[Closed] Visit My Mosque Day, Sunday

Would be interested in going. The most interesting I have experienced in a place of worship was a Quaker wedding. Wonderful experience.

anyone with even a rudimentary understanding of the bible.Its a manual to be saved from sin, avoid hell and live in heaven for ever more- what do you think it means - what are the wages of sin again and why did Jesus come here?

Even STW cannot disagree with that - it can but its pointless. You may dislike the way I phrased it but its not untrue. The central message is the salvation of your soul TBH I find it offensive that anyone thinks mine needs saving.

Unfortunately, I cannot concede this one to you, junkyard, but seeing as we have discussed it before, how about I just say that if I am ever in your neck of the woods (wherever that is), we can argue about it while riding and drinking?

Fair enough offer but I dont drink - my body is a temple 😉

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

there is more to it than that but basically its about salvation of your soul by a loving god.
I really dont see what is contentious about saying that- all religions claim this or tbh what is the point?

Odd that some get so upset about the concept of hell - since hell is merely eternal separation from someone/somethg they believe/know doesn't exist.

How idiotic would it be to worry about that? Scared of the Easter Bunny????

met some lovely folk from Halifax who came via the local mosque to help clear up after the 2016 floods here in Heb, want to try to get over there this weekend, if nothing else to say thanks.

my body is a temple

Open for visitors, with a selection of biscuits and soft drinks on sunday?

No interest in visiting churches or synagogues either but at least in those women are afforded equal status.

Lol.

Women are afforded equal status in Orthodox Jewish and Mormon/7th Day Adventist etc etc etc communities?

Anyway, I'd like to see more secular "understanding" events - I work with a bunch of Hindus and Muslims who make polytheist and terrorist jokes all day to wind each other up. I think this is the best medicine, laughing at your own religion or point of view.

Funkmaster the FAQ says tea, biscuits and cakes

Right, if there is a mosque near me taking part I'm there 😀

Odd that some get so upset about the concept of hell - since hell is merely eternal separation from someone/somethg they believe/know doesn't exist.

It's the something for nothing generation, I blame JFK.

but calling it a religion doesnt mean it cant be criticised.

You CAN criticise it. Question is, should you, in this context? I could walk up to a random stranger in the street and call their kid ugly - but it woudn't be particularly nice would it?

Open for visitors, with a selection of biscuits and soft drinks on sunday?

Mine has a WIDE selection of biscuits and soft drinks.

Leeds Grand Mosque 4 - 6.30pm; I'm in.

Surely showing your face to your Muslim neighbours is just part of tye reason for going to visit the Mosque ?

Question is, should you, in this context?

A bad idea is a bad idea, turning a blind eye just passes the problem onto your/our kids.

I'll condone their nonsense with my presence when my daughters can go along as equals.

And I genuinely dont mean that it some inflammatory muslim raygun sense, it just a load of poppy cock and it doesn't appear accepting of folk who think differently so we shouldn't be encouraging it by rocking up to open days.

I took my lads to a Sikh Temple.
One of the warmest, most welcoming religions I've had opportunity to experience. We ate well that night, I can tell you. I was so proud of my lads, they were dressed in their Scout uniforms (was part of their Faith badge), & they volunteered to go in front of the Sikh youth group who were meeting, & talk about Scouting. They even took us to the factory they have converted into a gym & fitness centre. Anyone can join, the only cost being a few hours volunteering to help run it. An amazing sense of community, with everybody pitching in to some degree. I'm not devoutly religious but did grasp some of what was being explained to me about Sikhism.

I'd be keen to take my boys along to a Mosque for the same kind of reasons.

wilburt - Member

it just a load of poppy cock and it doesn't appear accepting of folk who think differently so we shouldn't be encouraging it by rocking up to open days.

So you think they won't accept you because you're not a Muslim? lol

Don't tell me........you've read something somewhere.

And of course you're not going to let your prejudicial opinions get derailed by going to a mosque and talking to Muslims, that would be awful.

A bad idea is a bad idea, turning a blind eye just passes the problem onto your/our kids.

And you should be offensive at the same time, or maybe start a measured discussion?

Are you the kind of person to jump in fists flying at anyone you don't like?

And I genuinely dont mean that it some inflammatory muslim raygun sense, it just a load of poppy cock and it doesn't appear accepting of folk who think differently so we shouldn't be encouraging it by rocking up to open days.

So you think you know about Islam, and what you think you know stops you from going to open days to learn. Seems to me that you're the kind of person who most needs to go to these things! Priceless.

But in general my point isn't about Islam, it's about you being a dick. There are ways to disagree that don't make you a dick.

it doesn't appear accepting of folk who think differently

I think you're the ideal candidate for a mosque visit 🙂

Bang up for attending a mosque, great idea. 🙂

I live in an area with a very much higher than average Asian population. I saw this thread with interest and would definitely go along, for two reasons. 1) curiosity and 2) as a show of 'faith' that I want to integrate with my neighbours rather than encourage an "us and them" culture. However, whilst mosques in neighbouring towns are taking part, the ones in my own town are not (according to that map at least). I could go to one the next town over, but that'd kinda defeat the object of 2).

chewkw- you've asked 4 times what topic of conversation you would choose "for small talk" when visiting the mosque. I suggest that no one has answered it because it is rather a strange question! Have you never met, spoken to, socialised, or worked with a Muslim, or visited a Muslim country?

chewkw- you've asked 4 times what topic of conversation you would choose "for small talk" when visiting the mosque. I suggest that no one has answered it because it is rather a strange question! Have you never met, spoken to, socialised, or worked with a Muslim, or visited a Muslim country?

One near us is open 1-5 , I quite fancy it too.
& Re the Sikh temples , there's one near us , they have lovingly restored a decrepit large church hall - new roof , masonry & railings. 🙂
The food smells lush. I'll be first in line when they have an open day!

The food smells lush. I'll be first in line when they have an open day!

Like all organised religions, they prey on the vulnerable. I was a Christian for many years based on a top notch hot cross bun! Have been tempted by the aromas from the local Muslim Cultural Centre too. God* help me if the Scientologists ever team up with the chocolatiers...

🙂

* Any of them, all of them. Not really fussed which one/s.

If I ever go down the religious road it'll be Hinduism as they seem to have the highest amount of festivals with the greatest quantity of food. They also have a proper pantheon, none of this one God malarkey.

There doesn't appear to be a mosque near me that's open. That's a shame as I would have loved to have a look around (free tea and biscuits).

"Sunday is Visit My Mosque Day"
Locking the stable door after the horse has bolted springs to mind.

@mitsumo: why not see it as an educational opportunity?
Can you explain your comment as it's vague.
Did you know this is not the first year of 'visit my mosque'?

This confuses me somewhat. If your neighbours are opening the mosque to help remove the them an us culture, then why aren't you talking to your neighbours on a daily basis?

Neighbour to one side speaks very broken English. Neighbour the other side also doesn't have very good English and his wife is deaf. We say hello and such, but "talking to them on a daily basis" is challenging.

SaxonRider said:
If you were invited to visit a church in the spirit of increased understanding, would you do it?

A Christian church? Probably not.
Not through any perverse desire to censor the Christian church or to favour Islam though.

It's just that having been brought up in a predominantly Christian country, made to go to church, Sunday school etc when I was younger, and made to do (very Christian focussed) RE at school, as well as prayers etc - I think I have a reasonable layman's grasp of it.

Whereas Islam less so. (I have visited mosques in other countries out of interest though).

esselgruntfuttock said:
Ok, 2 quick questions, to everyone. What denomination do you consider yourself to be & do you ever go to your place of worship, if you have one? (apart from weddings & funerals)

Atheist.

But yes, I happily go along to events like Remembrance Sunday, Harvest festival, Christmas services which in our village are carefully shared out between the local Methodist and CofE churches in a nice bit of harmonious inter-church cooperation. (I bow my head in respect, but I don't pray or sing as I'd consider that hypocritical)

Likewise my kids get religion at school, they go to Messy Church at the Methodist and Beavers and other events at the CofE church.

I think Visit My Mosque Day is a good idea. It's an opportunity to learn about a religion you may know nothing about. I may not agree with what little I know of the Muslim faith but that doesn't give me the right to look down on them or make assumptions about them.
And in my experience, the least tolerant people I have come across are atheists, who constantly blame religion for all that is wrong with the world. It's not religion, it's people that are the problem.
Someone mentioned that religions 'pray' on the vulnerable. In my experience, they help the vulnerable. And of course they want them to become believers too, and why wouldn't they if it means they might be saved? And as a result, those that have received support may be compelled to help others just as they have received it. What I'm saying is don't judge people by their religion. Get to know the person.

doesn't give me the right to look down on them or make assumptions about them.
...
the least tolerant people I have come across are atheists

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Someone mentioned that religions 'pray' on the vulnerable. In my experience, they help the vulnerable. And of course they want them to become believers too, and why wouldn't they if it means they might be saved?

Well, quite. That's one way of looking at it. Alternatively they are just looking at increasing their club membership and power accordingly. Of course, I am being facetious! Generally I agree, most of the religious people I have had the pleasure of meeting have been nice and a fair representation of the positive aspects of humanity. I suppose it's two sides of the same coin ultimately....

esselgruntfuttock said:
Ok, 2 quick questions, to everyone. What denomination do you consider yourself to be & do you ever go to your place of worship, if you have one? (apart from weddings & funerals)

Agnostic - I like the theory of infinite knowledge, together with Arthur C Clarke's quote: "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic". IMHO it is the journey, not the destination in seeking knowledge/truth that is important.

No place of worship, too much choice of who to worship and what the purpose would be anyway!

Neighbour to one side speaks very broken English. Neighbour the other side also doesn't have very good English and his wife is deaf. We say hello and such, but "talking to them on a daily basis" is challenging.

not likely, I have no interest in going to places that encourage sexist, homophobic, intolerant behaviour and denies any sort of critical thinking.

With all due respect, the barriers that you cite are still going to be there in the mosque, aren't they?

For the couple of people I've cited, yes. For others, perhaps not.

I dunno. I just thought that showing my face might be a nice thing to do.

And in my experience, the least tolerant people I have come across are atheists, who constantly blame religion for all that is wrong with the world. It's not religion, it's people that are the problem.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias

I don't for a second blame religion for "all that is wrong with the world" and I doubt that any but the most militant of atheists do either. Rather, you're right that it is people that are the problem, but religion can give problem people a convenient excuse to justify their actions. Eg, homophobic? That's suddenly justifiable, because god hates fags! (So should probably cut down a little.)

@GrahamS, I'm not saying that all intolerance comes from atheists, or that all atheists are intolerant. Was just saying what I see from day to day, whether it be from close friends or some members of this forum. Maybe I didn't explain myself very well. It's great that we can have such discussions, it just bothers me when it gets abusive or disrespectful.

What makes you think that [i]not[/i] engaging with them is the best way forward poah?

If you believe what you say then they must see you as a disbeliever who encourages amoral values of homosexuality and disrespectful behaviour in women - and yet they are still prepared to welcome you in for a chat and a cup of tea.

but religion can give problem people a convenient excuse to justify their actions.

People are pretty good at making up all kinds of reasons to justify their actions, religion is a pretty good one, but political ideology is another one, pseudo-evolutionary theories seem to get rolled out often too I'm sure I heard dodgy genetics being used at one point too.

All rubbish mind.

I think there's a mosque down in Portsmouth, but I wouldn't drive into Portsmouth to visit a mountain bike shop, let alone a mosque. So I'll be going to the rugby ground to do my worshipping as per usual Sundays ta.

Religion is a manifestation of human need and desire.

Therefore, it must represent all aspects of human nature, the good and the bad.
It would be impossible for it to be otherwise.

It's just that having been brought up in a predominantly Christian country, made to go to church, Sunday school etc when I was younger, and made to do (very Christian focussed) RE at school, as well as prayers etc - I think I have a reasonable layman's grasp of it.

Do you know the difference between a Priest and a Vicar though?

not likely, I have no interest in going to places that encourage sexist, homophobic, intolerant behaviour and denies any sort of critical thinking.

Do you know that they're 'all' of that mindset or is that just your perception based on what you read / see in the media? How will you know if you don't go and ask them or talk to to them in a constructive way?

I played a lot of cricket over the years, which inevitably (because of a cultural thing) means i have had a lot of friends and teammates 'of ****stani origin' in particular, and over many a boundary walk or tea interval i've yet to meet one who fits the stereotype of the type you seem to be imagining. Only extremely friendly, intelligent, tolerant* and caring people. Some of who hit a cricket ball very hard indeed.

* until you drop a catch off one of them. I didn't understand exactly what he said but I suspect it wasn't big on tolerance at that point.

Unsurprisingly, I'd rather stick needles in my eyes.

I can't think of a single reason to be "friends" with a totally random bunch of strangers because they all happen to believe in such a ridiculous ragbag of nonsense.

As far as the "Muslim Council of Britain" is concerned, I'd be more interested in meeting these brave people...

http://ex-muslim.org.uk/

Do you know the difference between a Priest and a Vicar though?

I tend to just call them all "Padre" in a Spaghetti Western style, even the women*. 😆
If I'm going to be accidentally insulting I might as well do it equally.

* (and yes our local Methodist Padre is a vicarette or whatever the appropriate term is? "Minister" maybe?)

Our local Muslim centre has grills over the windows. I suspect it may be related to a gentleman (at least I assume it's a gentleman) nearby having an EDL flag covering his entire front window.

Seems to me that you're the kind of person who most needs to go to these things! Priceless.

I spent 20 years living in largely asian areas. I lived next to a mosque in Beeston Leeds for three years and still have family who live in Dewsbury, Halifax, Huddersfield.

There are areas they, particularily females would never go due to risk of abuse from asian men who adhere to Islamic rather than western values.

I know all I need to know about Islam and abhore it as a malicious ideology.

No hate and I love all humans but as above a bad idea is a bad idea religion or not.

it just a load of poppy cock and it doesn't appear accepting of folk who think differently so we shouldn't be encouraging it by rocking up to open days.

Yes obviously your logic is perfect.

What better way is there for Muslims to show that they are not "accepting of folk who think differently" than by having an open day just for them.

Welcoming them into your place of worship and engaging with them as friends.

Whatever you do, you shouldn't be encouraging THAT sort of behaviour 🙄