Bizarre Faceless Islamic Doll

Daily Mail

Reuters

Daily Mail December 15

Cited

''Islamic doll' for children launched in Britain with no FACE in line with strict Sharia rules on depiction of prophet and his contemporaries

Featureless doll with no eyes, nose or lips produced for Muslim children

It complies with Muslim teachings that living things should not be created

Doll took 4 years to design and is aimed at children in strict Muslim homes

Has been designed by Ridhwana B, a former Lancashire school teacher 'Deeni doll' is being sold for £25 and is marketed as 'Shariah compliant'

But academic said it was 'foolish' as Muslims are not 'frozen' in history

By CLAIRE CARTER FOR MAILONLINE'

Cited

'A doll with no facial features has been launched for Muslim children in line with Islamic rules about avoiding the depiction of faces. The featureless toy comes dressed in a hijab and red dress but has no eyes, nose or mouth. It has been designed to comply with strict Muslim teachings which rule against the representation of humans and animals in other forms, and specifically Muslim gods and their companions. However critics have dismissed the doll as 'foolish' and say it represents antiquated views of Islam teachings and fails to acknowledge that Muslim's are part of modern culture.'

Cited

''There is an Islamic ruling which forbids the depiction of facial features of any kind and that includes pictures, sculptures and, in this case, dolls,' the designer, who is known as Ridhwana B, told the Lancashire Telegraph. 'I spoke to a religious scholar in Leicester who guided me through what was and what was not permissible when producing the product. 'The Deeni Doll has no face on it whatsoever and is Shariah compliant.'

End citations

Interestingly, according to this article from the Daily Mail, to be Shariah compliant, Islamic teaching is against human and animal representation in other forms.

However, photography and imagery can be seen in the Islamic world and Islamic society for political and religious leaders when it is politically beneficial.

Theologically and philosophically would there not be a risk of persons and followers making an idol of political and religious leaders?

Or perhaps this is not a concern for Islamic leadership that wishes to maintain power and understands the obvious benefits of 'positive' images in the context of political power?

This also demonstrates the problem of being theologically and philosophically consistent within radical fundamentalism; it is philosophically difficult to always prohibit images on a practical basis and for it to always be beneficial for those making the rules.

Definitions of Idolatry

Browning writes that it is 'the cult surrounding a statue of a god or goddess'. Browning (1997: 181).

'Paul warns the Corinthian Christians about a kind of idolatry (I Cor. 10: 14) which might have been a form of civic ceremony'. Browning (1997: 181).

'Idolatry is also used metaphorically for evil desires (Col. 3:5)'. Browning (1997: 181).

P.C. Craigie defines idolatry as 'The worship of an idol or of a deity represented by an idol, usually as an image. Craigie (1997: 542).

He as did Browning acknowledges that the New Testament deals with idolatry in a more metaphorical context than the Hebrew Bible. Craigie (1996: 542).

As in one should not covet for example (Ephesians 5: 5 and Colossians 3: 5).

With these definitions, a doll made for a child, even with a face, is not by definition, by nature, an idol or idolatrous. It is not made to be worshipped as a god or God, even with the acknowledgment that all created things could theoretically become idols or idolatrous for persons.

BROWNING, W.R.F. (1997) Dictionary of the Bible, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

CRAIGIE, P.C. (1996) 'Idolatry', in Walter A. Elwell (ed.), Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Books.

Reuters, Tehran, November 2009-Notice the image!

Google+-No snow here presently, which is helpful with long work and church commutes.

Non-Exhaustive On Every Knee Will Bow, Every Tongue Will Confess/The Non-Conformist of the Year 2014

Scotland-trekearth

Philippians 2:9-11

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation

Briefly some possible interpretations, non-exhaustive:

Plain literal

All those in Christ (both Testaments, both Covenants) bow the knee and confess.

All those outside of Christ (both Testaments, both Covenants) bow the knee and confess.

This could take place perhaps simultaneously in a ceremonial fashion.

All those in Christ would do this willingly through compatibilistic freedom.

If those outside of Christ are forced or coerced to bow the knee and confess, this is very problematic as it would not be with significant freedom and a compatibilistic model.

If those outside of Christ willingly bow the knee and confess in intellectual acceptance only, this would be with significant freedom and a compatibilistic model, although not worship and not relationship with the Biblical God.

Plain literal

All those in Christ (both Testaments, both Covenants) bow the knee and confess.

This could take place perhaps simultaneously in a ceremonial fashion.

Those in Christ would do this willingly through compatibilistic freedom.

Figurative literal

All those in Christ (both Testaments) bow the knee and confess.

This is done through a Holy Spirit directed life and compatibilistic freedom being guided by God in Christ.

It does not require a plain literal bowing of the knee or confession, perhaps in a ceremonial fashion, because one's life is lived in a way to figuratively bow the knee to Christ and confess Christ with the tongue.

All those outside of Christ (both Testaments) intellectually and spiritually via knowledge and acceptance of reality within the new realm without worship or relationship, acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord. Therefore, bowing the knee and confessing with the tongue in a figurative literal context.

Figurative literal

All those in Christ (both Testaments) bow the knee and confess.

This is done through the Holy Spirit directed life and compatibilistic freedom being guided by God in Christ.

It does not require a plain literal bowing or confession in perhaps a ceremonial fashion because one's life is lived in a way to bow to Christ and confess Christ.

Ralph E. Martin writes that 'The cosmic authority of our Lord Jesus Christ is expressed in the triadic phrase, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.' 

There is one view that an overall universal homage to God is being described, but Martin prefers that the 'reference is a personal one'. Martin (1987: 110).

He notes it is 'intelligent beings' in heaven, earth and underworld that bend the knee and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Martin (1987: 110).

By personal, perhaps this means it is more likely that it is believers alone that are acknowledging the Lordship of Christ, at least in a relational sense.

Post Revelation 20, it can be reasoned those in the lake of fire may have a spiritual understanding of the Lordship of Christ, minus submission to the Biblical God in worship and relationship.

MARTINS, RALPH P. (1987) Philippians, Grand Rapids, IVP.

End

The Non-Conformist of the Year 2014

The Winners

Bobby Buff-10x winner
Chucky-5x winner
Documentary Man-2x winner
Jeff Jenkins-2x winner
Zombie-2x winner
Cousin Buff-1x winner
Manson-1x winner
PMH-1x winner
thekingpin68-1x winner
Super Secret Fan Club-1x

2014 Winner: Chucky

When his sweet and dear Mother was alive he stated that he could not change his monastery lifestyle because it would effect the mental state of Mother Mary. Not to be confused in any way with Pope Chucklin's Roman Catholic faith, which is non-existent. He is of Mennonite heritage true and blue.

Predictably, now a well-fed orphan; Chuck's lifestyle does not change, nor his mental state which is likely set in stone.

Not stoned.

He now shifts the focus for the need for stability, also known as rut, to his dear brothers, whom he now can conveniently care for until he dies and goes to Paradise (2 Corinthians 12: 4).

If somehow, the brothers were to be raptured, ruptured, depart or what have you, before Chuck, somehow 'work' or Father time would prevent a change in Chuck's lifestyle from that same family life that he has lived since good old 1966...

That is a non-conformist, Chuck, that is non-conformist...

Also..

Chuck mentioned that he ran into 'Manson' in Vancouver and that Mr. Manson is still basically the same old, same old.

I checked Manson's Facebook profile and can verify that he still looks like Dr. David Bruce Banner the day after he turned into the Incredible Hulk as Manson walks the street of Vancouver.

After all, he is a veteran of outdoor Woodstock type concerts all over North America and so he might as well wear the uniform.

Chuck predicting how much rain and clouds for the Vancouver area...

Brief On Our Lady Of Death Cult/Santa Muerte

Daily Mail: The Grim Reaper, apparently. Can one rationally, seriously for the sake of spiritual worship, imagine taking a friend or relative here for a church service?  This sort of dark death celebration is not spiritually beneficial. 'Sure Grandma, I can take you to my church on Sunday'. I can understand attending critically as a religious scholar and philosopher but as a serious adherent bringing others into the fold...hardly. But the world is full of those that do not take religion and philosophy very rationally. One can understand why critics within naturalism do sometimes generalize religious people as irrational idiots. Of course one can have a reasonable, rational, religious faith and worldview.

Daily Mail December 9, 2014

By Oriana Gonzalez and Alasdair Baverstock In Mexico City

Cited

'Back-street exorcisms, tequila, bullets and Breaking Bad: Inside the Our Lady of Death cult the world's 'fastest growing religion' - which the Vatican brands 'infernal''

On what documentation is it the world's fastest growing religion?

Which experts?

I found this article on my Facebook 'Home' page while at work Tuesday evening. I had not heard or read of the movement previously and therefore my opine shall be limited.

Cited

Cult first grew out of Mexican criminal underworld - drug gangsters pray to 'White Lady' for the 'chance of a good death' in a world where life is cheap

Cited

Made famous by episode of Breaking Bad - where Cousins worship shrine Practices based on Catholicism but Vatican brands it 'sinister and infernal'

Cited

'I had paid the equivalent of £10 for an 'exorcism' with a witch of the Santa Muerte - or Our Lady of Death - which is the fastest growing religion in the world, according to some experts.

It was born out of the Mexican criminal underworld, where the violent wars between rival drugs cartels has made the murder rate soar and the value of life plummet. Here criminals will unthinkingly take your life for less than the value of a new pair of shoes. Followers began building shrines hidden in their homes to pray to her for protection, help and the 'gift' in this violent society of the chance to die a peaceful and 'holy' death without judgement.'

Cited

'The first Western exposure came in an episode of Breaking Bad, the hit series about Walter White, a teacher-turned meth dealer in New Mexico. When twin brothers, the Cousins supposedly belonging to the brutal Sinaloa cartel, are sent to wipe out White, they are seen praying to a shrine covered with candles surrounding a statue of Santa Muerte. They crawl on their hands and knees to reach her altar and make offerings, just as her real-life adherents in Mexico City do. But Santa Muerte cannot be dismissed as fiction, it's lure has become very real. The Santa Muerte cult now has an estimated ten million followers from Buenos Aires, Los Angeles to Japan and Australia.' 

'The rate of its growth is staggering in the seventeen years since the first church was publicly established in Mexico's capital. The exorcism which I was undergoing is said to help people filled with sadness or negativity; a shamanistic ritual which purport to purify the soul, ridding it of destructive spirits which have taken hold within.'

Cited

'The Vatican is very keen to distance itself from the cult, calling it 'sinister and infernal'. 'Even if this cult is bringing people disillusioned with religion closer to God, it still uses witchcraft and belief in dark magic in its ceremonies,' said Monsignor Enrique Glennie, the rector of the Virgin of Guadelupe Basilica in Mexico City, one of Latin America's most popular catholic pilgrimage sites. 'Santa Muerte does not represent Christian values'. 'The White Lady doesn't judge me for what I do', says Alejandro Herrera, who robs people at gunpoint throughout Mexico City.'

Respectfully, I would state the Vatican response is inadequate. 

If the cult according to the Vatican and Roman Catholic Church is quote 'sinister and infernal', it is satanic and is of the sinful human nature.  

The Holy Spirit is not guiding this cult.

Theologically, therefore, it is not of God and at least directly does not bring disillusioned persons closer to God.

If the cult uses witchcraft and dark magic, it is of the occult and not of God.

Indirectly, some could turn to the triune God of the Bible in Christ, after experiencing such evil. 

However, if so, that would be an indirect result and would not make the Our Lady Of Death Cult 'good'.

Satanic power is definitely spiritual and can be experienced by humanity, for example, Biblically Jesus Christ was tempted by Satan for forty days in the Gospels. Christ rebuked the satanic power behind the temptation as not being of God, as an inferior, finite, sinful source.

The Scripture is God's revealed religious history and word, inspired by the Holy Spirit and inerrant in the original autographs that provides spiritual guidance through surviving copies.  

The Our Lady Of Death Cult as documented appears to be an occultic, movement borrowing from Roman Catholic traditions. The movement being in drastic contrast theologically and philosophically from Biblical Christianity.

Cited

'In addition to exorcisms, the church also holds sacrificial masses on the first day of each month, when pigeons and farm animals are slaughtered on the saint's altar. Every Friday at midday sees a 'prisoner mass', when family members of individuals who are languishing in prison pray for Santa Muerte to 'release the locks' of their cells. 'If Santa Muerte has attracted a large following, many of whom are dedicated to crime and witchcraft, it is because she is not a judgmental saint', says Monsignor Ávila. 'She accepts you for who you are'.'

Vocativ 12/23/13

Cited

'Inside Santa Muerte, Mexico’s Fast-Growing Death Cult Roman Catholicism is still by far the dominant religion in Mexico, but the Santa Muerte is quickly gaining followers. And not everyone is happy about it'

Gulf of Mexico-trekearth

Propaganda & Spin

Vancouver-trekearth

Dean and I took Saint Chucklins of Ridge out for his birthday party Saturday night. We went to a Orchestra event at my former church, featuring very fine classical music largely made up of members of a well-known classical Orchestra. It was good to listen to guitar (classical guitar) in church that was not yet another version of campfire classics.

This was followed by dinner.

You are welcome, Chuck...

At the dinner a friend significantly older than myself and long time ministry worker made some interesting points which I shall paraphrase...

In the Vancouver area only the political correct view is acceptable, one perspective is permitted, politically and socially. Contrary views will be shunned.

At least in the United States there are two perspectives provided politically and socially, even though the polarization can become tiresome and annoying.

Propaganda is a tool used by the politically correct movement to dull the minds of the masses by flooding them with repetitive information and messages. This allows their perspective to be fed to the masses.

The agenda of the elite is a way I would state it.

I would also state that propaganda is a tool used by the elite to influence the masses into accepting the views of the elite as the only acceptable philosophical views and overall worldview.

This gentleman also stated, wisely, that propaganda is lies and untruths and that the persons behind such know the untruthful nature of the information. He cited Goebbels as example.

By using propaganda the elite are attempting to counter the views of opponents, which is often also propaganda and therefore resort to using propaganda themselves.

He also noted that once one resorts to propaganda is it 'impossible' to not use it anymore.

I take it this is because lies have been built upon lies and if some layers of lies are removed the entire philosophical structure would be in danger of collapse.

Propaganda:

Cited

‘Selected information, true or false, which is promoted with the aim of persuading people to adopt a particular belief, attitude or course of action. During the 20th Century all the major political ideologies have employed propaganda and made use of modern media to reach a mass audience. It has an important role in modern warfare and by WWII separate bureaus and ministries were established to promote morale and subvert the enemy. The Nazi Ministry of Propaganda, headed by Goebbels was one of the most effective. In the West there has been an increase in professional propagandists such as people in public relations and advertising.’ Concord (1982: 995).

THE CONCORD DESK ENCYCLOPEDIA (1982) New York, Concord Reference Books, Inc, Time.

The Time encyclopedia documents propaganda as selected information true or false. But, my older friend in ministry raises some reasonable philosophical points. I see truth from propaganda as questionable at best. There is the philosophical saying that a half truth is no truth at all, and as propaganda would exaggerate by nature even factual truths, these facts when exaggerated for political and social purposes soon become untruths. 

A Scriptural, Biblical, Christian alternative to propaganda or propaganda of any kind is a reasonable, rational, prayerful use of truth.

Jesus Christ calls himself the way, truth and life and only way to the Father in John 14: 6, and certainly God's followers, need to walk in spiritual and intellectual truth.

Not by intellectual spin for the sake of Christianity but through reasonable, rational use of Scripture, Theology, Philosophy of Religion and related disciplines.

Followers need to be willing to admit the failures of Christians and cultural Christianity, while proclaiming the Gospel and Scriptural message supernaturally revealed from God.

Yet another photo of Zakynthos, Greece, Facebook-Travel+Leisure

Green Santa,Expressive Arts-Politically correct Santa. Santa has cut his sleigh power consumption by 75% from the old red and sometimes blue uniform days. He also now recycles reindeer, elves and even Mrs. Claus when needed. Yes, I do recycle and am green...

Talesofcuriosity.com-Yellow Santa-Back to his days as a Monk before Mrs. Claus.

Costumes Unlimited-For Arctic and Antarctic Santa present drops only.