De boodschap van Samir A.

Posted on September 15th, 2006 by .
Categories: International Terrorism, My Research, Religious and Political Radicalization, Young Muslims.

Nova had gisteren dus fragmenten van de video van Samir. Ik ben op het moment aan het werken aan een publicatie over de spirituele en politieke boodschap van de Nederlanse jihadi’s (en voormalige jihadi’s). Het duurt nog wel even voordat deze gepubliceerd wordt (pas na mijn proefschrift en dat duurt ook nog wel enkele maanden). Het gaat er daarbij om om uit te gaan van wat zij zelf zeggen. Niet om alles maar klakkeloos over te nemen, maar wel om recht te doen aan het uitgangspunt dat het hier om zelfstandige individuen gaat die zelf beslissingen nemen, doelen in het leven hebben, hun eigen wensen en verlangens, politieke en spirituele behoeften. Op basis daarvan binnen de gegeven economische, juridische, sociale en politieke omstandigheden maken zij hun keuzes met betrekking tot datgene wat zij zien als de zuivere islam. (more…)

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IM: Oriana Fallaci

Posted on September 15th, 2006 by .
Categories: Misc. News.

Oriana Fallaci died. The New Yorker had a very nice interview with her

“You’ve got to get old, because you have nothing to lose,” she said over lunch that afternoon. “You have this respectability that is given to you, more or less. But you don’t give a damn. It is the ne plus ultra of freedom. And things that I didn’t used to say before—you know, there is in each of us a form of timidity, of cautiousness—now I open my big mouth. I say, ‘What are you going to do to me? You go fuck yourself—I say what I want.’ ”

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The Blessed Balance Between Reason and Religion

Posted on September 15th, 2006 by martijn.
Categories: Public Islam, Religion Other.

The choice of the regnal name Benedict, which in Latin means “the blessed,” is significant. Pope Benedict XVI carefully chose his name (which means ‘the blessed’):

Filled with sentiments of awe and thanksgiving, I wish to speak of why I chose the name Benedict. Firstly, I remember Pope Benedict XV, that courageous prophet of peace, who guided the Church through turbulent times of war. In his footsteps I place my ministry in the service of reconciliation and harmony between peoples. Additionally, I recall Saint Benedict of Nursia, co-patron of Europe, whose life evokes the Christian roots of Europe. I ask him to help us all to hold firm to the centrality of Christ in our Christian life: May Christ always take first place in our thoughts and actions!

Recalling this his recent words about Islam might seem strange although there has been some criticism to earlier remarks as well. (more…)

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