more to come!

Well folks. I have taken a good part of my rough draft to my graduate professor to look over and for her to point out any areas where I need work. She was kind and helpful. This woman is a genius. I am so lucky to have crossed her path. Just to begin, I will mention that she did point out a few things in my paper that needed reworking but she did it quite diplomatically. I took it well--not too many tears I will add. lol J/K. I will post it after it has been handed in to see what my readers say about it.

One discussion we had surrounded my interests in converts to Islam (Western females primarily)and she asked me if I will have a discourse on Nation of Islam and I said IMMEDIATELY, "Oh no..that is not 'real' Islam...". The mentor and teacher that she is stopped me in my humble tracks and said, although I do not quote this word for word is, What you need to know is that an ideology/spiritual belief of a group is real to THEM and thus, it is valid and deserves looking at for an anthropologist. I was stopped in my tracks and learned a very valuble lesson there; a lesson I will not forget....

peace folks....
anthrogeek10

Religiosity and family members of the opposite kind

This is an age old problem that I suspect many people from all faiths have dealt with. My mom is an Evangelical Christian who truely believes her way is the only way to spiritual enlightenment/heaven, etc. She insists on preaching to me. At times it is a regular "praise the Lord sermon" over and over and over. At times, she sneaks it in when one is least expecting it! I am thinking my mom and I could be getting along famously (strange) and all of a sudden *POW* she hits me with her "come back to Jesus" sermon. When times like that occur, I clam up. I tend to want to be calm, say the right thing, stay true to my beliefs--all that. I do not think that method is working for me. I have explained to mom in letters that I am not a Christian (horror of horrors) and I would like to be repected for that.





My mom always seems to do this at the time that she lends/gives me a gift. She sneaks in her little two cents. So--what is the problem? She lives in Chicago-I live in Orlando....
Well, I do not feel fully accepted by my mom for who I am and my beliefs. It almost feels like her love is conditional.

Anyone else felt like this and how did you handle it? Successfully?

anthrogeek10

James Carroll interview

I am not fully back but here is an interesting interview of James Carroll. I just watched his excellent brave documentary titled: 'Constantine's Sword: No War is Holy.

In it, he focuses on the hatred Christians have historically put upon the Jews. Additionally, he touches on Islam and what Christians (particularly the U.S military) are doing to proliferate the hatred.

I enjoyed the documentary. Here is a 20 minute interview some of you may enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoN9rdj99ns