An Sionnach

Originally uploaded by An Sionnach
A template driven site designed for a religious community.

Graphic Design, Layout, Template Design, HTML, PHP, Forums, Javascript, Search utility, Search Engine Optimization, Banner Exchange, Link Exchange (with voteable link directory).

Originally uploaded by An Sionnach

A pMachine driven website for the local Asheville Muslim community. pMachine allows for easily updatable website content by the user, so as to eliminate the need of a webmaster to constantly build pages for the site.

Graphic Design, CSS, Layout & Template Design, HTML, PHP, Forums, Javascript, PDF, Search Engine Optimization.

After some domain issues this site will be going back up again using WordPress.  You can find the new site here.

Orthodox and Muslim alike believe very strongly in this phrase “If God Will’s It” or as other say “In Gods time”. At it’s root this is basically to say that nothing happens be it by the Will of God. But is this just a cop out on claiming responsibility for our own actions? Because I hardly think that God wills that children and women get raped and molested, that God wishes that people get murdered in cold blood. I am sure that God does not will that people divide themselves on matters of faith. I am sure that Gods will is not divided to want one type of people to terrorize one type of people to have them terrorize them back, both claiming that it is God’s will. This sounds more like either a God who is masochistic, or a people refusing to accept responsibility for their own actions. Did God will Adam and Eve to fall at the Garden, or did He give them free will, as well as the consequences of their actions. For if everything was by the will of God we could not convict criminals, we should not shun rapists and child molesters.  Could I be accountable for any of the wrongs I have done?

If all that happens is the will of God, then we are but puppets, so why bother even trying?

What say you?

It’s seems the word around town is that I need to write more. My guess is that some of you may be interested as to where I am at. As many of you know I change the design of the website more than I blog. To be honest, there is just not much to write. While that is not completely true, but I find the more I ramble the further down the downward spiral I descend to the point of paralysis, and not knowing what to do. So I find my self at the basics.

Do I believe in a God or not?

I answer yes. Many may want to ask why? And my response is not to try to intellectualize this, but follow my gut and my heart.

So many of you may begin to wonder if I am still Orthodox, or if I truly was?

The answer is I wanted to be, I wanted to believe that Orthodoxy was the root of Christianity, and that I would finally be at peace worshipping the One True God. My conflict with intercessions (with the deceased), icons, hierarchy, multiple facets of God that do not know the will of the other continued to rise. I prayed for a comforted heart if all that I was being taught was true. It never came, matter of fact it was one Sunday as I stood before the Icon of the Archangel Michael (my Orthodox patron saint) that I realized that I was not comfortable with this at all, so uncomfortable that I just stood there in silence no longer able to participate or agree with the church teachings that I was expected to participate in each Sunday, and in my daily prayers.

Part of me felt guilty, for many reasons. One, that it hasn’t even been a year since I was accepted into the faith. Two, I realized that I was affecting the commitement of another, my roomie, as I was his ride each Sunday, which would affect his ability to make it to church each Sunday. May God bless him for his commitment, fortitude, and overcoming these struggles. And Three, that I still have not developed a firm faith with my Creator.

I live in complete fear of God, fear that I do not know Him, and that I never really will. So I find myself sticking with the basics.

1) I believe in God
2) I believe in no other gods, and that God (Eloihm, Allah) is Supreme over all.
3) I believe that God is Merciful, and that God will be merciful to this undeserving mortal for continuing to try serve Him.

I quote Thomas Merton, “If you find God with great ease, perhaps it is not God that you have found”

Where Faith and Intellect Conflict!!

Is faith suppose to be completely blind, or should it make sense? God created us with the power to think and reason things out, are we suppose to completely disregard this gift, and throw common sense out the window. Personally I don’t think so, otherwise God would have just created us with the brain power of an ameoba.

Here is some verses that lead to questions.

“Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His
who sent Me.” [John 7:16]

“For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who
sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.” [John 12:49]

If Jesus WAS God, and equal to the Father, then wouldn’t these be HIS doctrines, HIS words, HIS authority?

“Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent
me, and to accomplish his work.” [John 4:34]

“saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me;
nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” [Luke 22:42]

Once again if the Father and the Son are the same, would not their wills be the same?

” I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment
is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the
Father who sent Me.” [John 5:30]

“You heard me say, `I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you
loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.” [John 14:28]

How is the Father greater than the Son if They are One?

“Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me,
for I proceeded and came forth from God; I came not of my own accord,
but he sent me.” [ John 8:42]

Once again a contradiction, for Jesus was sent by the will of God, would not Jesus will be the same, but here he says it was not his will (he also doesn’t say it wasn’t his will also, but it shows they are different).

“To sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for
those for whom it has been prepared by my Father” [Matthew 20:23]

If Jesus and the Father are one, would not it also be his decision?

Some more to think about?

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in
heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” [Mr 13:32]

“And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges.” [John 8:50]

There are many other things that stand out, but this is enough to keep our plates full for awhile.

Struggling!!!!