Religious rituals are like ritual magic rituals!

Ervin

I can see why would Allah/Jehovah/God order the slaughtering of the cow, but the infinitely gentle Source would not order you anything.

Who is the one you are aligning with? The Source or God?

Thanks

Bigmo

If you look in the Old Testament for instance you can find a lots of rituals. Like what materials to use in making an alter or how to do this and that.

And that's no different than magic rituals or the witches potions.

Why do you have to pray at certain time in a certain way? Again isn't that like ritual magic?

Thanks

Good point. But rituals are ameans to end an end not en end by themselves. Judeo Christian traditions tend to be very ritualistic. Jesus reminded the Israelites that rituals are made for men and not God.

mirjamnur

Salam
and Rituals don't must be bad. A Ritual can help us to remember, to relax, to sleep, to get up quickly,,,,
If i stand up and drink every morning my coffee, that's also a Ritual- A very good one (and Yes, has anything to do with 'magic' it's 'magical' how one cup coffee wakes up me ;D)
But i know, what you see we can forget with to much rituals the target...
For this point -ALLAH HE DON'T MENTION IT EXACTLY- He want to tell us Yes pray, but be careful that you don't end as other people to uphold only the Ritual or the Law and forget the Faith and the Purpose...
Thank you and Peace peace

good_logic

Peace all.

Everything in the routine of life are rituals?

Do we know what is good for us? Science is still discovering healthy ways.

Salat, Zakat , Sawm.. Do they benefit you or God? Do you need to do any rituals? No one is your guardian!
Ponder the following
In addition to their invaluable spiritual benefits, there is a plethora of physical, economic, and health benefits from observing the prayers (Salat), obligatory charity (Zakat), and fasting.

Observing the Dawn prayer interrupts long periods of stillness during sleep; this is now proven to help prevent arthritis. Also, getting up early in the morning helps combat depression and other psychological problems. The prostration position which is repeated during the contact prayers expands the blood vessels in our brains to accommodate more blood, and this prevents headaches. The repeated bending of the back and the joints is a healthful exercise. All these are scientifically established facts.

The ablutions required prior to the contact prayers encourage us to use the toilet more frequently. This habit protects us from a common and devastating cancer, colon cancer. Harmful chemicals are excreted in the urine and fecal matter. If these excretions are kept in the colon for prolonged periods of time, the harmful materials are re-absorbed into the body, and cause cancer.

Fasting restores our expanded stomachs to their normal sizes, lowers our blood pressure through temporary dehydration, rids the body of harmful toxins, gives our kidneys a much needed rest, and reduces our weight by removing excessive and harmful fat.

Zakat( charity)helps self esteem and confidence. It also improves peoples lives and relationships.

Some will counter these claims by opposites. It is expected in this sea of opinions.To each their ways.
Peace.

wrkmmn

People have turned to begging instead being givers - Go and be generous to the world and do something for others, sayth the lord (my Lord that is)

I seems that you don't understand well the laws of God. when you are praying you are not begging you are exalting and glorifying the creator, and thanking Him for all that He has given you, and for having guided you to the light, and for the wisdom He has given you. Those who became beggars for this world will get their wishes, but they will not get anything for the next unless they become givers.

understand the examples of killing goats and giving the meat to the poor if you are of those who reason if a person owns 10 goats and kills 1 and gives it away to those less fortunate, he is giving away 10% of his wealth and proving that the only thing to which he clings is the word of God. This is in essence the same as telling a person who has 10 million dollars to give away 1 million to those less fortunate than him to prove that he is not greedy. I bet you will never see that.

2200 When you have completed your rites, then remember God as you remember your fathers or even greater. From among the people is he who says ?Our Lord, give us from this world!? But in the Hereafter he has no part.
2201 And some of them say ?Our Lord, give us good in this world, and good in the Hereafter, and spare us from the retribution of theFire.?
2202 These will have a benefit for what they have earned; and God isswift in reckoning

Bigmo

Good point. But rituals are ameans to end an end not en end by themselves. Judeo Christian traditions tend to be very ritualistic. Jesus reminded the Israelites that rituals are made for men and not God.

Soory i meant Judeo Islamic traditions are very legalistic and ritualistic. They are very similar indeed.

wrkmmn

Peace brothers and sisters

Maybe very few people really understands the laws of God. Maybe the spiritual prostration is more important than the physical prostration, because even the hypocrites prostrate physically to be seen by others and even produce wounds on their foreheads so that people can think that they are so devout. The ignorant forget that the mark on the face is not a wound but PEACE.

hawk99

Peace all.

Everything in the routine of life are rituals?

Do we know what is good for us? Science is still discovering healthy ways.

Salat, Zakat , Sawm.. Do they benefit you or God? Do you need to do any rituals? No one is your guardian!
Ponder the following
In addition to their invaluable spiritual benefits, there is a plethora of physical, economic, and health benefits from observing the prayers (Salat), obligatory charity (Zakat), and fasting.

Observing the Dawn prayer interrupts long periods of stillness during sleep; this is now proven to help prevent arthritis. Also, getting up early in the morning helps combat depression and other psychological problems. The prostration position which is repeated during the contact prayers expands the blood vessels in our brains to accommodate more blood, and this prevents headaches. The repeated bending of the back and the joints is a healthful exercise. All these are scientifically established facts.

The ablutions required prior to the contact prayers encourage us to use the toilet more frequently. This habit protects us from a common and devastating cancer, colon cancer. Harmful chemicals are excreted in the urine and fecal matter. If these excretions are kept in the colon for prolonged periods of time, the harmful materials are re-absorbed into the body, and cause cancer.

Fasting restores our expanded stomachs to their normal sizes, lowers our blood pressure through temporary dehydration, rids the body of harmful toxins, gives our kidneys a much needed rest, and reduces our weight by removing excessive and harmful fat.

Zakat( charity)helps self esteem and confidence. It also improves peoples lives and relationships.

Some will counter these claims by opposites. It is expected in this sea of opinions.To each their ways.
Peace.

agreed

For each congregation, we have decreed a set of rites that they must uphold. Therefore, they should not dispute with you. You shall continue to invite everyone to your Lord. Most assuredly, you are on the right path.

"Our Lord, make us submitters to You, and from our descendants let there be a community of submitters to You. Teach us the rites of our religion, and redeem us. You are the Redeemer, Most Merciful.

Peace O0

Bigmo

Peace brothers and sisters

Maybe very few people really understands the laws of God. Maybe the spiritual prostration is more important than the physical prostration, because even the hypocrites prostrate physically to be seen by others and even produce wounds on their foreheads so that people can think that they are so devout. The ignorant forget that the mark on the face is not a wound but PEACE.

Muhammad is the Messenger of God. Those who are with him are hard against the unbelievers merciful one to another. You see them bowing, prostrating, seeking blessing, bounty and good pleasure (of God). Their mark is on their faces, the trace of prostration. That is their likeness in the Torah, and their likeness in the Gospel as a seed that puts forth its shoot, and strengthens it, and it grows strong and rises straight upon its stalk, pleasing the sowers, that through them it may enrage the unbelievers. God has promised those of them who believe and do deeds of righteousness forgiveness and a mighty wage(4829)

Genesis 171-4 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me and be thou perfect. 2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. 3 And Abram fell on his face and God talked with him, saying, 4 As for Me, behold, My covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.

Deuteronomy 56-9 I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 7 Thou shalt have none other gods before Me. 8 Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth 9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them nor serve them...

Psalm 956 O come, let us worship and bow down let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

Revelations 711-12 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12 Saying, Amen Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Joshua 76-7 And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord until eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads. 7 And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord God, wherefore hast Thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan!

Numbers 1620-22 And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, saying, 21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. 22 And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt Thou be wroth with the all of the congregation?

Numbers 206 And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces and the glory of the Lord appeared unto them.

Matthew 2636-39 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gesthemane, and saith unto his disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. 37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be very sorrowful and heavy. 38 Then saith he unto them, my soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death; tarry ye here, and watch with me. 39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou Wilt.

Then the man bowed down and worshipped the Lord. (Genesis, 2426)

...So they sang praises with gladness and bowed their heads and worshipped. (2 Chronicles, 2930)

and I bowed down and worshiped the Lord. I praised the Lord?(Genesis, 244

.... Then the people bowed down and worshipped...did just what the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron. (Exodus, 1227-2

and they believed. And when they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshipped. (Exodus, 431)

and bowed down...three times, with his face to the ground. (1 Samuel, 2041)

Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. (Nehemiah, 86)

Abram bowed with his face touching the ground...(Genesis, 173)

When Abraham's servant heard what they said, he bowed down to the ground before the Lord. (Genesis, 2452)

Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshipped. (Exodus, 34

When Moses heard this, he fell facedown. (Numbers, 164)

the oracle of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened. (Numbers, 244)

Then Joshua bowed to the ground in reverence...(Joshua, 514)

When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, "The Lord?He is God! The Lord?He is God!"(1 Kings, 1839)

when I bow down in the temple...may the Lord forgive your servant for this. (2 Kings, 51

they bowed low and fell prostrate before the Lord. (1 Chronicles, 2920)

they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshipped and gave thanks to the Lord...(2 Chronicles, 73)

... the king and everyone present with him knelt down and worshipped... ordered... to praise the Lord. So they sang praises with gladness and bowed their heads and worshipped. (2 Chronicles, 2929-30)

Then he fell to the ground in worship and said ?Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.? (Job, 120-21)

hawk99

Quote from Bigmo on March 10, 2009, 091443 PM
Muhammad is the Messenger of God. Those who are with him are hard against the unbelievers merciful one to another. You see them bowing, prostrating, seeking blessing, bounty and good pleasure (of God). Their mark is on their faces, the trace of prostration. That is their likeness in the Torah, and their likeness in the Gospel as a seed that puts forth its shoot, and strengthens it, and it grows strong and rises straight upon its stalk, pleasing the sowers, that through them it may enrage the unbelievers. God has promised those of them who believe and do deeds of righteousness forgiveness and a mighty wage(4829)