Happy Ramadhan 2008 1429

Happy Ramadhan 2008 AC / 1429 AH for all Muslims around the world who perform thirty-day long fasting. The starting day of Ramadhan this year most probably on Monday 1st of September or Tuesday 2nd of September 2008.
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Happy Ramadhan 2008 1429

Blogger Indonesia of the Week (83): Rima Fauzi

World is beautiful, every normal and spirited being thinks so. The most salient feature of its beauty lies in the heterogeneity of its populace called human. The differences of our physical appearance,colors of our skin, our eyes and hairs. And on top of it all: the differences of our mindset, preference, leaning and way of thinking we attach to or led or want others to believe. Thus emerges various religions brought about by many prophets, school of thoughts introduced by many great philosophers. It’s natural therefore if every single religion and philosophical thoughts for or against any religion have their own followers. It also means that we have choices to choose to lead our life. Afterall, life is about choice and world gives us freedom to choose. Whatever you wanna be, just be it.
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Religion

A religion is a set of tenets and practices, often centered upon specific supernatural and moral claims about reality, the cosmos, and human nature, and often codified as prayer, ritual, or religious law. Religion also encompasses ancestral or cultural traditions, writings, history, and mythology, as well as personal faith and religious experience. The term “religion” refers to both the personal practices related to communal faith and to group rituals and communication stemming from shared conviction.[1]

Featured religions and beliefs

Atheism The ideas and views of people who don’t believe in God.
Baha’i One of the youngest of the world’s major religions.
Buddhism A way of living based on the teachings of Siddartha Gautama.
Candomblé A religion based on African beliefs, originating in Brazil.
Christianity The world’s biggest faith, based on the teaching of Jesus Christ.
Hinduism A group of faiths rooted in the religious ideas of India.
Islam Revealed in its final form by the Prophet Muhammad.
Jainism An ancient philosophy and ethical teaching that originated in India.
Jehovah’s Witnesses A Christian-based evangelistic religious movement.
Judaism Based around the Jewish people’s covenant relationship with God.
Mormon The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Paganism Contemporary religions usually based on reverence for nature.
Rastafari A young religion founded in Jamaica in the 1930s.
Santeria Afro-Caribbean syncretic religion originating in Cuba.
Shinto Japanese folk tradition and ritual with no founder or single sacred scripture.
Sikhism The religion founded by Guru Nanak in India in the 15th Century CE.
Taoism An ancient tradition of philosophy and belief rooted in Chinese worldview.
Unitarianism An open-minded and individualistic approach to religion.
Zoroastrianism One of the oldest monotheistic faiths, founded by the prophet Zoroaster.[2]

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[1] Wikipedia
[2] BBC

Agnosticism

Etymology: Greek agn?stos unknown, unknowable, from a- + gn?stos known, from gign?skein to know — more at know
Date: 1869
1: a person who holds the view that any ultimate reality (as God) is unknown and probably unknowable; broadly : one who is not committed to believing in either the existence or the nonexistence of God or a god
2: a person unwilling to commit to an opinion about something [political agnostics] [1]

Agnosticism (Greek: ?- a-, without + ?????? gn?sis, knowledge; after Gnosticism) is the philosophical view that the truth value of certain claims — particularly metaphysical claims regarding theology, afterlife or the existence of God, gods, deities, or even ultimate reality — is unknown or, depending on the form of agnosticism, inherently unknowable.[2]

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[1] Merriam Webster Dictionary
[2] Wikipedia

Kosovo a Muslim State in Europe

Finally, people of Kosovo struggle to gain independent realised, thus becomes the only Muslim-majority nation in Europe. Despite its claim as embrcaing the “laid-back” version of Islam, some of its neighbors feel “unsafe”. Considering many factors, this pre-conceived notion is understandable.

That’s said, I think the existence of independent Kosovo is good to let European people in to more understanding towards Islam and that Muslims, many of them, just like any other who are busy to make a dissent living for themselves and their family. Every single Muslim represent a mozaic of Muslims as a whole, it’s NOT a homogeneous entity as one in other parts of the world might or is led to think.

Kosovo a Muslim State in Europe

Blogger Indonesia of the Week (80): Rob Baiton

Frankly speaking, I dislike anonymous blogger or ghost blogger as I prefer to call it, particularly those who blog/write on such sensitive issues as politics and religion. Speaking of the latter topic without giving a clear name and identity, to me, does not represent a good intention, and thus credibility. A writer or a blogger who rigorously writes on those issues while hiding one’s true identity and name –such as the one behind indonesiamatters.com deserves our suspicion of having a hidden agenda. Specially when one is critical to certain religion while generously flattering or defending another most of the time.
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Happy New Islamic Year 1429

Happy New Islamic Year 1429 for all Muslim around the globe. Selamat Tahun Baru 1429 untuk Saudara-saudara Muslim di manapun berada. Wish you New year with new better heart.

Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. Since the Islamic calendar is lunar, Muharram moves from year to year when compared with the Gregorian calendar. It is held to be the most sacred of all the months, excluding Ramadan. Some Muslims fast during these days. The tenth day of Muharram is called Yaumu-l ‘Ashurah, meaning, ‘the tenth day’, and it is a day of voluntary fasting.