilton thing! Yes, she's *also* a terrible idea in general. I used KFC as the example, but all those kinds of stores and chains just seem inappropriate in a holy place. I'm trying to keep reminding myself that it's also a *city* and that there are people who live there who have needs.<br /><br />For greasy chicken and overpriced clothing I guess...<br /><br />I'm not a fan of the clock either, personally.<br /><br /><i>Infant to Mecca during hajj is a no no. What she was thinking. Apparently, she didn't do her research very well before going to Mecca. Muslims don't even take their children to Hajj regardless of their age.</i><br /><br />She and her parents also brought her niece and her nephew who were still pre-teens. It all just seemed like a terrible idea to me, but everyone came out okay so there's something to be thankful for.<br /><br /><i>A common thing I heard from people about Mecca either during Hajj or Omra is the holiness of the place. They all told me that they cried as soon as they reached there and it is not a trip for entertainment; lots of walking, traveling and less sleep.</i><br /><br />I've heard that too, that people have an immediate reaction. Of course I have to wonder whether that has more to do with them than it does with any inherent traits of the place. In their minds they've come to such a holy place that upon reaching it they feel the holiness that they expect to feel. Regardless, it's definitely not a place one goes to be entertained. From what I read the hajj is very taxing, both physically and mentally.<br /><br /><i>The conflict that always happen in American mosques (and probably in Europe as well) is that the newly American women convert to Islam want to enforce her culture to the culture of people who have been doing the same thing for more than 1000 years.</i><br /><br />I think there's also a problem when the women (especially) are told about how great Islam is for women, how it doesn't place original sin on them (like some interpretations of Christianity do) and how it gave them rights that women in the West didn't get for more than a thousand years...they're told all this and about how much Islam values women and then they get into the mosque and they don't see the value/respect that they're expecting. That does, I believe, have to do with the culture of the mosque more than the religion itself, but this disparity between their expectations and the reality probably leads to a lot of women who grow disappointed with the Muslim community and either back away from it or agitate for change to make it look like their idea of what they feel they were promised.<br /><br /><i>What I am trying to say, change the American Muslim women want has to be slow, very slow. They might after they adapt to this new strange culture find it not as bad as they thought it was. Or after they been in the community for a while others can trust that what they are preaching comes from their knowledge of Islam not from their Christian American culture.</i><br /><br />I agree with this completely. Knowing the religion is very different from knowing the culture of the community around you. <br /><br />Thank you for the comment! Feel free to leave long comments whenever you have something to say.Amberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09002997517784638068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-16372136095980435932013-05-24T13:42:57.464-04:002013-05-24T13:42:57.464-04:00"Khutbas" is a new word for me, so I don..."Khutbas" is a new word for me, so I don't know really if it is the same as a sermon or if there's an important difference I'm missing. I also don't know if this is a denominational thing or a location thing or what, but most churches I've attended actually include a page for notes in their bulletins. Like there will maybe be an outline with prompts or words missing to help people focus on what the pastor is saying and remember it later. And now I'm wondering if this is part of our busy northern lifestyle, like maybe we have this attitude where we can't be expected to pay attention unless you give us something to do with our hands. We don't spend really any time in our lives just sitting back and listening, we have to be active. So by any chance is the author from the northern US?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07382787889525110718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-37647048246332833682013-05-24T13:09:26.891-04:002013-05-24T13:09:26.891-04:00Also, glasses. Bah. I've had glasses before. I...Also, glasses. Bah. I've had glasses before. It's my blindness that makes me hate them the most. If I take them off I can't see a bloody thing.<br /><br />It's kind of awful.Amberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09002997517784638068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-83521250338240650882013-05-24T13:08:34.210-04:002013-05-24T13:08:34.210-04:00I hate when that happens! :)
I don't think I&...I hate when that happens! :)<br /><br />I don't think I've ever seen pics of you in your scarves. You should share if you're comfortable with it! :)<br /><br /><i>I agree that it seems harsh for a newcomer to demand immediate change. If it were me I would simply assume this is what works for them but not for me and so leave and find another community.</i><br /><br />Me too, but I believe, like you point out, that this was the only mosque in the area. Or at least she makes it seem that way. And I can also see that if you see something that you feel is against your faith or the spirit of your faith that you don't want to ignore it. Like (not that this is the same exactly) if you see a minister taking his position and abusing it. You can remove yourself, but that doesn't help the people who are still under his sway. Even if you don't change that minister or that church, you'd still try to educate people as to why what he's doing is wrong.<br /><br />I just think that she went about the changes she thought needed to be made in a really wrong manner. I keep coming back to the fact that none of the other women in the mosque joined her crusade. It was her and people that came in from the outside with her. None of the women that had been involved in the mosque saw what she was doing and jumped on the bandwagon. And I think that that probably has a lot to do with the fact that she was an outsider coming in and demanding they all change to suit her. She doesn't seem to have taken any sort of pulse of the other women to see if they even wanted the changes she wanted, or bothered to get them together and explain why she believed/felt the way she did.<br /><br />*And* I forgot to mention this, but she was always taking notes in the middle of the khutbas! Is it just me, or is that rude? It feels rude to me. Like I wouldn't take notes in the middle of a sermon...<br /><br /><i>I can see how she might have seen speaking up immediately to see if they would be receptive to change as her best option.</i><br /><br />The thing is she didn't try to see if they'd be receptive to change. She forced it and alienated a good portion of the other congregants.Amberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09002997517784638068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-61372074301311915692013-05-24T12:49:21.874-04:002013-05-24T12:49:21.874-04:00And you DO look cute with your glasses!
LIES! ALL...<i>And you DO look cute with your glasses!</i><br /><br />LIES! ALL LIES! Glasses are of the devil! <br /><br />But thanks. :) Really my problem with glasses is how blind I am without them. My range of vision is only a couple of inches past my nose without corrective lenses, so when I take my glasses off everything becomes very blurred. I wish there was a way to accurately show people what the world looks like through others' bad vision. I think it'd be interesting.<br /><br /><br /><i>Why though do you love hijab so much? I'm...just not a fan. For myself anyway. Too hot. Too restrictive.</i><br /><br />That's a really good question. Unfortunately I don't know the answer. I love hijab, I feel like I loved it before I knew what it was. I know that kids play, but I can honestly say that I tried to include some sort of a headcovering in every dress up game I ever played as a kid, way before I knew that it was a religious thing. I'd say maybe I wanted to look like the Virgin Mary due to my grandparents making sure I got at least a basic Christian education, but my Lutheran upbringing didn't have statues or icons for me to look up to. My one grandmother was Catholic, but I didn't spend a whole lot of time with her. <br /><br />I could go on about all the reasons I appreciate hijab (or just modesty and head covering) as an adult, but none of that really gets to the heart of the fact that there is something about hijab specifically that calls to something inside of me and I can't explain it in logical terms. <br /><br /><i>Because it's the holiest place and no one would ever be tempted to do something bad there??</i><br /><br />Then apparently the Saudi government thinks better of humanity than I do. It's a holy place, sure, but bad things can happen in holy places. They do all the time. A mosque is a sacred space, is it not? But men and women are supposed to be separated there, according to the majority of Muslim voices. I think it's great that they don't enforce strict gender segregation at Mecca, I just don't understand why mixing is okay there and not elsewhere. <br /><br /><i>"It seems odd to me, but then I remember how many born Christians believe that the Bible was written in English originally." - Hahahahah....King James English Get it right! ;)</i><br /><br />Yes, I'm sorry. King James' English was the language of the Patriarchs. :DAmberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09002997517784638068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-70830876256258125682013-05-24T10:03:20.254-04:002013-05-24T10:03:20.254-04:00Oh wow! Did I write all that. You can't tell w...Oh wow! Did I write all that. You can't tell when it is in a tiny comment box.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-86663889648905471192013-05-24T10:02:19.553-04:002013-05-24T10:02:19.553-04:00I for one find women wearing glasses very attracti...I for one find women wearing glasses very attractive. And btw I find them sexy. Oops, did I say that :) I don't understand why women wear contact lenses. <br />I know your Muslim friends or Muslim women in general will say you look so beautiful or so cute in hijab so my opinion may not be trusted here. As a Muslim man I am not supposed to commend on a strange woman's look. Men can only praise strange women on anything other than their looks. Anyway, I hope I am going to be forgiven this time for what I am going to say :) You look nice in hijab and glasses and I like this two-color multi-layer hijab. <br /><br />You seriously think KFC is a bad idea in Mecca? So, you didn't read this? <br />http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/20/world/meast/paris-hilton-store-mecca<br />Yes, Paris Hilton tweeted "Loving my beautiful new store that just opened at Mecca Mall in Saudi Arabia!" Speak of irony when it comes to Saudis. I think the worst is that stupid sky scrapper tall clock they built. <br /><br />Infant to Mecca during hajj is a no no. What she was thinking. Apparently, she didn't do her research very well before going to Mecca. Muslims don't even take their children to Hajj regardless of their age. It is not a fun place for kids and Hajj is supposed to be performed after adulthood. But I am happy for her that she did it anyway. I know performing hajj is not an easy thing at all especially being squeezed between million strangers. <br /><br />A common thing I heard from people about Mecca either during Hajj or Omra is the holiness of the place. They all told me that they cried as soon as they reached there and it is not a trip for entertainment; lots of walking, traveling and less sleep. <br /><br />The conflict that always happen in American mosques (and probably in Europe as well) is that the newly American women convert to Islam want to enforce her culture to the culture of people who have been doing the same thing for more than 1000 years. Noticed I said culture not religion because even in America different mosques have different cultures. Any big place with people always creates its own culture. For example, in America there is the general business culture but also every business or office building has its own culture. You may move to a different job and you find the new employees have a habit that you are not accustomed to. Does this make sense?<br />What I am trying to say, change the American Muslim women want has to be slow, very slow. They might after they adapt to this new strange culture find it not as bad as they thought it was. Or after they been in the community for a while others can trust that what they are preaching comes from their knowledge of Islam not from their Christian American culture.<br />I believe Americans who convert to Islam read many, many books and even some of them travel to Middle East or a Muslim country before they convert to Islam. So, most of them- I believe- have a very good knowledge of the teaching of Islam. And they obtained this knowledge from good sources. Now, the reason I said different mosques in America have different cultures goes beyond the normal tolerant culture difference. In Houston for example, I once went to a very small mosque. The Muslim men there were all foreign born, blue collar workers. Hardly anyone speaks proper English or knows Arabic (Mostly Asians). The Friday Khutba Imam was performing his Khutba (sermon) by reading from an Arabic book even though audiences don’t speak Arabic. Then after Khutba the one who lead the prayer is a young man, maybe early 20s. I doubt those expats; hard working men have read as many Islamic books as any newly American Muslim woman. On the other hand, the mosque in my town here (Columbia, MO) has the highest number of medical doctors and PhDs than you can ever see in any other mosque, I think. The reason is because we are in a college town with a big hospital. The tolerance of change in our mosque is not as bad as this Houston mosque. <br />Sorry for the long comment. <br />This is my review to your post :)<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-82293414987989102242013-05-24T02:20:23.871-04:002013-05-24T02:20:23.871-04:00Why though do you love hijab so much? I'm...ju...<i>Why though do you love hijab so much? I'm...just not a fan. For myself anyway. Too hot. Too restrictive.</i><br /><br />I used to get this sort of comment all the time. "Aren't you hot?" Actually, I found hijab much more comfortable than not wearing it. In the winter, obviously, it kept me warm. But in the summer it also made me more comfortable, maybe because it was tight enough to my skin and hair to soak up moisture so it never felt quite as humid. When I have had long, uncovered hair in the summer I have always been incredibly uncomfortable no matter what I do with the hair. In hijab, in all weather and all places, I always felt comfortable, prettier/neater, more confident, and more spiritually connected. I miss it sometimes. But of course, all of this is just me and I have no idea if the experience is the same for others.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07382787889525110718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-56333347897582655242013-05-24T02:15:12.108-04:002013-05-24T02:15:12.108-04:00OH! Also glasses. I usually scan blog posts before...OH! Also glasses. I usually scan blog posts before starting to read them to make sure I will have the time and focus for it. So I saw the picture of you without knowing the context and it took me a few seconds to recognize it as one of you. :D Then when I read it I realized it was because it's the first time seeing you in glasses. I think you will probably like them once you get used to them. It took me five years to start seeing my face in the mirror and photos when I was wearing glasses, before that they got in the way and made me feel like they were covering me up instead of something that belonged to me.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07382787889525110718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-264080790640203092013-05-24T02:12:57.973-04:002013-05-24T02:12:57.973-04:00ARGH, I lost my comment. I'd written 3 paragra...ARGH, I lost my comment. I'd written 3 paragraphs. ;_; Oh well. I'll probably just shorten it to the important parts this time, which is probably better anyway. <br /><br />I am the same way about reviews. But I think you did fine. Also, I think you look good in the hijab and are probably better at it than you think. And seeing the picture kind of makes me want to find old pics of me in my scarves because I don't think I've ever shown them before. :) <br /><br />I agree that it seems harsh for a newcomer to demand immediate change. If it were me I would simply assume this is what works for them but not for me and so leave and find another community. Of course, it's easy to say that as someone who has always had many options for religious communities and often has attended 3 or more at a time. Mosques usually aren't as common, and if this were her only option nearby (or if it was as good as or better than the other options), I can see how she might have seen speaking up immediately to see if they would be receptive to change as her best option. And yes, I definitely know the feeling of a religion not fulfilling its promises for me. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07382787889525110718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5080372433953859587.post-89430178301847200282013-05-23T22:47:09.925-04:002013-05-23T22:47:09.925-04:00I remember seeing you read this on Facebook and I ...I remember seeing you read this on Facebook and I was hoping you'd write more about it so yay! A book review complete with pictures - and one of yourself to boot, awesome.<br /><br /><br />"(As much as I ever resign myself to anything, which is not a whole lot, to be honest.) Still, you know, if they changed that rule (I know this won't happen) I would be there in a hot minute (assuming I could afford it) in spite of the fact that I hate crowds (it's very crowded) and dirt (from what everyone says there is a trash problem) and hotels and travel and....still. Mecca was the reason I picked this book up." --- I loved that paragraph.<br /><br />And this post. I love these rambly posts. :) And you DO look cute with your glasses! Why though do you love hijab so much? I'm...just not a fan. For myself anyway. Too hot. Too restrictive.<br /><br />I really enjoyed reading what took your attention and your comments about bringing her infant, and KFCs and so forth. <br /><br /><br />"The question of the disconnect between the mixing of the genders at Mecca and the strict lines that can be encountered in other mosques all over the world stuck out to me too. Why is it okay for women and men to pray side my side in Mecca and not elsewhere?"<br /><br />Because it's the holiest place and no one would ever be tempted to do something bad there??<br /><br /><br />"It seems odd to me, but then I remember how many born Christians believe that the Bible was written in English originally." - Hahahahah....King James English Get it right! ;)<br /><br /><br />Thanks for sharing this! Loved it!Susannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03115294023069458287noreply@blogger.com